Bridge Projects: Info Meeting To Be Held Next Week

As one bridge project potentially wraps in the spring of 2014 – the Amtrak Bridge at the West Rotary – construction will begin on bridges on the other end of town, said Town Engineer Janice Plaziak.

Route 139 and School Ground Road will be getting new bridges and the public is invited to attend a hearing regarding the projects on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at the new Fire Department in the meeting room. 

The School Ground Road bridge project is slated to begin in spring, 2014 with the Route 139 project anticipated to begin in the spring of 2015. The projects should not overlap and are being coordinated said Plaziak because both will detour traffic in similar ways. 

The projects have already been approved for funding (read about School Ground Road project on Patch and the Route 139 piece on The Sound website).

"The Route 139 bridge is a state bridge funded with state and federal funds," said Plaziak. The total is estimated to be $4,000,000.

"The School Ground Road bridge is a town bridge which is being funded with federal (80 percent) and local (20 percent) funds through a program called the Federal Local Bridge program," said Plaziak. The estimated cost is $2,640,000. Local funding is approved based on pre-grant application estimates, said Plaziak. The costs could rise so the local funds may be more than the estimated $528,000, added Plaziak. The local total will be adjusted before construction begins. 

The scope of the work as well as the detour routes for both projects will be discussed at the public meeting; residents are asked to come with their comments and concerns. 

What do you think of the projects? Worried about the traffic or looking forward to the new infrastructure? 

Town Information on Bridges

Bridge No. 01358

The existing bridge consists of a two-span concrete slab on cast-in-place concrete abutments.  The bridge is located on Route 139 approximately 0.3 miles north of U.S. Route 1, in the town of Branford. The bridge carries one lane of traffic in each direction.  The existing bridge has a curb-to-curb width of 24 feet.

The estimated 2011 Average Daily Traffic on Route 139 at this site is 9,400 vehicles per day.

The purpose and need for the project is to address the bridge’s structural deficiencies and functional obsolescence. The bridge is structurally deficient due to the poor condition of the deck and it is functionally obsolete due to the existing bridge width.

The proposed bridge replacement will result in approximately 900 feet of roadway construction. The proposed roadway approach width is 32 feet with two 12-foot travel lanes and two 4-foot shoulders. The proposed roadway profile will be raised approximately 3.5 feet.
Traffic will be detoured via School Ground Road and Main Street during the construction of the proposed bridge.
Work is anticipated to begin in spring 2015. 

The replacement of this bridge is to be undertaken with Federal and State funds.  The estimated construction cost for this project is $4,000,000.

Bridge No. 04848

The existing bridge consists of a single-span cast-in-place concrete structure on stone rubble masonry abutments. The bridge is located on School Ground Road approximately 0.3 miles north of U.S. Route 1, in the town of Branford. 

The bridge carries one lane of traffic in each direction.  The existing bridge has a curb-to-curb width of 21 feet.  The estimated 2012 Average Daily Traffic on School Ground Road at this site is 7,110 vehicles per day.

The purpose and need for the project is to address the bridge’s structural deficiencies and functional obsolescence. The bridge is structurally deficient due to the poor condition of the deck and it is functionally obsolete due to the existing bridge width.

The proposed roadway approach width is 32 feet. The proposed roadway profile will be raised approximately 1.4 feet.
Traffic will be detoured via Route 139 and Main Street during the construction of the proposed bridge.

Work is anticipated to begin in spring 2014.  The replacement of this bridge is to be undertaken with Federal and Local funds.  The estimated construction cost for this project is $2,640,000.

This Public Information Meeting is being held to afford a full opportunity for public participation and to allow open discussion of any views and comments the community may have concerning the proposed projects.

Plans will be available for public review at the Town Hall.  Department of Transportation (Department) personnel will be available during the meeting to discuss this project.  More detailed information is available at the Department's Office of Engineering, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut, during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.  Anyone wishing to review the plans may contact Mr. Joseph Scalise at (860) 594-3389 or Joseph.Scalise@ct.gov to make an appointment.
 
All persons interested in this project are welcome to attend this meeting and discuss the project with Department personnel.