ABOUT THE PROJECT

Original Scope of Work: The project consists of the rehabilitation of numerous bridges located within the Route 8 and I-84 Interchange. The purpose is to preserve and provide a 25-year service life to the structures and to assure their structural integrity.  The project consists of deck repairs and replacements, steel repairs, substructure repairs, joint repairs, and other general repairs.

To facilitate this work and to provide safe and efficient passage for all motorists, a temporary bypass was built consisting of three temporary bridges (two over the Naugatuck River and one over Freight Street) to carry Route 8 Northbound traffic through the Interchange. This bypass will be in effect for three years. In order to construct the bypass, southbound Riverside Street, west of Route 8, was converted from a one-way road into a bi-directional road. Northbound Riverside Street is closed to local traffic including the closing of the I-84 Westbound Exit 32 to Riverside Street Northbound.  

DOT Project No. 151-326/151-312/151-313 was awarded to Walsh Construction Company at a cost of $152,960,945.27 on April 18, 2018 and the date of completion was originally September 10, 2022. The updated estimated construction completion cost is $212,000,000 and date of completion is June, 2023.

Route 8 Northbound (Bridge #03190A) / Southbound (Bridge #03190B): A significant amount of deterioration was found on the bridges that convey Route 8 through the interchange. Full deck replacements for both Route 8 Northbound (36 spans) and Route 8 Southbound (21 spans) are in progress. A temporary bypass was installed consisting of three (3) temporary bridges, approximately one-half mile of temporary highway, as well as the u-turn that has served as a detour for Route 8 Northbound. In addition, steel repairs and strengthening, painting and substructure repairs as well as the installation of sign support structures is in progress. The original scope of work for Route 8 Southbound included the replacement of five select spans of deck slab with precast concrete deck panels. Portions of the decks were milled and a full inspection was performed. Based on the findings, it was determined that a full deck replacement was most cost effective and the best way to meet the project goal of a 25-year repair. To accomplish this new scope, the reconstruction of the deck was designed for two stages that allows for one lane of traffic to be maintained for the duration of the rebuild.

I-84 Eastbound (Bridge #03191A) and I-84 Westbound (Bridge #03191B): Deck patching, deck end reconstruction, waterproofing membrane installation, paving, joint installation, steel repairs and strengthening, painting and substructure repairs and the installation of sign support structures are all in progress on both sides of I-84 through the Mixmaster. 

 

 

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