Date: Fri 24-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Church-Hill-Rd-bridge-beam

Full Text:

Church Hill Road To Close Overnight For Bridge Beam Replacement

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The state Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to close down part of

Church Hill Road on Saturday night to repair the railroad overpass. The bridge

has been hit so many times that it has finally become a safety issue,

according to State Rep Julia Wasserman.

The DOT's bridge safety division will replace the structure's western side

steal beam, which will require the overnight closure of the road. Vehicles

will be detoured onto local roads   Edmond, Schoolhouse and The Boulevard. The

work is scheduled to be performed between 9 pm and 7 am.

"The trucks have been hitting the bridge primarily from one direction and they

have torn up the beam on the western side pretty good," explained Jim Loersch

of the DOT's bridge safety unit. "I have been very concerned with its ability

to hold up the concrete sidewalk on the bridge."

Mr Loersch said the actual railroad bridge is supported by two girders which

do not need to be replaced.

The project will also include improvements, including the installation of

flashing lights which should make the overpass more visible.

Of course, these repairs do not preclude the eventual replacement of the

entire bridge, which has been struck by numerous tractor-trailer trucks over

the years. Over the next year, the state plans to remove the 12'7" bridge and

replace it with a new, higher-hanging trestle. The work is expected to be

completed in November, 1999.

Last month, the state announced it had finally secured the necessary funds to

begin the long-awaited replacement of the existing bridge, which was struck 33

times in 1997 alone. The project was finally able to move forward with the

passage of a federal highway bill this past spring. The $3-4 million job will

be funded with both state and federal funds. The state has received the

cooperation from both the town and Housatonic Railroad, which owns the bridge.