Date: Fri 05-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Church-Hill-Road-bridge-DOT

Full Text:

Financing Secured For Church Hill Bridge Replacement

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The days when trucks slam into the Church Hill Road railroad bridge appear to

be numbered.

The state Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Wednesday it had

finally secured the necessary funds needed to replace the low-hanging bridge.

"We're ready to move ahead with redesign and construction of the project,"

said Carl Bard, the DOT's principal engineer for highways. "Certainly anyone

familiar with the bridge realizes the need to fix it."

Both the state and town have been pushing to have this project done for

several years as numerous trucks slam into the 12'7" high bridge each year.

The only thing holding up construction was funding. The state had secured most

of the $3.5 million needed to get started, but it was still short a million

dollars.

Just ten days ago, however, the tides turned with the passing of a new federal

highway bill (T-21 Transportation Enhancement Act), which will provide the

necessary funds. That money will become available as of October 1. The

construction of a new bridge is expected to be completed by November 1999,

according to Mr Bard. The $2.5 million already in place was ICE-T (Intermodal

Service Transportation and Enhancement Act) funds.

"The federal authorization money ran out last year so we were in a quandary

about what to do with this project," Mr Bard said. "When money became

available, this project was at the top of the list."

The DOT is currently working on a schedule for design and construction of the

new bridge.

State Rep Julia Wasserman and First Selectman Herb Rosenthal received the news

this week during a meeting with DOT officials in Newington. Rep Wasserman

credited the DOT for going after the funds.

During the construction, the old bridge will be removed and a temporary grade

crossing will be installed. That means the tracks will go directly over Church

Hill Road. Housatonic Railroad officials say that area is not a high volume

crossing.

"It's been a long, long haul," said a relieved Mrs Wasserman Wednesday.

The DOT had a plan in place to raise the bridge back in 1996, but the

blueprint was put on hold after the state claimed it was unable to work out an

agreement with Housatonic Railroad, which owns the bridge. The railroad has

been very cooperative during recent talks, however, especially since the

project is being completely funded with state and federal funds.

Almost weekly, trucks trying to reach Interstate 84 by way of Church Hill Road

(Route 6) to Exit 10 sheer off the tops of their trailers on the bridge. In

1997, 33 trucks fell victim to the bridge and the situation appears to be

getting worse as traffic levels increase, according to town officials.