CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: February 20, 2009

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Reconstruction and Widening of Route 7 from Starrs Plain Road to Wooster Heights Road (near Danbury Airport) Scheduled to Start

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that a project for the reconstruction and widening of Route 7 in Danbury and Ridgefield is scheduled to begin on or about Monday, February 23, 2009.

The contract was awarded to Empire Paving General Contractors of North Haven, CT on January 22, 2009 at a cost of $45,331,480.00 and is scheduled to be completed in November, 2011.

The project consists of widening the road to two lanes in each direction.  This will require a new bridge over Wooster Heights Road to carry the southbound traffic while the existing bridge carries the two northbound lanes.  Old Sugar Hollow Road will be permanently closed at the south end where it intersects Route 7.  Old Sugar Hollow Road will become a cul-de-sac with access only from Miry Brook Road.

Motorists can expect lane closures:

Monday through Friday- 9 am to 3 pm. 

Nights- the Contractor will be allowed to use alternating one-way traffic 10 pm - 6 am

Weekends (Sat-Sun) - 9 pm and 10 am.

Traffic may be halted on Route 7 for a period of time not to exceed ten minutes for the purpose of blasting rock and removing rock from the roadway.