Seven years after discussions started and four months after the state issued approval to solicit bids for the widely anticipated replacement of Jelliff Mill Bridge, town officials said this week that they’re poised to start work on the project.
The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved a $3,256,467 —New Canaan will pay 20 percent or about $651,000 of that, with the state making up the balance—for Hudson, Mass.-based New England Infrastructure, Inc. to begin the work later this summer or early fall and wrap up in late-2017, according to officials from the Department of Public Works.
The Jelliff Mill Bridge in its current state, susceptible to erosion.
Credit: Emma Nolan.
“Construction will begin in 6-8 weeks,” Public Works Director Michael Pastore told NewCanaanite.com. “This will be towards the end of September.”
Because of the bridge’s susceptibility to erosion, changes are needed as soon as possible. Once construction is underway, motorists will face alternating one-way traffic at the bridge, DPW officials said.
The prospect of traffic back-ups has been a concern for those who drive Jelliff regularly. The Connecticut Department of Transportation determined the traffic plan, officials said.
“The bridge will be open to traffic throughout the construction, with alternating one-way traffic. It will be one lane with traffic lights,” Pastore said.
Not only are the changes made to the bridge beneficial for the structure, it is also a big step for the town, Pastore said.
“We have done about seven bridge projects since 2007,” Pastore said. “This is the last of our major bridge projects for the town of New Canaan.”
The company contracted to do the work has extensive experience with bridges in Connecticut and completed work on the Huckleberry Hill Road Bridge in New Canaan, according to Joe Zagarenski, senior engineer with the DPW. They brought that project in on time and budget, he said.
“They have a proven track record with us,” Zagarenski said.
—Michael Dinan contributed to this report.