Community Corner
DOT: Bridge Construction Won't Impact Durham Fair
State and local officials met this week to review a construction plan for a new bridge along Route 147 in Middlefield, a two-year project that will impact traffic in Durham and Middlefield.
Starting in April, drivers should expect backup along one of the area's busiest highways.
That's when the state's Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin construction on the Route 147 bridge, an infamously narrow pass that spans the Coginchaug River just south of Miller Road.
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DOT, state and town officials met on Tuesday to discuss the project which is expected to take just over two years to complete.
"It's going to be very disruptive," said Middlefield First Selectman Jon Brayshaw who shared his concern over the timing of the construction and the impact it could have on the Durham Fair and nearby Lyman Orchards.
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"We have a regional school district, and so it's the main route between Middlefield and Durham to the schools, so that's going to be very disruptive. Our fire departments have mutual aid so we go to Durham when they need help and they come north when we need help.
"It's a very busy road to us," Brayshaw told DOT officials.
The construction of a new bridge is scheduled to start on April 1 and is expected to be completed by the spring of 2015, according to DOT officials.
Route 147 will be reduced to one lane in the area of construction while the new bridge is being built, except during the last weekend in September when work will halt and both lanes of traffic will be open to accomodate the Durham Fair, officials said.
"There's such a crowd of cars, they literally will go all the way to Lake Beseck," Brayshaw said.
Lyman CEO Stephen Ciskowski asked project coordinators to consider extending the four day window through Columbus Day weekend, to accomodate traffic during one of the orchards' busier weekends.
The DOT said it planned to hold monthly meetings to discuss the project and could make changes as needed.
New England Road Inc., a construction company located in Clinton, was the low bidder for the project at $1.68 million.
Editor's Note: It was originally reported that SPS New England of Massachusetts was the construction company awarded the bid. We apologize for the error.
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