Intersection on East Haven/Branford Border To Be Realigned?

The Route 1 and Route 100 intersection in could soon find itself receiving a much-needed face lift.

The state Department of Transportation is proposing an "intersection realignment" of Route 100 (Main Street) at U.S. Route 1 (Saltonstall Parkway), which sits directly across from the  on the boarder of Branford.

The proposal also calls for the replacement of the Farm River Bridge, which forms part of Main Street just before the Route 1 intersection approach.

The bridge sits next to the historic Old Iron Mill, the site of the first iron works in Connecticut and third in the nation.

The two-part project is included in the state DOT's current 5-year Transportation Infrastructure Capital Plan, which is posted in the gallery that accompanies this article.

Saftey Issues

According to the state, the purpose of the project "is to provide safety and traffic operational improvements" at the Route 100/U.S. Route 1 intersection.

And to replace the Farm River Bridge (state Bridge No. 01665), which has been "identified to be in poor condition." The National Bridge Inventory Database also has the bridge listed as currently "structurally deficient."

Susan Libatique, the project's manager for the DOT, told East Haven Patch the project was initiated based on the department’s review of accidents on Route 100 at its intersection with Route 1.

"In that location, there are a lot of crashes," Libatique said.

And, she said, a review of the state's bridge inspection program has identified the Farm River Bridge — which was built in 1900 — as not just being in need of repair, but of being completely replaced.

"We do regular inspections, and this is one of the bridges that is on our list," Libatique said.

A 2008 Farm River Bridge inspection report is posted in the gallery.

Public Hearing

The DOT will hold a public informational meeting about the proposed project on April 25 at the East Haven Senior Center.

Department personnel — including Libatique — will be available at 6:30 p.m. to answer questions, prior to a formal design presentation at 7 p.m.

"Then we will open it up to a question and answer session following the presentation," Libatique said.

Plans of the proposed project will also be on display for public review.

Project Details

According to Libatique, the project plans currently call for the Main Street approach to Route 1 to be removed.

In its place, the state would construct two new lanes:

• A left and right turn lane
• And a right-turn-only lane

Libatique said the there would also be a "little bit of widening" of the Route 100 approach to Route 1.

"It makes for a much cleaner intersection," she said.

Libatique added, however, that the proposed project's plans are still in the "preliminary design" phase.

"Nothing has been set in stone," she said.

East Haven Patch has requested a PDF copy of the project's plans, which has not yet been passed along by the state.

Other Project Details

Overhead and underground utility relocations would be required for the proposed improvements of this project. 

Additionally, partial right-of-way acquisitions on both sides of the Farm River Bridge would be required.

Design work on the project is scheduled to be completed in the fall 2013, with construction anticipated to start in spring 2014 — based on the availability of funding.

Construction activities are anticipated to last about one year, the state says.

Construction Costs

The estimated construction cost for the proposed replacement of the bridge and intersection realignment is some $7 million.

And the state reports it anticipates that would come from about 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds.

Additional Information

More information is available at the Department’s Office of Engineering, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.

In addition, anyone wishing to discuss the project may contact Timothy M. Wilson at (860)-594-3189 or by email at timothy.wilson@ct.gov.

Plans are also available for review at the

Deaf and hearing impaired persons wishing to attend the informational meeting and requiring an interpreter, must make arrangements by contacting the Department’s Office of Communications at (860)-594-3062 (voice only) at least five working days prior to the meeting.