Westporters might have read recent “06880” posts about the possible reconstruction of the Route 57 bridge near Cobb’s Mill, and not cared. It won’t happen for several years. Besides, it’s Weston.
Well, this news strikes closer to home.
There’s a good possibility the North Avenue bridge over the Merritt Parkway will also need work. Patching, waterproofing, possible full deck repair — all are on tap for the 72-year-old art deco span.
The North Avenue Merritt Parkway bridge.
Because it’s not over water, there are fewer environmental issues — so it will probably come up for work sooner than Route 57.
North Avenue is a major Westport thoroughfare, carrying 2300 vehicles a day. More importantly, it’s an important accessway to 4 schools: Staples, 2 middle schools and Coleytown El.
Construction could take 8 months. Detours would last for 4 of them.
Westporters will have to find another way to get to school.
And Cobb’s Mill.
And the state DOT will make sure to schedule the work at the height of the school year, use substandard rebar and other materials sourced from China and the new improved bridge will now have a half life of the original bridge. Sound like another successful infrastructure project to me…
Maybe this will be the catalyst needed to get people riding the Bus!!! Al Gore will be thrilled
Eight months? Piece of cake! There’s a bridge over the Merritt between exits 40 and 41 that’s been under repair for 2-3 years now by my recollection. Never seen any actual work going on and it never seems to get any closer to completion.
Al Gore!!! It’s about time someone dug him up and abused him again. I say let’s strap him on to the roof of the Romney family car and take him on a vacation discovering the Internet!!!!!
Closer to home, literally, my family lived (near Dan’s house) on High Point Road. Attended the Unitarian Church and also participated in a lot of programming at Temple Israel. Result: Mom invented a name for all the north-south driving: “The North Avenue Express.” And biking the North Avenue Express in slush or ice down the hill northbound into the Merritt Parkway overpass was s-c-a-r-y-!-!
We’ve had houses on two of North Avenue’s more challenging curves. I remember one accident (there were many) when the responding officer told me that they call this street the “North Avenue Expressway.” Pretty close to your mother’s naming skills, Douglass! There have been a few times I’ve been surprised to find myself driving almost 40 mph on the straight stretch south of Cross Highway (it’s a 25 zone), but not nearly as surprised as the time that I was passed by a woman who whizzed by as if I had been standing still. My, she was in a hurry — but not so much that she couldn’t manage a bad-mannered tactless hand gesture in my direction as she flew over the double yellow line. I wish we could encourage better manners on the roads as we make our way around town (and bridges)!