Spanning Center Street In Riverside—

DOT To Explain I-84 Bridge Replacement Plans

By Andrew Gorosko

The state Department of Transportation (DOT) has scheduled an informational session for next week on its plans to replace the two aging Interstate-84 bridges that cross above Center Street in the Riverside section of Sandy Hook.

The meeting is slated for 7 pm on Tuesday, December 14, at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, Fairfield Hills.

The $6.6 million highway improvement project would replace the two bridges that carry eastbound and westbound I-84 over Center Street. The parallel bridges, which lie about 90 feet apart, are located just west of the Lake Zoar section of the Housatonic River.

The DOT proposes starting work on the bridge replacement project in the summer of 2012, with project completion slated for the fall of 2013.

 In a statement, DOT explained that the existing bridges, which were constructed in 1977-78, are 100-foot-long single-span structures in which concrete girders support concrete deck slabs. The westbound bridge is wider than the eastbound bridge.

“Rehabilitation of these bridges is necessary due to the poor condition of the concrete girders,” according to DOT.

 The bridge project would include replacing the concrete girders and also the concrete deck slabs. Two-lane traffic would be maintained in each direction on I-84 at all times during the construction project through the use of staged-construction techniques, according to DOT. To allow such a traffic-flow plan, the eastbound bridge would be widened in the median area.

During the removal of existing girders and the installation of new girders on the bridges, Center Street traffic would be detoured onto adjacent local roads, according to DOT. Such detours likely would be in effect only during certain times of day.

Because the state right-of-way in the bridge area is approximately 350 feet wide, the state would not need to acquire rights-of-way for the project.

At the December 14 session, DOT members will explain the bridge project and will field questions from the public.

People who want detailed information on the bridge replacement project may contact DOT’s Office of Engineering at 2800 Berlin Turnpike in Newington during the office hours of 8:30 am to 4 pm, Mondays through Fridays.

People who want to review the bridge plans should contact Mary E. Baker to make an appointment. The telephone contact numbers are 860-594-3402, and 860-563-9375.