CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: June 1, 2017

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

CTDOT to Start Construction of Rail Projects in Norwalk

in Fall 2017

A Public Meeting on the Construction Details Will be Held in September

                    
      The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that two projects to be completed in advance of the Walk Railroad Bridge replacement project will begin in October, not July as originally anticipated. The delay is required to align the planned activities for these projects – the CP243 Interlocking Project and the Danbury Branch Dockyard – with other active projects in the area. These projects are independent of the replacement of the 121-year-old Walk Railroad Bridge over the Norwalk River in Norwalk.

       CTDOT will hold a Public Meeting on the construction details of the projects on a date to be determined in September at Norwalk City Hall. The meeting will begin with an open house session, where attendees will have the chance to speak one-on-one with the Walk Bridge Program staff, followed by a brief presentation on the project scopes and specific information regarding construction. This meeting will occur in place of the anticipated June Public Meeting.

      The CP243 Interlocking project is located on the New Haven Line between South Norwalk and Westport. CP refers to the control point, 2 refers to the New Haven Commuter Line and 43 is in reference to the nearest mile post on the rail line, marked from Grand Central Station in New York City. This project includes the construction of a new four-track interlocking which is a powered switch and signal system that allows trains to move from one track to another.

       The Danbury Branch Dockyard project will improve and electrify the southern portion of the 24-mile branch line, from where it splits from the main line to approximately one mile north, to the area commonly referred to as the Dockyard. The Dockyard is where trains are stored and staged when not in use on the mainline, located near Science Road and Interstate I-95. These improvements will allow commuter trains that begin or end in Norwalk to turn, or switch direction.

       The Walk Bridge Program is developing mitigation plans to address community concerns during construction of the two advanced rail projects. The plans outline Site Safety, Resource Protection, Community and Construction Coordination Mitigation and will be implemented during construction.           

More detailed information is available online at www.walkbridgect.com.