The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing an intersection improvement project will begin on or around Monday, September 21st, 2020, at the intersection of Route 318 (Saville Dam Road) and Route 219 (Reservoir Road) in Barkhamsted.
The project will address safety concerns at the current “Y” intersection at the junction of Routes 318 and 219. The purpose is to replace 5 intersections to a single intersection. Improvements include the removal of the existing access roads between Routes 318 and 219 (across from the MDC parking lot). Route 219 will be realigned to a conventional “T” type intersection. Due to a large grade differential between Route 219 and 318, the roadway grade of Route 219 will gradually be raised to 5% with a 2% landing prior to “T”-ing up at the intersection. As a result of this new configuration, Route 318 will become a through movement while 219 will be stop controlled in the northbound direction. Route 318 in the area of the intersection will be widened to allow for additional 10-feet of bypass in the southbound direction. Guiderail within the project area will be upgraded to a box beam-rail. Area sightlines will also be improved by cutting back vegetation on the west side of Route 318 including the removal of the rock slope on the eastern side of Route 219 north of the existing intersection.
Project 0005-0114 was awarded to Richards Corporation of Terryville, Connecticut on August 31, 2020, at a cost of $2,273,707.00, and is scheduled to be completed in September 2021.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
Various lane closures are anticipated between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM along Route 219 and 318, Monday through Friday, with various closures for each Phase of construction as noted below:
- Phase 1 will include the closure of a 1000-foot section of Route 219 from connector road to the approach of Route 318 from September 21, through November 21, 2020.
- Phase 2 will include the reconstruction of the remaining 750-foot section of Route 219 utilizing alternating one-way traffic.
- Phase 3 – closure of Route 318 Eastbound travel lane from the connector road to Route 219/318 merge.
- Phase 4 - close connector road permanently.