CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546
FOR RELEASE: October 15, 2008	FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:    OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS    TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062    Fax: (860) 594-3066    Web site:www.ct.gov/dot

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) will conduct a Public Information Meeting concerning the rehabilitation of Bridge No. 01649, which carries State Road (SR) 668 (Butts Bridge Road) over   Quinebaug River in the town of Canterbury.  The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2008   at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Canterbury Town Hall, 1 Municipal Drive, Canterbury, Connecticut

The bridge is situated between the SR 668 intersections of Packer Road to the east and Depot Road to the west.  It carries two lanes (one lane each direction) of SR 668 traffic.  Also known as Butts Bridge, Bridge No. 01649 is a riveted steel Parker through-truss structure built in 1937 and rehabilitated in 1988.  The structure's total length is 231'-6", its width between truss centers measures 31 feet, and its curb-to-curb width is 27'–10".  The substructure consists of reinforced concrete full-height abutments and flared wingwalls, all founded on spread footings.  This truss structure, which was built in the aftermath of a 1936 flood, is listed in the Connecticut Historic Bridge Inventory and has been determined to be individually eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.  The bridge is in need of rehabilitation due to a superstructure condition rating of "poor," which deems the bridge structurally deficient.  Superstructure deficiencies include moderate concrete deterioration visible on the deck slab underside; areas of heavy steel deterioration; paint system failure; and a substandard live load rating capacity.  The existing deck's 27'-10" width between curbs fails to satisfy the 28-foot minimum width requirement for functional adequacy at this site.  A 28-foot minimum clear roadway width is also necessary to satisfy statutory requirements pertaining to bridges constructed or reconstructed on State-maintained highways of two or more lanes. 

The proposed project consists of replacing the reinforced concrete deck with a slightly wider section that achieves composite action with the flooring steel; placing waterproofing membrane and bituminous concrete overlay on the new deck; installing new joint treatments at the ends of the new slab; repairing deteriorated superstructure steel; installing a new deck curb-mounted box beam bridge rail system; abrasive blast cleaning and field painting the superstructure steel, including the bearings; constructing lateral restraint mechanisms at the bearing locations; and patching the substructure concrete above the floodplain elevation.  Incidental approach roadway work consisting of pavement reconstruction and resurfacing with safety enhancements and drainage improvements will also be performed. 

Work is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2009 and be completed in the fall of 2010.  The rehabilitation of this bridge is to be undertaken as part of the state “Fix-it-First” program, which is funded through Special Tax Obligation bonds.  The estimated construction cost for this project is in the $4,000,000 range.  There will be no rights-of-way involvement associated with this project.

The Public Information Meeting is being held to afford a full opportunity for public participation and to allow open discussion of any views and comments the community may have concerning this proposed project.  ConnDOT initially presented this project proposal at a September 19, 2007 Public Information Meeting.  The purpose of the project and scope of rehabilitation work have not changed since the initial Public Information Meeting.  However, the proposed construction methodology, which originally involved performing construction in two stages while maintaining a temporary signal-controlled, alternating one-way traffic operation during each stage, has been revised.  It is now proposed to close the bridge during construction and to detour traffic over Route 169 in Canterbury, Route 14 in Canterbury and Plainfield, Route 14A in Plainfield and Route 12 in Plainfield and Canterbury.  The focus of the upcoming Public Information Meeting will be the currently proposed temporary traffic detour.

Plans will be available for public review.  ConnDOT personnel will be available during the meeting to discuss this project.  More detailed information is available at ConnDOT's Office of Engineering, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut, during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.  Anyone wishing to review the plans may contact Ms. Mary E. Baker at (860) 594-3402 or (860) 563-9375 to make an appointment.

All persons interested in this project are welcome to attend this meeting to discuss the project with ConnDOT personnel.