Temporary Closure of Route 7 Over the Housatonic River in Salisbury Beginning Friday June 12 at 8 p

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEWS RELEASE

2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546

NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: May 29, 2009

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062

FAX: (860) 594-3065

WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Temporary Closure of Route 7 Over the Housatonic River in Salisbury Beginning Friday June 12, at 8 pm and Ending on Monday, June 15, at 6 am

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that, weather permitting, the temporary closure of Route 7 over the Housatonic River in Salisbury will begin Friday June 12, at 8 pm and will end on Monday, June 15, at 6 am.

The closure is required to facilitate delivery and construction of structural steel girders required for the replacement of Bridge #00562 over the Housatonic River. A temporary detour will be in place during the closure (see details below). Motorists should expect delays.

These construction activities are part of an $11.6 million dollar contract that is being performed by Brunalli Construction Company of Southington, CT under the direction of the Department of Transportation, District 4 Construction Office.

The Department anticipates the project will be completed in July 2010.

TRAFFIC DETOUR INFORMATION

Northbound Route 7

Route 7 traffic will be detoured along State Route 112 (west, 4.5 miles) to State Route 41 (north, 1.7 miles) to Route 44 (east, 8.5 miles) to State Route 126.

At the Route 44/126 intersection ( Falls Village Center) traffic should proceed along State Route 126 (south, 4.1 miles) back to Route 7 in Falls Village.

Northbound thru-traffic should continue along Route 44 (east, 2.0 miles) to Route 7 in North Canaan.

Motorist Advisory: The temporary detour will increase the trip length by 7.4 miles for northbound traffic destined for North Canaan and by 12.3 miles for northbound bound traffic destined for Falls Village center.

Southbound Traffic on Route 7

Falls Village traffic will be detoured along State Route 126 (north, 4.1 miles) to Route 44 (west, 8.5 miles) to State Route 41 (south, 1.7 miles) to State Route 112 (west, 4.5 miles) back to Route 7 near Lime Rock Park.

Motorist Advisory: The temporary detour will increase the trip length by 12.3 miles for southbound bound traffic in Falls Village destined for State Route 112.

Southbound Thru-Traffic (destined for points south of the Housatonic River) on Route 7

North Canaan traffic will be detoured along Route 44 (west, 10.5 miles) to State Route 41 (south, 1.7 miles) to State Route 112 (west, 4.5 miles) back to Route 7 near Lime Rock Park.

Motorist Advisory: The temporary detour will increase the trip length by 7.4 miles for southbound bound traffic in North Canaan destined for State Route 112.

Appalachian Trail hikers

The bridge will remain closed to pedestrians during the temporary detour. Appalachian trail hikers will be detoured westerly along Route 112 and northerly along Dugway Road to reconnect to the trail at Falls Mountain Road on the west side of the Housatonic River.