The planned start of construction to create a signalized four-way intersection of Church Hill Road (US Route 6), Commerce Road, and Edmond Road has been delayed, with the state Department of Transportation (DOT) project now expected to start in April 2017, one year later than was earlier planned.

The long-awaited intersection reconfiguration project has been in the planning stages for many years.

DOT officials at a July 2014 informational meeting provided details on the $4 million project to improve an 1,100-foot section of Church Hill Road, including the intersection reconfiguration project.    

That section of Church Hill Road has the highest local motor vehicle accident rate, with many rear-end collisions and numerous accidents caused by vehicular-turning conflicts.

Town officials have long sought to improve the appearance and functionality of Church Hill Road west of Exit 10 of Interstate 84, when considering that many travelers on I-84 enter the local road network there.

DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick said several factors led to the delayed construction start.

The delay stems, in part, from the need to perform an archaeological survey of the area based upon historic artifacts that were found there, he said.

Matthew Vail, DOT’s project manager, said those historic artifacts included the remnants of a foundation for an old mill located in a now-wooded area near Edmond Road.

Other delaying factors included map preparation for property acquisitions that are needed for the project, Mr Nursick said.

Mr Nursick said he expects the construction project to be advertised in the summer of 2016 for bids. As of now, it appears that construction would start in April 2017, he said.

As part of the project, the DOT plans to build sidewalks along both sides of Church Hill Road in that area. About ten utility poles in the area will need to be relocated.

The project is intended to ease traffic congestion, improve travel safety, and enhance pedestrian access.

The construction work is expected to last somewhat more than one construction season. DOT Construction seasons run from April 1 to November 30.

Besides the 1,100 linear feet of Church Hill Road to be improved, the project will extend 1,100 feet northward along a new southern section of Edmond Road, and 200 feet southward on Commerce Road.

The affected area on Church Hill Road generally lies between the Housatonic Railroad overpass and the Exit 10 ramps for eastbound I-84.

The project will include minor widening of Church Hill Road and Commerce Road to allow for travel lane reconfigurations. Designated vehicle-turning lanes will be included in the project.

Generally, the plans call for the southern end of Edmond Road to be shifted westward so that Edmond Road becomes part of a conventional signalized four-way intersection with Church Hill Road and Commerce Road. The southern end of Edmond Road now lies about 250 feet east of the northern end of Commerce Road.

Besides the heavy traffic in the area, one reason that the area has so many accidents is its many commercial driveways, which create vehicle-turning conflicts.

Traffic signals in the area would be synchronized to improve traffic flow. The project would include the installation of new stormwater sewers.