Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 9437 |
| Work Detail | As bridges go, the span along Route 34 over Boys Halfway Brook in Monroe is tiny, and a project to rebuild it isn’t slated to begin until spring of 2018. Yet, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) recently held the first of a series of public information meetings on the upcoming project. The meeting took place on Aug. 30 at Monroe’s Town Hall and was attended by several dozen residents, business people and government officials. The bridge is in the Stevenson part of town, adjacent to the Lake Zoar Drive-In and Family Marina. It is approximately one-half mile from the Stevenson Dam, over which Route 34 connects the towns of Monroe and Oxford. The bridge’s existing roadway has deteriorated and the upcoming project will replace that with a reinforced concrete slab. In addition, the roadway will be widened to 34 feet — accommodating a 12-foot travel lane and a five-foot shoulder in each direction. The watercourse itself will not be altered. The six-week-long project is expected to have a price tag of approximately $700,000. “Part of the purpose of this meeting is to hear from people who live in the area about the issues involved,” Lesgie Ruiz, project engineer for the state DOT said. “We want to make sure that the construction ultimately goes smoothly and does not create inconvenience for the people who live and work nearby.” Water runoff is one of the important issues in any project involving the construction of roads and bridges, for several important reasons. Perhaps most important, the dirt, soil, sediment and debris that washes off roadways can ultimately find its way into local waterways, polluting public swimming areas and potentially harming fish and other aquatic life. In addition, excess runoff can result in harmful erosion in both parklands and private property. For that reason, state and local authorities take utmost care in planning road and bridge projects. Dawn DeFeo, owner of the Lake Zoar Marina, said that during heavy rain the runoff from Route 34 can be significant and can cause erosion at her business that must be repaired. She attended the meeting in hopes of raising the need for curbing or other runoff-abatement measures. “We are also concerned with when the construction will actually take place,” she said. “The marina is obviously a seasonal business, and construction occurs during the summer when we will be impacted the most. If that is taken into consideration it would be helpful.” In terms of impact on the area, winter would be the best time for the project to take place, Brian Wood, land manager for First Light, said. This company operates the Stevenson Dam. “However, for obvious reasons, that is not the best time to work on bridges,” Wood said. Ted Nezames, the DOT’s manager of bridges, noted that the project will involve no road closures. “However, there will be periods where there will be just one lane open so traffic will be disrupted somewhat,” he said. During such periods, temporary stoplights will be installed to regulate traffic onto the one-lane section of road. In response to one questioner, Nezames said the DOT will consider closing Route 34 to truck traffic when there is just one lane open. Another attendee questioned whether, given the current financial difficulties at the state level, the state has the money to make the project actually happen. Nezames said the funding for the bridge project was included in the budget passed in 2014. He is confident the project would happen on schedule, given its relatively modest scope and cost. Every bridge project requires a series of informational meetings as well as careful attention to environmental regulations. “The National Environmental Protection Act and Connecticut Environmental Protection Act both mandate rigorous processes we have to go through on every project,” Nezames said. “Even a small project such as this one requires a considerable amount of time and attention to environmental issues.” |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Construction |
| Entry Date | 15 Oct 2016 |
| Source | http://www.monroecourier.com/39410/bridge-on-route-34-slated-for-replacement-in-2018/ |
