Shore Road Bridge Rehab Project Underway in Central Greenwich

The Department of Public Works Engineering Division has begun the Shore Road Bridge rehabilitation project that is expected to continue until next spring. The bridge is on Connecticut’s Historic Bridge Inventory and it will maintain the existing aesthetics, existing roadway profile, and existing roadway cross section.

And here’s an explanation of the $883,846 project from the town’s Department of Public Works.

WHY IS THIS WORK BEING DONE?

This is part of the DPW Engineering Division’s ongoing Local Bridge Program work to maintain 75 Town owned bridges. The Connecticut Department of Transportation gave the bridge an overall rating of “poor” due to the deterioration of the stone masonry arch. The contractor is A. Vitti Excavators, LLC of Stamford.

WHEN WILL WORK OCCUR?

Construction began Aug. 18 and is expected to last until spring 2015. Shore Road will be closed several times throughout the project duration; DPW will keep the Public informed of closure dates through press releases and the Town’s website.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN

The bridge project involves the rehabilitation of the existing bridge. The footings will be modified to carry a new aluminum plate arch that will fit under the existing stone arch; the area between the two arches will be grouted. In order to protect the substructure from future scour, intermediate riprap or other scour countermeasures will be installed along the upstream existing wingwalls as well as in front (and for the full length) of both of the new concrete abutments. The existing roadway will be removed over the arch and the stone arch will be repaired, a new roadway will then be built over the bridge. Also, a new pedestrian bridge will be installed to the east of the existing bridge.

The intersection of Shore Road and Grass Island Drive will be temporarily modified to accommodate large vehicles when the detour is in place. Signs will be used to help facilitate traffic detours. The detour length is approximately 1 mile and will utilize Shore Road, Horseneck Lane, Field Point Road, and Intervale Place.

The contractor will minimize disruption to the residents, vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

LOCATION PLAN: DO I HAVE TO DO ANYTHING?

Give yourself a little extra time when you are going out because the detour route is longer than the traditional route. Also extra traffic may occur due to the road work and detour.

Drive carefully to keep yourself and the field workers safe.

For information, contact Greenwich’s Senior Civil Engineer Frank W. Petise in the DPW – Engineering Division at 203-622-7860.

Photo: the intersection of Shore Road and Grass Island Road. Credit: Barbara Heins.