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

FOR RELEASE: May 19, 2017

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

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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (Department) will conduct a public hearing regarding the proposed resurfacing, safety and bridge Improvements on Route 2 in East Hartford on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, in the East Hartford Library, 840 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108.  An open forum for individual discussions with Department officials will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by a formal presentation at 7:00 p.m.

The project is identified as State Project No. 42-317.

The limits of the project on Route 2 begin at Maple Street and extend west to the vicinity of Pitkin Street for a length of approximately 2.8 miles.  The purpose of the project is to extend the service life of the facility by resurfacing the highway and providing safety and bridge improvements within the project limits.  The proposed scope of work includes rehabilitation of the underlying concrete pavement and resurfacing with a bituminous concrete overlay on the mainline and ramps, and reconstructing the median to install a concrete barrier and provide wider shoulders.  The existing drainage system will be modified/upgraded and will require replacement of existing outlets at the Connecticut River.  The existing guide rail will be upgraded to current standards.  Overhead sign supports and luminaires will be replaced.  Bridge improvements include bridge deck repairs and upgrading concrete parapets to current design standards.

The Department is proposing the permanent closure of the ramps at Exit 5B (Cambridge St. on-ramp and Sutton Avenue off-ramp) to improve safety and traffic operations along this section of Route 2.  A recent traffic study was performed and it was determined that there are no significant impacts due to the ramp closures.  Proposed improvements associated with the ramp closures include extending the acceleration and deceleration lanes on Route 2 in vicinity of the ramp closures, and providing intersection improvements on Main Street at the Main Street off-ramp (Exit 5A) intersection and at the intersection with Main Street at Maple Street/Broad Street.

The preliminary plans and traffic study associated with the proposed improvements and the ramp closures will be presented.

Temporary construction easements to address drainage and traffic signal improvements will be required.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2019 based on the availability of funding, acquisition of rights of way and approval of permits.  The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $55 million.  This project is anticipated to be undertaken with 100 percent (100%) state funds.

The public hearing is being held to afford a full opportunity for public participation and to allow open discussion of any views and comments the community may have concerning this proposed project.

Written statements and exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the public hearing may be submitted either at the public hearing or may be mailed or delivered to the attention of Ms. Susan M. Libatique, PE, Principal Engineer, Division of Highway Design, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT 06131-7546 on or before July 13, 2017.  Such written statements or exhibits must be reproducible in black and white and on paper not to exceed 8 1/2" X 11" in size.  These written statements or exhibits will be made a part of the public hearing and will be considered in the same way as oral statements. 

The meeting facility is ADA accessible.  Language assistance may be requested by contacting the Department of Transportation’s Office of Communications at (860) 594-3062 at least five business days prior to the meeting.  Persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.

Plans of the proposed project will be on display for public review.  Department personnel will be available during the meeting to discuss this project.  More detailed information is available at the Department’s Office of Engineering, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.  Anyone wishing to discuss the project may contact Susan M. Libatique at (860) 594-3179 or by e-mail at susan.libatique@ct.gov.  Plans are also available for review (as of June 6, 2017) at the East Hartford Town Hall at the Town’s Engineering Department.