CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: December 8, 2015

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

CTDOT Commissioner Tours Facilities in Northeastern Connecticut

                Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker today toured three recently completed CTDOT projects and facilities – a new bridge over the Willimantic River between Mansfield and Coventry, a new bus maintenance facility in Mansfield and the newly reopened Willington rest areas on I-84.

                “Projects like these keep Connecticut moving forward and underscore the value of Governor Malloy’s 30-year, $100 billion ‘Let’s Go CT’ initiative,” said Commissioner Redeker. “Connecticut citizens and tourists alike benefit from these long-term investments and I am proud that the DOT staff and contractors partnered together to make these happen.”

Background on this work follows:

Windham Regional Transit District bus maintenance facility

                This is a new facility in the town of Mansfield to service, store and otherwise maintain buses operated by the Windham Regional Transit District, which serves the towns of Ashford, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Hampton, Lebanon, Mansfield, Scotland, Willington and Windham.

                The $9.6 million project also includes a separate building for administrative offices.

Route 275 Bridge over the Willimantic River between Mansfield and Coventry

                This bridge was recently replaced at a cost of $2.5 million and has now reopened, almost a month ahead of schedule. The new two-lane bridge also includes 5-foot shoulders for pedestrian traffic. The 42-year-old one-lane bridge was closed for about 10 weeks to allow for the construction of the new span.

Willington Rest Areas on I-84

                These facilities on the east- and westbound sides of I-84 have been completely renovated and are now open again to the traveling public. The project cost about $3.1 million. The facilities also include tourist information and are staffed around the clock all year.