The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will conduct a virtual public information meeting concerning the rehabilitation of four bridges carrying Route 72 over various features in New Britain and Plainville on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will provide the public and local community the opportunity to offer comments or ask questions regarding the proposed project.

The meeting will take place on Zoom and registration is required. A question and answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation, which will be recorded. For instructions on how to access the meeting, provide comments, and ask questions, please visit http://portal.ct.gov/DOTProject171-501.

“This project is an exciting use of a design-build contract to bring multiple bridges carrying Route 72 back up to states of good repair,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Project Manager Alvaro Garcia Jr., P.E. “We encourage the public to attend this meeting to share their feedback with the CTDOT project team. Their input is essential to the project’s design.”

The project aims to rehabilitate or preserve the condition of the bridges, extending the useful service life of these structures and maintaining the bridges in a state of good repair. This project is being completed utilizing the Design-Build Contracting Method, in which the final design and construction are completed under one contract for faster completion. The Design-Build team consists of a designer and contractor working together to complete the project as a single project. The final design scope of work for this project will be based upon the approved submittal of the selected Design-Build team.

Right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed project are not anticipated.

Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 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 $47.5 million. This project is anticipated to be undertaken with 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent state funds and is identified as State Project No. 0171-0501.

Individuals with limited internet access can listen to the meeting by calling (877) 853-5257 and enter Meeting ID 846 9114 6476. 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. at (860) 594-3353 or at alvaro.garcia@ct.gov.

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 to view the livestream on YouTube. 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 August 29, 2023, to DOTProject171-501@ct.gov or (860) 594-2020 or Alvaro Garcia Jr., P.E. at (860) 594-3353 or at alvaro.garcia@ct.gov. Please reference State Project No. 0171-0501 in the email or voicemail.