Nighttime work has restarted on replacing the North Avenue Bridge over the Merritt Parkway in Westport, resulting in lane closures at night about a mile east of Exit 42, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced.
The work on the highway, which is U.S. Route 15, is expected to continue for months, ending by Sept. 2, the Friday before Labor Day.
The department also announced that flashing signs on Interstate 95, U.S. Routes 15, 7 and various state roads will be replaced at night starting in April, resulting in other nighttime lane closures. (See the bottom of this article for that announcement.)
Here’s the department’s announcement:
PROJECT UPDATE – Rehabilitation of Bridge Number 00732, North Ave over the Merritt Parkway (Route 15) in Westport
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that night work on the Merritt Parkway for the rehabilitation of the North Avenue Bridge over the Merritt Parkway in Westport has resumed.
DOT
Connecticut Department of Transportation barrel
The project began on May 5, 2015, and consists of the full rehabilitation of the existing bridge structure, including removal of the western spandrel, concrete patch repair of the underside and surface of the bridge and a full deck replacement.
The purpose of the project is to improve the structural deficiencies and preserve the integrity of the bridge. As a result of numerous crashes caused by oversized vehicles last year, the integrity of the temporary support system was compromised.
The temporary support system was removed in September of 2015, and a different system with greater clearance will be utilized. All remaining construction is expected to conclude by Sept. 2, 2016.
The project was awarded to Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman, Inc. of Branford, CT on March 12, 2015 at a cost of $2,854,817.14.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
On the Merritt Parkway (Route 15), one lane will be closed during the following periods:
- Monday through Thursday between 9 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
- Friday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Saturday between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- Sunday between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m.
On North Avenue, the use of one-way alternating traffic will be utilized. The width of the lane will be a minimum of 11 feet to accommodate vehicles. There may be periodic weekend road closures to facilitate construction activities on the bridge. The Town of Westport will be given advance notice when closures are scheduled to occur.
Flashing-sign replacements
Here’s the department’s announcement about replacing flashing signs (no exact locations were given) from April through August:
Project to Replace Signs with Flashers in Various Towns to Begin in April, 2016
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing the start of work in various towns to remove and replace signs with flashers at 132 locations along limited access highways on Route 7, 8, 15 and I-95, as well as Routes 5, 6, 10, 20, 22, 25, 34, 33, 35, 44, 63, 67, 69, 77, 79, 110, 115, 127, and 128.
The contract was awarded to Holzner Electric Construction of Bridgeport, at a cost of $1,294,418.75 and is scheduled for completion in August of 2016.
Lane Closure Info:
The contractor will be allowed to work on the above noted routes during the following hours:
• Monday through Friday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
• Saturday & Sunday: 7:00 pm to 9:00 am.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions.