CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: March 22, 2018

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Waterbury Branch Rail Line:

Suspension of Weekend Service for Critical Repairs to the Devon Bridge

                The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and Metro-North Railroad will be performing critical maintenance work on the Devon Bridge, which carries the New Haven Line over the Housatonic River between Milford and Stratford, during the following weekends: March 24-25, April 7-8, April 14-15, April 21-22, April 28-29, May 5-6, May 12-13, and May 19-20. Because of the track configuration over the bridge, this work will suspend rail service on the Waterbury Branch during these weekends.  Alternate bus service will be provided throughout the outage.  Normally scheduled train service will run through Friday night and will resume with regular service Monday morning.

                The work planned during the weekend outages includes critical repairs to the 200-foot high towers at the bridge that carry the power and signal cables over the river.  The repairs include replacement of the guy wires that support the towers, repairs to the structural steel, and the installation of walkways and ladders that allow maintenance personnel access to the power and signal cables.  This work requires special construction methods because of the height of the towers. 

               Bus schedules for the planned outages will approximate the existing train schedule and notices will be posted at stations and online at www.ct.gov/dot and www.mta.info/mnr.