The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) today announced the re-opening of the Route 74 Bridge in Tolland. The road opening marks a significant milestone on the project that included the demolition and replacement of the 108-year-old Route 74 Bridge over the Skungamaug River.
CTDOT celebrated the bridge replacement at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday attended by Transportation Construction Administrator John Dunham, Sen. Jeff Gordon, Rep. Tammy Nuccio, town officials, and members of the community.
CTDOT Transportation Construction Administrator John Dunham said, “Replacing the Route 74 Bridge in Tolland is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of the community’s transportation infrastructure. Projects of this size may seem small scale, but they have an outsized impact in our communities. Thank you to the town of Tolland and ROTHA Contracting for their hard work and dedication to complete this bridge replacement ahead of schedule and on budget.”
Tolland Town Manager Brian Foley said, “With the possibility of the Route 74 Bridge and road being closed into the start of our school year, our town, school buses, and public safety were all engaged in planning and contingency planning for this main bus route issue. Thankfully, the Connecticut Department of Transportation completed the project with plenty of summer vacation left. We thank Governor Lamont and Commissioner Eucalitto for replacing our bridge, and we thank all the staff and workers at CTDOT for completing so early. CTDOT didn’t just build a bridge, they also build confidence in this great state agency.”
Built in 1916, the Route 74 Bridge (Bridge No. 01120) was replaced as recent field inspections and engineering analysis determined the bridge deck and superstructure were in poor condition. The pre-bridge closure work for this project involved building temporary access roads for utility work and installing a portion of bridge foundations. Minor work remaining includes final utility relocation and applicable markings on the roadway.
The project (DOT Project No. 0142-0152) was awarded to ROTHA Contracting Company, Inc., at a cost of $4,947,742.23. The project was 80% federally funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and 20% state funded.
Route 74 will be re-opened to the traveling public by 4 p.m. on August 6, 2024. Following this date, motorists can expect one-way alternating traffic on Route 74 (Tolland Stage Road) and Skungamaug Road until the remaining construction activities are completed.