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

FOR RELEASE: August 2, 2016

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

CTDOT Completes another Innovative Bridge Project

                The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) today announced that is has completed another innovative bridge project using Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques – this one in Middlefield on Route 147 (Durham Road) where it crosses Meadow Brook – completed in nine days.

                The project replaced a 1920 bridge with a 12-foot wide by 6-foot high precast concrete box culvert and adjoining segments. The bottom of the culvert has been covered with 2 feet of natural stream bed material.

                The ABC technique typically entails the construction of the new bridge adjacent to the existing one, and then moving it into place in one short time-span, which greatly reduces the amount of time a detour has to be utilized and the road closed to traffic. In this case, the culvert segments were created off-site and then moved into place when the old bridge was removed.

This $892,000 project was performed by Schultz Corporation of Terryville, Connecticut, under contract to CTDOT. The box culvert was created by United Concrete Products of Wallingford, Connecticut. The new bridge includes two 12-foot wide travel lanes and 4-foot shoulders in each direction. In addition to the new bridge, the project included the repaving of 1,000 feet of roadway on either side of the bridge. Work began on July 10 and was completed on July 19.

“This is another example of the innovations we are able to utilize as we maintain our road and bridge network in a state of good repair,” said CTDOT Commissioner James P. Redeker. “I want to commend our contractors and our own field staff for another great ABC success.”