VPIM Project Webpage SPN 0119-0121

Welcome to the webpage for Project No. 0119-0121, Replacement of Bridge No. 05068 Wellers Bridge Road over Shepaug River, in the Town of Roxbury.

A virtual public informational meeting for the project will be held on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide the community an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and allow an open discussion of any views and comments concerning the proposed improvements. A Q&A session will immediately follow the presentation.

The purpose and need of the project are to address structural deficiencies associated with the poor condition of the existing bridge deck, address its functional obsolescence, and get this scour critical bridge into a state of good repair. The project will accomplish this by replacing the existing circa-1956 two-span bridge that carries Wellers Bridge Road over the Shepaug River in the town of Roxbury with a new single span bridge.

The existing bridge is located approximately 200 feet east of Route 67 (Baker Road) and 1.25 miles west of the center of Roxbury. The bridge carries bi-directional traffic in an east-west direction on a 24-foot wide roadway over the Shepaug River. There are no sidewalks on or near the bridge. The bridge was originally built in 1956 and rehabilitated in 2001. It consists of two-span steel multi-girder superstructure with composite concrete deck on reinforced cast-in-place abutments and center pier. Wellers Bridge Road is classified as a Rural Minor Collector road and has a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour. The estimated Average Daily Traffic on the bridge is 3,000 vehicles per day in the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Routine Inspection Report.

The proposed bridge will consist of a single span hybrid steel multi-girder superstructure on reinforced cast-in-place abutments founded on piles driven to competent rock. An 8½-inch reinforced concrete deck will be cast on top of girders with membrane waterproofing and a 3-inch bituminous concrete wearing surface. The approach roadways will be reconstructed and the overall bridge length will be increased from 147 feet to 178 feet. A curb-to-curb width of 28 feet, consisting of 11-foot travel lanes and 3-foot shoulders, will be provided on the bridge. A 5’-6” wide sidewalk will also be provided on the south side of the bridge. Open bridge rail, mounted to the cast-in-place concrete curbs, will be utilized across the structure and terminate into concrete end blocks located at all four corners of the bridge. Approach guiderail will be utilized at all four corners of the bridge.

The roadway will be reconstructed to limits approximately 230 feet west of the bridge and 250 feet east of the bridge resulting in 600 feet of project limits. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times during construction, one lane in each direction. The replacement bridge will be constructed next to the existing  bridge on the south (downstream) side to avoid the need to detour traffic. 

Existing fiber optic communication conduits located on the underside of the bridge deck will be temporarily relocated to existing utility poles on the north side of the existing bridge prior to construction and then replaced on the proposed structure upon completion of construction activities, or they will be relocated on the proposed structure (e.g., under the sidewalk) during staged construction. The exposed concrete on the bridge wingwalls will have a rubbed finish, and the approach guiderail will be galvanized.

There are right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements. The proposed bridge replacement will require property acquisition or a land swap on the south side and construction easements on the north side.

Construction is anticipated to begin the spring of 2026 based on the availability of funding, acquisition of rights of way, and approval of permit(s).  The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $13,635,000. This project is anticipated to be undertaken with 100% federal funds and 0% state funds.

The Public Meeting Notice can be viewed here.

The proposed project plans can be viewed here.

Please register for the virtual public information meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TdH0NdYQTsmn7bHEweUJKg. Registration is required to participate. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to access the meeting.

This meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube: portal.ct.gov/ctdotvpimarchive.

Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following the meeting. Please direct comments and questions by April 10 to:

• DOT-FLBP@ct.gov
• 860-594-2020
• Andrew Shields, Andrew.Shields@ct.gov or (860) 594-2077

Closed captioning will be available. Non-English translation options will be available on Zoom and YouTube. The recording will also be available on CTDOT’s YouTube Virtual Public Information Meeting playlist: portal.ct.gov/ctdotvpimarchive.

Persons with limited internet access, use the call-in number 877-853-5257 and enter Meeting ID 869 1984 3590. Persons with limited internet access may also request that project information be mailed to them within one week by contacting Andrew Shields at Andrew.Shields@ct.gov or (860) 594-2077.

Persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS).

Language assistance may be requested by contacting the CTDOT’s Language Assistance Call Line (860) 594-2109. Requests should be made at least five business days prior to the meeting. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.

Additional Information for Public

Voluntary Feedback Survey

After the meeting, we hope you’ll take a few extra minutes to fill out our brief survey.

DOT Office of Equity – Title VI Program