The contractor working on the Old Kings Highway North bridge over Interstate 95 expects to open the bridge to traffic headed toward the Post Road in the second or third week of December, Darien Police Department announced.
Traffic headed in that direction has been disallowed for months as work on replacing the bridge removed one lane, and only traffic headed toward Rowayton was allowed to use the remaining lane.
Within the next week the single usable lane on the bridge is expected to be moved to the bridge’s right side, police announced.
(Keep in mind that all construction announcements of any type are always tentative, especially since work can be delayed or halted by bad weather.)
Here’s the full Police Department announcement:
The CDOT [Connecticut Department of Transportation] contractor should be switching over to start working on the other side of the I-95 overpass bridge within the next week.
Although the traffic pattern will remain as one lane only (towards Rowayton, as it has been) for the time being, the fact that all eastbound Old Kings Highway North traffic will be back on the right side of the road should be an improvement with the overall traffic flow and sight lines coming from Parklands Drive.
The contractor now expects to have the Old Kings Highway North bridge fully open to two lanes of traffic by the second or third week of December. The finished sidewalk and permanent road reconstruction will not be fully completed until spring.
That said, there will be a fully serviceable two-lane roadway and an asphalt sidewalk during the winter months. CDOT reports that the contractor does not foresee any need to go back to a “one way only” traffic pattern when this happens and that occasional alternating lanes during daytime hours (with appropriate traffic personnel/control) will be sufficient come the spring.
The expected and previously announced overnight complete closures of Old Kings Highway North over the summer months were not required.
CDOT reports that the contractor has been working seven days a week during recent weeks (both day and night work) to move this project along. They have a plan in place for colder weather roadway concrete pouring as long as the temperature is above freezing.
The Darien Police Department, the Darien Department of Public Works and the State of Connecticut DOT appreciate your continued patience as this project progresses. Questions and concerns on this project can be directed via email to Capt. Don Anderson at danderson@darienct.gov.
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See also:
- ConnDOT Plans to Replace Old Kings Hwy North Bridge Over Highway This Year (Jan. 24)
- Replacement Starts April 1 for Old Kings Hwy North Bridge Over Interstate 95 (March 21)
- Northbound Old Kings Hwy North at I-95 Bridge To Be Completely Shut Off (March 31)
- Ban on Westbound Traffic Starts June 7 for Old Kings Hwy North Bridge During Replacement Project (June 1)
The Old Kings Highway North bridge over Interstate 95 in Darien may be as much as 60 years old.