The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will conduct a Virtual Public Information Meeting concerning the proposed Rehabilitation of Bridge No. 02150, Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) over Freeman Brook, in the Town of Stratford on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place on Zoom and registration is required. A Question and Answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation. The presentation will be recorded.  Instructions on how to access the meeting and how to provide comments or ask questions can be found at the project webpage: https://portal.ct.gov/DOTStratford138-252.

The Virtual Public Information Meeting is being held to provide the public and local community the opportunity to offer comments or ask questions regarding the proposed project.

The purpose of State Project 0138-0252 is to rehabilitate Bridge No. 02150 by addressing the structural deficiencies of the culvert. The existing structure is a 201-foot long, 10-foot-wide by 8-foot-tall cast-in-place reinforced concrete box culvert with reinforced concrete headwalls and wingwalls. The existing structure exhibits numerous spalls with exposed rebar, scale, and active leakage with sediment. The concrete encasement of the existing sanitary sewer main running through the structure exhibits areas of cracking and scaling. Additionally, this concrete encasement is undermined south of the outlet. The channel is also in poor condition due to scour and embankment erosion at the outlet.  

The proposed rehabilitation consists of clearing and patching deteriorated concrete, repairing the cutoff and wingwalls, and sanitary sewer encasement at areas of noted deterioration. Additionally, the adjacent stormwater outlet pipe will be extended to outlet, where channel and embankment scour protection will be installed. Approximately 60 feet of the existing sewer main and concrete encasement that extends from the outlet of the culvert to the southern manhole will be replaced as part of the project.  

A temporary construction access road to the culvert outlet will be constructed to accommodate construction. The entrance of the temporary construction access road will be located on the Route 15 Northbound Exit 53 Off-Ramp.

Anticipated right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements include one (1) partial property take to encompass all structure elements within State right-of-way at the bridge inlet on the northern side of the structure and two (2) construction easements, one at the culvert inlet and one at the culvert outlet to accommodate construction activities.

Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer 2025 based on the availability of funding, acquisition of rights-of-way, and approval of permit(s). The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $1.5 million. This project is anticipated to be undertaken with one hundred percent (100%) State funds.

Individuals with limited internet access can listen to the meeting by calling (877) 853-5257 and enter Meeting ID 854 2986 5558. Persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Persons with limited internet access may also request that project information be mailed to them within one week by contacting Alvaro Garcia Jr., P.E. (alvaro.garcia@ct.gov; (860) 594-3353).

Language assistance may be requested by contacting the CTDOT Language Assistance Call Line (860) 594-2109. Requests should be made at least five business days prior to the meeting. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance. 

This meeting will also be livestreamed on the CTDOT YouTube channel and no registration is required. Non-English language closed captioning will be available on Zoom and YouTube. The recording will also be posted immediately following the meeting in the list of CTDOT virtual public meetings at portal.ct.gov/ctdotVPIMarchive.

Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following the meeting. Please submit comments and questions by February 3, 2023 to DOTProject138-252@ct.gov and 860-594-2020, or Alvaro Garcia Jr., P.E. at (860) 594-3353 or at alvaro.garcia@ct.gov. Please reference State Project No. 0138-0252 in the email or voicemail.