CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT 06131-7546
FOR RELEASE: Upon Receipt	FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 Fax: (860) 594-3066 HOME-PAGE:www.ct.gov/dot

SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY

Interstate 95 over Housatonic River

 Exit 33 to 34, Towns of Stratford / Milford

Newington, CT— The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today that The Middlesex Corporation has been awarded a $6.9 million dollar contract  for emergency bridge decks repairs on the Moses Wheeler Bridge that carries I-95 over the Housatonic River between the towns of Stratford and Milford. 

The work is scheduled to begin later this month. The project will necessitate the closing of two of the three lanes in each direction during the overnight hours. As a result, motorists and particularly truckers, are encouraged to plan accordingly.

The scope of the project includes repairing or replacing existing bridge deck ends and joints, patching the concrete deck and resurfacing the structure. This work will allow for continued service of the existing 49-year-old bridge during construction of a full replacement bridge, which is scheduled to start in 2008 and be completed in 2014. The full replacement bridge, currently under design, is expected to cost $250 million.

 “The Department has completed several emergency repairs in the past months that have required closing of lanes during peak travel hours resulting in extensive traffic backups,” said DOT Commissioner Ralph J. Carpenter.  “The Department has chosen to take a proactive approach and not wait for additional problems to arise. Our maintenance forces are not able to address all issues during these emergency repairs and we need to make sure that any repairs we accomplish will not result in us revisiting the same problem over and over again.”

The work is expected to be substantially completed during the current construction season (through November).

The DOT has informed and worked with local, state and federal officials, as well as groups like the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut and the I-95 Corridor Coalition to ensure the widest possible advance notice of the project so that adequate alternate-route planning can be done. Information about I-95 projects from Maine to Florida can be found at www.i95coalition.org. Another site, www.trips123.com also carries useful traffic information for planning purposes.

The Moses Wheeler Bridge, which is 3,196 feet long and has 34 spans, opened in 1958. It is named for one of Stratford’s earliest settlers, a shipwright who at one time in the mid-1600s operated a ferry across the Housatonic River between Stratford and Milford. He died in 1698 at the age of 100.

The contractor will be allowed to work during the following times:

Monday-Thursday    Lane closures beginning at 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following day

Friday                     Northbound beginning at 10 p.m. until 10 a.m. Saturday

                               Southbound beginning at 9 p.m. until 10 a.m. Saturday

Saturday                  Lane closures beginning at 9 pm until 10 a.m. Sunday

Sunday                    Northbound beginning at 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. Monday

                               Southbound beginning at 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Monday

Delays are expected.  Motorists should consider alternate routes when traveling in this area.

Please use caution when traveling through the construction work zone

Obey the posted speed limit and allow for extra travel time and have a safe journey.