NORWALK — Local officials are hoping the state’s upcoming refurbishment of the West Rocks Road bridge over the Merritt Parkway isn’t a repeat performance of work on the East Rocks Road bridge five years ago.
The state Department of Transportation closed that bridge in March 2010 with the intent of reopening it the following May. Instead, the bridge reopened in November 2011 with closeout work continuing after that.
“I think we all remember the East Rocks bridge that was out of commission for quite some time,” said Mayor Harry W. Rilling, informing Common Council members Tuesday about a public-information session next week on the project. “So if you have an interest or will be affected by that bridge, you may want to come and hear what the state’s plans are.”
ConnDOT has scheduled the public meeting on the rehabilitation of the West Rocks Road bridge over the Merritt Parkway for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Community Room of Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave.
Plans will be available for public review and ConnDOT personnel will be present at the meeting to discuss the project. Anyone interested in the project is welcome to attend and discuss the project with state officials.
ConnDOT spokesman Judd Everhart said the project design team is working with the department inspector who was assigned to the East Rocks Road bridge project “to ensure that any preventable issues that led to schedule overruns do not occur.”
“Project constructability within schedule will continue to be vetted as the project moves through the design phase,” Everhart said. “Additionally, a ‘Milestone Incentive and Milestone Liquidated Damages’ special provision that is linked to the milestone of reopening the bridge within schedule will be part of the contract.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Statue, bridge projects move on
NEW BRITAIN — Two city projects funded in part by the State Bond Commission moved forward at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Common Council.
Aldermen appointed an ad hoc oversight committee to advise in the development of a monument to honor the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, the first unit of native Puerto Ricans to fight in the Army. The memorial will be near the intersection of Washington and Beaver streets.
The commission last month approved a $300,000 grant-in-aid request from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to fund the monument that for several years had been the subject of area fundraisers. The monument was one of two identified by numerous state legislators who decried bonding such projects, considering the state’s economic outlook.
The council approved dedicating the $300,000 to construction contracts for the monument and appointed to the advisory committee a representative from Mayor Erin Stewart’s office, Aldermen Wilfredo Pabon, Emmanuel Sanchez and Kristian Rosado, Public Works Director Mark Moriarty, state Rep. Robert Sanchez — who has led the monument effort since 2011 — and Carmelo Rodriguez, president of the Latino Coalition.
The committee will be expected to periodically report on the progress of the project to Stewart and the council.
The streetscape improvement project known as the “Beehive Bridge” also moved one step closer to reality.
Aesthetic and physical upgrades to the Main Street bridge over Route 72, including designs featuring the city’s iconic bee theme serves as the fifth phase of the Downtown Streetscape Improvements Project. The bond commission in May approved $2.1 million in support of the $5.8 million project, being paid with local, state and federal monies.
The Manchester engineering firm of Fuss & O’Neill will be paid $330,000 to create a preliminary design of the project based on state Department of Transportation standards. The initial design work will include traffic signals, crosswalks, pedestrian ramps and revised lane arrangements. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
I-95 northbound lanes to close over Oil Mill Road in Waterford for bridge work
The state Department of Transportation announced it will implement lane closures on Interstate 95 northbound in Waterford as it performs an "accelerated bridge construction" operation.
During an accelerated bridge construction project, a bridge section is built adjacent to its final location and moved into place quickly once constructed.
I-95 northbound over Oil Mill Road in Waterford will have one lane closed on Aug. 22 through Aug. 24, as well as on Aug. 29 through Aug. 31, according to a DOT news release.
Significant traffic delays are expected.
The bridge construction process consists of four "slides," in which one half of each of the two bridges will be slid into place to accelerate construction and minimize inconveniences to drivers.
The first slide will begin at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, and is planned to be completed 34 hours later, at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24.
Each of these slides will require one of the two lanes on I-95 northbound to be closed for the duration of the 34 hours. Significant traffic delays are expected and it is recommended that alternate routes are used during the closures. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
UConn OK's Stamford housing for 350 students
UConn says it will erect housing for up to 350 pupils to its Stamford campus.
The state flagship university's board of trustees voted Tuesday to proceed with construction of 116 apartments, tentatively set for initial occupancy beginning fall of 2017, the school said.
Each unit will have a mix of one- and two bedrooms, a kitchen, laundry facilities, bathroom and a living room. Most bedrooms will be designed to accommodate two residents.
The project's price tag wasn't disclosed.
Amenities on the building's first floor will include a meeting room, resident mailboxes, staff offices and a security desk. A second-floor lounge will include small study rooms and a lounge for residents' use. There will also be apartments on the second floor.