CTDOT Press Releases
11/18/2022
Public Invited to Virtual Informational Meeting Regarding Replacement of Bridge No. 06198 carrying Whispering Pines Road over Still Brook in Stafford
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will conduct a virtual public information meeting concerning the Replacement of Bridge No. 06198 carrying Whispering Pines Road over Still Brook in Stafford on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 7 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. For instructions on how to access the meeting, ways to provide comments, and how to ask questions, please visit http://portal.ct.gov/DOTStafford134-150.
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.
Bridge No. 06198 is a three-cell, asphalt coated, corrugated steel pipe arch culvert that carries Whispering Pines Road over Still Brook in the Town of Stafford, Connecticut. The bridge is located approximately 250 feet north of the intersection of Whispering Pines Road with Stony Lane. It carries two lanes of traffic in the northbound and southbound directions over an unstriped curb-to-curb roadway width of 24’-0”. This bridge provides the only ingress and egress to a community of approximately 35 residents residing north of the structure, as Whispering Pines Road dead ends to a cul-de-sac. The bridge is located in a residential area and Still Brook flows under the bridge from the east to the west and drains into the State Line Pond.
The existing bridge was originally constructed in 1975. The three pipe arch culverts each have a span and rise of approximately 6-feet and 4-feet, respectively, resulting in a structure length of 20 feet. The pipe arch culverts are buried under approximately 2 feet of ballast and bituminous concrete wearing surface and have a length of 40 feet. Stone masonry headwalls are present between the pipes at both the inlet and outlet of the structure to contain the embankment fill. There are no retaining walls or cutoff walls present on the structure. Metal beam guiderail with wooden posts exists along both sides of the roadway.
The purpose of this project is to address the structural deficiencies in this bridge identified by inspections. Bridge No. 06198 was rated to be structurally deficient by the CTDOT Inspection Report dated September 22, 2021, based on the condition of coregulated pipes in all three cells. Heavy laminar rust is located throughout the pipes. The 2-foot ballast that covers the pipes is filtering through the center pipe. According to the most recent inspection report, the overall structural evaluation of the bridge is a 3, or in serious condition. The project will also address inadequate hydraulic performance of the existing bridge.
The proposed bridge is a precast concrete box culvert with a 22-foot clear span and 5-foot rise. Cutoff walls and return walls will be detailed at the inlet and outlet to provide for scour protection. The proposed 27’-6” wide structure will be able to maintain the existing 24’-0” curb-to-curb roadway width. A crash-tested 3-tube open bridge rail system is proposed to be mounted along concrete curbs/headwalls. The bridge rail system will be extended to the limits of the proposed 12-foot-long U-type wingwalls. The top surface of the roof slab of the proposed precast concrete box culvert will be protected by a spray applied waterproofing membrane and a 3” (min.) bituminous concrete overlay. Full depth pavement reconstruction is proposed to tie in the roadway work approximately 200 feet and 100 feet at the south and north approaches, respectively resulting in a project length of approximately 325-feet. The roadway profile will be raised approximately 8 inches at the bridge. Guiderail, bridge attachments and end treatments at all four bridge approaches will be replaced to meet current MASH design standards.
There are right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements. Three properties on the east side and two properties on the west side of Whispering Pines Road, near the bridge, will have right-of-way impacts. Impacts may include partial take, right to install sedimentation control system, temporary construction easement, easement to install metal beam rail and maintain guide railing and end anchorage, easement to slope for the support of the highway, or easement to slope for the safety of the highway.
Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2025 based on the availability of funding, acquisition of rights of way, and approval of permits. The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $1.77 million. This project is anticipated to be undertaken with eighty percent (80%) Federal funds and twenty percent (20%) State funds.The project is identified as State Project No. 0134-015.
Individuals with limited internet access can listen to the meeting by calling (877) 853-5257 and enter Meeting ID 858 8190 0282. 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 James R. Barrows II, Project Engineer (James.Barrows@ct.gov; 860-594-3192).
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 December 22 to DOT-FLBP@ct.gov and 860-594-2020 or Marc Byrnes, Project Manager (Marc.Byrnes@ct.gov; 860-594-3489). Please reference State Project No. 0134-0150 in the email or voicemail.
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