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Rep Bolinsky Issues Update of Current State Road Projects in Newtown

Posted on August 15, 2018

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NEWTOWN – State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-106), has issued the following update on Connecticut Department of Transportation and state contractor road projects in progress.

“There is a justifiable amount of frustration and uncertainty among local residents about the many road projects in town, especially those being performed by the state because, on the surface, progress seems unendingly slow. As one of those who drives through each of the work zones on a daily basis, I totally share the frustration and have been further frustrated by the difficulty in getting the state DOT to voluntarily provide regular updates.”

“With the help of DOT and its contractors, we have assembled the following project information for your knowledge. You’ll probably be surprised too that each is actually more complex than meets the eye and none are quite so simple as paving or replacing bridge decks because of the added infrastructure components hidden under and around state roads. In the end though, as each of these projects draws to conclusion, we will all experience very noticeable, long-term improvements in convenience, traffic flow, capacity, reliability of adjacent utilities and, most importantly, for our safety, whether we are navigating these areas in our cars, bicycles or on foot.”

For those with comments or further questions about the status of each of the infrastructure projects listed below, or any other inquiries relating to our state government, Rep. Bolinsky can always be contacted by e-mailing Mitch.Bolinsky@housegop.ct.gov or by calling (860) 240-8700.

Details on each DOT project are below:

Nighttime Resurfacing Project, SR 490 and SR 860 (Wasserman Way)

A nighttime resurfacing project will be performed on State Routes 490 & 860 (Wasserman Way) in Newtown, beginning Sunday, August 19, 2018. The project consists of resurfacing a 0.48 mile segment of Rt. 490 and a 0.82 mile segment of Rt. 860 in Newtown. This project is scheduled to occur from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Sunday August 19, 2018 to the morning of Tuesday August 21, 2018.

LANE CLOSURE INFO:
Motorists can expect lane closures on SR 490 & SR 860 (Wasserman Way) between the I-84 exit ramp and Mile Hill South Rd. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. The regular work schedule for this project is 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a .m. (Sunday through Tuesday)

Rt. 302 / Sugar Street Bridge Replacement, between Ram Pasture & The Pleasance
(CT DOT Project 0096-0197)

This is the replacement and widening of the unnamed bridge on Route 302 in Newtown, near its intersection with Route 25. This project includes installation of sidewalk and turn lanes to eastbound Rt. 302, as well as relocation of utilities. After a couple stops and starts, and a temporary detour of Elm Drive that had caused a frustrating bottleneck during heavy volume hours, bridge and culvert work are near-complete. The Newtown Police, our local traffic authority, were instrumental in eliminating the frustrating detour.

At this time, Eversource Gas is currently working on new gas main installation. Other utility relocation will follow before remaining contract work can be completed to pave the road, install guardrails, landscape and detail. The new roadway is set to open in late October, 2018, as originally scheduled.

Relocation of Edmond Road at Rt. 6: Church Hill Rd. in Newtown
(CT DOT Project 0096-0192)

There’s a lot of work happening near I-84’s Exit 10, between the construction of a new shopping plaza and the relocation of Edmond Road. Initially, the roadwork was to have been done in 2016 but was delayed by the discovery of a 19th-Century Ice House in the path of the new section of road and a state-mandated “archeological study”. The realignment of Edmond Road will eliminate one of Newtown’s most crash-prone intersections, switching it to a 4-way intersection with Commerce Road and Church Hill Road. Turning lanes are being extended on Church Hill’s approach to the highway along with sidewalks and the installation of an upgraded traffic control system to remove the guess work of driving in that area. Drainage and utilities are being relocated and a new “geosynthetic” reinforced soil bridge system will safely span about 60 feet of wetlands.

At this time, the project is on schedule with a completion date anticipated at the end of November, 2018.

Intersection Improvements in Newtown (Pecks Lane)
(CT DOT Project No. 096-0196)

This state project will make a big difference in visibility, traffic flow and safety at this very challenging 5-way, triangular intersection where Pecks Lane and Prospect Drive come together with South Main Street, Rt. 25. South Main is being shifted, leveled and graded to increase sight lines and provide easier, extended passing opportunities for southbound Rt. 25 travelers and the confusing confluence of Pecks Lane and Prospect Drive is being removed in favor of a new, right-angle intersection of Pecks and South Main, just south of the existing jumble.

At this time, work is progressing and will be completed in mid-November, 2018.

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