East Haddam Swing Bridge Project

The Connecticut Department of Transportation advises the following construction activities for the upcoming week:

CREWS WILL BE WORKING ON THE FOLLOWING:

Daytime Work:

Roadway:

Town of Haddam

• No Activities.

Town of East Haddam

• Northeast End block – Forming and rebar installation.

Bridge:

 

Spans 3 & 4 (Swing Span)

• Utility installation.
• Miscellaneous steel repairs.
  • Balance block installation.
  • Counterweight installation.
  • Swing span infrastructure rehab.
• Bridge sidewalk installation.
• Guide rail installation.
•  Painting

Machinery Room/Control House

• Infrastructure rehab.
• Balancing
• Swing Testing.

Wedge Work

• Pier 2 and east abutment infrastructure rehab.

Nightime Work:

Bridge:

• Miscellaneous steel repairs.
•  Painting

Vehicular Advisory:

63-Hour Bridge Closure:

• No 63-hour bridge closure this week.

Swing Span Testing:

• The contractor will be performing test openings of the new mechanicals of the swing span throughout this week, these random tests will only occur between 9am-3pm. The contractor will work to limit traffic backups, but delays should be anticipated during these test runs.

Overnight Bridge Closures:

• The contractor will be performing overnight bridge closures this week as follows:
  • Sun. night into Mon. morning – 7pm to 6am
  • Mon. night into Tues. morning – 7pm to 6am
  • Tues. night into Wed. morning – 7pm to 6am
  • Wed. night into Thur. morning – 7pm to 6am
  • Thur. night into Fri. morning – 7pm to 6am

NO BRIDGE CLOSURES ON FRIDAY 3/29, SATURDAY 3/30, AND SUNDAY 3/31.

Any changes to this schedule will be communicated in a timely manner.

Traffic Flaggers:

In lieu of the temporary traffic signals the contractor will be utilizing traffic flaggers Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am-3pm this week. During all other hours, the temporary traffic signals will be operational.

Detour Info:

Motorist alternative options to cross the Connecticut River during these overnight bridge closures will be as follows:

• Traveling to/from the South – Use the signed detour utilizing the Baldwin Bridge (I-95 Old Saybrook).

• Traveling to/from the North – utilize the Arrigoni Bridge (Middletown-Portland).

 

Extended Lane Closure:

• A section of travel lane on the bridge has been removed from service so the contractor can continue with their rehabilitation work, this will limit the bridge to one operational lane for motorist to proceed through this area. Temporary traffic signals will regulate the alternating traffic flow on the bridge. This extended lane closure will be in place through late March. Motorists should expect some delays when crossing the bridge during this single lane duration.

Marine Advisory:

The Swing Bridge openings to mariners from April 1, 2024, through August 31, 2024 will be as follows:

• Sunday openings at 10am, 2pm, and 5pm.
• Monday openings at 10am and 2pm.
• Tuesday openings at 10am and 2pm.
• Wednesday openings at 10am and 2pm.
• Thursday openings at 10am and 2pm.
• Friday openings at 10am, 2pm, and 5pm.
• Saturday openings at 10am, 2pm, and 5pm.

During 63-hour bridge closures, the bridge will remain in the closed position, NO OPENINGS for boats will occur. (CLICK HERE to review closure calendar)

Mariners are advised that on weeks when 63-hour bridge closures occur, the Swing Bridge openings will be as follows:

• Sunday openings at 10am, 2pm, and 5pm.
• Monday NO openings.
• Tuesday NO openings.
• Wednesday NO openings.
• Thursday openings at 10am and 2pm.
• Friday openings at 10am, 2pm, and 5pm.
• Saturday openings at 10am, 2pm, and 5pm.

Inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances have the potential to impact the actual dates of these 63-hour closures. A mariner notice will be issued at least 24-hours prior to the start of a cancellation.

The contractor will be removing a portion of their scaffolding to provide additional clearance for boats, the removal of this scaffolding is scheduled to occur by the end of March.

The tide clearance board is recommended as the best reference for gauging clearance at time of passage, the board is located on the bulkhead at Goodspeed, it has been adjusted to reflect the vertical clearances to the contractor’s suspended scaffold.

Once the bridge openings begin, the bridge operator can be reached at 860-218-4973.

Please be advised:

• You can sign up for TEXT Alerts to receive notifications on bridge closures and re-openings, closure cancellations, and any emergency closures. To Opt-in, text the word SWINGBRIDGE to 888777. (Message and Data rates may apply). In addition to SMS messages, if you would like to receive Swing Bridge open/closed status notices via email or a voice call from Everbridge, please click here to enter the required information. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to Opt-out.
• Effective November 11, 2022, any trucks that exceed 16 tons are restricted from using the East Haddam Swing Bridge, until further notice. Routine enforcement by the Connecticut State Police and Department of Motor Vehicles will occur during this 16-ton restriction period.
• Project WEBCAMS for monitoring traffic conditions on the bridge (one on each side of the river) and tide board clearance for maritime are available 24/7, the camera feeds are viewable from our project website homepage.
• Road signage will alert drivers to lane closures in the construction area. Please pay attention to road signage, slow down, and stay safe!
• Access to local businesses and residents within the work zones will be maintained.
• Unforeseen circumstances have the potential to impact all scheduled construction activities.
• The construction work is currently on schedule.

If you have any questions related to construction, please send an e-mail to [email protected]