August 30, 2012

GOV. MALLOY: ARRIGONI BRIDGE TO REOPEN ALL TRAVEL LANES AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Two Months Ahead of Schedule, All Four Travel Lanes will Reopen by September 15

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner James P. Redeker today announced that the Arrigoni Bridge, which carries Route 66 over the Connecticut River between Middletown and Portland, will reopen all four lanes of traffic by September 15 - two months ahead of the original schedule.

"We know that this reconstruction project for the 35,000 commuters that cross the bridge daily has not been easy as traffic lanes were reduced in both directions, but this was a public safety project that simply could not be postponed any longer. The patience and cooperation of the public has been remarkable throughout the entire process and I want to thank them." Governor Malloy said. "I must also give a special thanks to the state DOT employees, their contractors, and the towns of Middletown and Portland for their thoroughness and for being able to complete the project ahead of schedule."

"This is great news for the people of central Connecticut who deserve our applause for their patience during this year-long rehabilitation project," Commissioner Redeker said. "There is still some additional work to do, but getting all four lanes of traffic reopened early, and particularly for the peak-travel hours, is a significant achievement and a testament to the diligence of the DOT, its contractors and the towns of Middletown and Portland."

Upcoming work to complete the final paving on the two main spans and the installation of pavement markings will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Tuesday, September 4, weather permitting, and will be completed by September 15, at which time traffic will be restored to its original four lane configuration.

After September 15, off-peak lane closures will be required to complete work added to the project, which includes paving of the approach spans, replacement of the approach spans' expansion joints, and sidewalk repairs to the south side of the bridge. The lane closures will only occur during off-peak traffic hours. Also, while the sidewalk located on the north side will reopen on September 15, the sidewalk on the south side will be closed until October 31, 2012.

The Arrigoni Bridge was originally built between 1936 and 1938 and opened to traffic on August 6, 1938. Since the opening of the bridge, numerous repairs have been made including structural steel, approach concrete deck repairs, new barrier curb railings, electrical upgrades and abatement and painting of the steel girders and overhead truss structure.

For more information on the Arrigoni Bridge Project, visit www.ct.gov/dot/Arrigoni . Any questions or comments related to the Arrigoni Bridge should be sent to DOT.Arrigoni@ct.gov .

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For Immediate Release: August 30, 2012

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