Officials: Route 147 Bridge Work Three Months Behind Schedule

Less than three months after getting underway, bridge construction along Route 147 in Middlefield is already three months behind schedule, transportation officials announced recently.

The project was brought up for discussion at Tuesday night's Board of Selectmen meeting in Middlefield where First Selectman Jon Brayshaw said construction work along the town's busiest artery had become "a pain in the butt."

"This is going to be a real problem for the Durham Fair," he said.

The state Department of Transportation began work to widen the bridge just south of Lyman Orchards earlier this spring. About a month ago, traffic signals were installed at the site and the highway was reduced to one lane in the area of the bridge. 

Prior to the start of construction, DOT officials said the project would halt in late-September to accommodate Durham Fair traffic. 

But upon hearing news of the delay, local business owners, including representatives from Lyman Orchards and the Durham Fair, and town officials met with DOT officials to contemplate the impact the delay could have on local business and the fair during a Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce meeting earlier this month, according to Brayshaw.

The group with gather for another meeting scheduled for July 11.

The $1.7 million road widening project is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2015. 

To add to frustrations, Brayshaw said the town will need to go back out to bid for a third time for construction of the bridge along Miller Road, which could potentially be closed during the fair.

Brayshaw said the town received two bids for the project but that the low bid had an irregularity.

The town has received a $250,000 STEAP grant to pay for the construction.