I-84 WATERBURY PROJECTS
ROUTE 8/I-84 MIXMASTER REHABILITATIONTemporary bridge for Mixmaster rehab built over Naugatuck River
September 6th, 2018
REPUBLICAN AMERICAN: Thursday, September 6, 2018
TEMPORARY BRIDGE FOR MIXMASTER REHAB BUILT OVER Naugatuck river
BY ANDREW LARSON
WATERBURY – Walsh Construction Co. is preparing to install a bridge over the Naugatuck River for a bypass that will divert traffic off Route 8 northbound while the Interstate 84 interchange is rehabilitated.
The contractor has built a platform to hold equipment while the temporary bridge is constructed.
The Route 8 northbound bypass will allow the highway to remain open while its deck is replaced as part of a $152 million rehabilitation of the Mixmaster. It will carry traffic from the South Leonard Street on-ramp, which will close during the project, and over the northbound side of Riverside Street where it will rejoin the existing Route 8 north of Freight Street.
The project, overseen by the state Department of Transportation, began in June and is scheduled to be completed in September 2022.
The bypass is expected to take a year to build and will feature three bridges: two over the Naugatuck River and one over Freight Street.
Also, a lane closure along Riverside Street southbound began on Thursday. The closure will be in place for two weeks to allow for construction of a traffic island at the corner of Freight Street and the southbound direction of Riverside Street.
Construction of the traffic island precedes a longer-term closure of the Exit 32 off-ramp of Route 8 northbound.
