The good news: The state Department of Transportation is “rehabilitating” 5 miles of the Merritt Parkway — in each direction — in Westport and Fairfield. That means “upgrades” to pavements, guardrails, drainage and “historic concrete.”
Semi-good news: The work will be done “largely” at night. Lane closures will be limited to between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Really bad news: The project will last until August.
No, not this August. Or even next.
August of 2019. A mere 28 months from now.
And that’s just the “expected” completion date.
One final fun fact: The $56.7 million project is being handled by Manafort Brothers, Inc.
Happy motoring!
Funny, but I thought that stretch already went through “upgrades”, but now that I think about it, it was mostly tree and brush removal IIRC.
And all of that occurred quite aways north of Fairfield too, and took a long ass time (along with some median upgrades of new railings and such, through Trumbull and northwards).
Skip that and spend $ on a rapid transit rail system.
In 1945 we built a bridge overnight, under enemy fire, across the Rhine River that would carry tanks. What we need are public works people
who are determined to build well and build promptly. We will not get them unless we demand them.
How about when they overturned tar truck on the Bridge through Bridgeport and it “melted” the supports and highway…months was the timetable, but traffic was back flowing in just over a week…this was not even during a war..although I guess it was a traffic war??”
Just thank Representative Jonathan Steinberg as he sits in the state transportation committee.
Is there anything he does to support his neighbors in westport? Or is that Hartford?
Well if they did it quickly then those working on the project would not have these jobs very long. If they did this work in a cost efficient way then the government would have to find another way to spend it anyway.
While we do need this kind of infrastructure maintenance and updates very badly, it’s always such a nuisance for people driving during those times. Maybe they will be able to figure out how to light the work area up better this time without blinding the drivers as they drive through the work areas. Last time the spotlights were aimed right into drivers eyes making it very difficult to see in those areas and therefore causing lots of backed up traffic even in the hours of 1:00-3:00 am with not many motorists on the roads.
Unfortunately, I found myself in these messes at least once a week coming from Stamford towards Westport.
Hoping they surprise us this time.
Night project as in 10pm to 6 am as to not introduce any extra traffic? Make sure we make it acceptable for those travelers Ng home or to work? Naaaa. Keep that overtime going and huge disruption to those traveling on the Merritt. Eventually nobody will want to move to CT.
Are they the ones that did the North Avenue bridge?
They are related to Paul Manafort, of President Trump fame.
How does $56.7 million translate in rubles?
Hahahahahaha!
Oh yes,
I want to follow this one.
Should be more than interesting…
Show me what road looks like now before the work starts and what it looks like when the work is done
Can anyone tell how many contractors bid this job and what their bids were
Does anybody know if the upgrades include landscaping of the “butchered” areas ateach side of the Pakway were the trees were remove and not a single shrub was planted to replace the gone trees?