CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NEWS RELEASE
2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546
FOR RELEASE: December 16, 2013
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
FAX: (860) 594-3065
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Public Information Meeting Concerning Proposed Design Plans for the Rehabilitation of Bridge Nos. 03399D, 03400D, and 03402A in Hartford (These bridges are part of the I-84, Sisson Avenue Interchange at Exit 46)
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (Department) will conduct a public information meeting concerning the rehabilitation of Bridge No. 03399D, which carries I-84 TR 824 over Parking Lot, Bridge No. 03400D, which carries I-84 TR 823 over Parking Lot, and Bridge No. 03402A, which carries SR 503 WB over Amtrak Railroad and Capitol Avenue, in Hartford.  These bridges are part of the I-84, Sisson Avenue Interchange at Exit 46.  The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Greater Hartford Transit District Offices, One Union Place, Hartford, Connecticut, 06103.  In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2013. 
Bridge No. 03399D, which was built in 1969 and rehabilitated in 1983 and 2002, carries TR 824, a one lane on-ramp from Sisson Avenue to I-84 WB over a parking lot.  It is a six-span bridge with an average daily traffic count of approximately 5,600 vehicles, 9 percent of which is truck traffic.  I-84 at this location, for which this ramp provides on–ramp access, has a functional classification of Urban Principal Arterial-Interstate.  It is on the National Highway System, and it is part of the Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET).  The bridge consists of a reinforced concrete abutment and piers founded on steel piles, which support the steel plate girder superstructure and reinforced concrete deck, with the east side of the structure connecting to Bridge No. 03399C.  The total structure length is 458 feet, the out-to-out deck width is 27.5 feet, and the curb-to-curb width is 23.83 feet. 
Bridge No. 03400D, which was built in 1969 and rehabilitated in 2002, carries TR 823, a one lane off-ramp from I-84 EB to Sisson Avenue over a parking lot.  It is a seven-span bridge with an average daily traffic count of approximately 5,100 vehicles, 9 percent of which is truck traffic.  I-84 at this location, for which this ramp provides off–ramp access, has a functional classification of Urban Principal Arterial-Interstate.  It is on the National Highway System, and it is part of the Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET).  The bridge consists of a reinforced concrete abutment and piers founded on steel piles, which support the steel plate girder superstructure and reinforced concrete deck, with the east side of the structure connecting to Bridge No. 03400C.  The total structure length is 599 feet, the out-to-out deck width is 27.5 feet, and the curb-to-curb width varies by span. 
Bridge No. 03402A, which was built in 1969 and rehabilitated in 2002, carries SR 503 WB, a one lane off-ramp from I-84 WB to Sisson Avenue over Amtrak Railroad and Capitol Avenue.  The north side of the bridge is not open to traffic and it is separated from traffic by a concrete barrier.  It is a six-span bridge with an average daily traffic count of approximately 10,200 vehicles, 9 percent of which is truck traffic.  I-84 at this location, for which this ramp provides off–ramp access has a functional classification of Urban Local.  It is not on the National Highway System, and it is not part of the Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET).  The bridge consists of a reinforced concrete abutment and piers founded on steel piles, which support the steel plate girder superstructure and reinforced concrete deck, with the west side of the structure connecting to Bridge No. 03402B.  The total structure length is 500 feet, the out-to-out deck width and the curb-to-curb width vary by span.  
At this time, all three projects have completed their preliminary engineering phase, the Rehabilitation Study Reports (RSR) and recommended scopes have been approved, and the projects are progressing into their design phase.  Three rehabilitation alternatives were evaluated in the RSR and the structural repair and spot painting alternative was selected for all three bridges.  
Bridge No. 03399D: repairs consist of replacing the asphaltic plug deck joints, milling and replacing the bridge deck wearing surface, repairing the underside of deck concrete, repairing steel girder ends as necessary, painting the ends of steel girders, painting the steel girders as necessary, replacing expansion bearings, cleaning and painting fixed bearings, cleaning existing scuppers, and patching substructure concrete.  
Bridge No. 03400D: repairs consist of replacement of the bridge deck joints, replacement of the bridge deck membrane and wearing surface, patching topside deck concrete, repairing the underside of deck concrete, painting of the steel girders as necessary, painting ends of steel girders, repair steel girders as necessary, repairing defective welds, cleaning and painting fixed bearings, replacement of the expansion bearings, patching substructure concrete, cleaning existing scuppers, repairing the bridge drainage system, and repairing the metal beam rail.  
Bridge No. 03402A: repairs consist of replacing  the asphaltic plug bridge deck joints, milling and replacing the bridge deck wearing surface, repairing the underside of deck concrete, painting the steel girders as necessary, painting the ends of the steel girders, repairing steel girders as necessary, repairing defective welds, cleaning and painting the fixed bearings, replacing the expansion bearings, repairing steel box cap beams, patching substructure concrete, cleaning existing scuppers, and repairing the bridge drainage system.  
Work is anticipated to begin in spring 2015 and be completed in fall 2015.  The estimated construction cost for these projects is $11,000,000.
Traffic will be detoured during paving operations on I-84 and SR 503 and will be limited to overnight closures with the roadways re-opening for traffic each morning.  There will be temporary sidewalk closures and lane closures on Capitol Avenue and Forest Street.  Based on the State Highway Boundary Map, the right-of-way width generally encompasses all anticipated construction activity.  Minor impacts to private property are anticipated for the rehabilitation of Bridge No. 03399D at the Connecticut State Employees Association, consisting of construction access and traffic.  There will be a temporary loss of parking spaces during construction.

The Public Information Meeting is being held to afford a full opportunity for public participation and to allow open discussion of any views and comments the community may have concerning this proposed project.

Plans will be available for public review.  Department personnel will be available during the meeting to discuss this project.  More detailed information is available at the Department's Office of Engineering, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut, during office hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.  Anyone wishing to review the plans may contact Mr. Andrew J. Cardinali, Project Engineer, at (860) 594-3315.  Plans will also be available for review at the City’s Department of Public Works Office located at 50 Jennings Road, Hartford. 

All persons interested in this project are welcome to attend this meeting and discuss the project with Department personnel.