The new and massive I-beams at northbound I-95 Exit 17 have residents wondering: Is there really going to be a new bridge there?
New construction on Saugatuck Avenue, at I-95. (Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
Not exactly.
Sometime this fall, the Saugatuck Avenue bridge will be replaced, using “accelerated bridge construction.”
A new bridge will be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge. That’s what the new I-beams will support.
Over a single weekend (Friday evening to Monday morning), the current bridge will be demolished. The new structure will be installed in its place.
The date for that complicated (but quick) work has not been set. The entire State Department of Transportation project — which extends south to Norwalk’s Exit 16 — is projected to run through November 1, 2024. (Hat tip: Andrew Colabella)
==================================================
Speaking of I-95: Traffic is a mess this morning, throughout Westport.
A major accident on the highway northbound between Exits 17 and 18 caused collateral damage everywhere, as drivers sought alternate routes.
Stay off the roads for a while, if you can.
If you can’t: Leave early!
Saturday morning traffic on Post Road West, in front of Kings Highway Elementary School. (Photo/Susan Garment)
==================================================
The soft opening — and much-anticipated run-up to Tacombi’s opening — continued last night.
Realtor Judy Michaelis and Hightower Financial Group hosted a special party. All ticket sales supported Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service.
An enormous crowd enjoyed margaritas, special watermelon drinks, and the New York-based taqueria’s signature dishes.
The official opening is Monday (August 7). Click here for more Tacombi info.
Enjoying Tacombi last night (from left): Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service president Mike Burns; 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker; hosts Hightower Financial Group and Judy Michaelis; Tacombi manager; Police Chief Foti Koskinas; WVEMS vice president Larry Kleinman. (Photo/Dan Woog)
==================================================
Also last night: The Soul Drivers rocked the Levitt Pavilion, with their Memphis Soul sound. Tonight (Saturday) it’s Theo Kandel; tomorrow, Quadrature. Click here for (free) tickets, and more information.
Soul Drivers (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
Not far away last night, Massive Diva entertained diners at Walrus Alley. They’re there — right next to Don Memo — every Friday night. Tonight (7:30 to 11) it’s the always-popular Zambonis.
Massive Diva (Photo/MaryLou Roels)
==================================================
Also last night: approximately 20 clammers in Sherwood Mill Pond.
Each white light is the LED headlamp of a Sherwood Mill Pond clammer. (Photo/Matt Murray)
==================================================
One more event last night:
Westport firefighters responded to a house fire on Warnock Drive, off Easton Road.
Most damage was limited to the exterior and front attic space. There were no injuries. Westport Emergency Medical Service and Westport Police assisted.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Warnock Drive fire. (Photo courtesy of Westport Fire Department)
==================================================
The Y’s Women meet every Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Compo. They enjoy late-day sun, interesting conversations and good laughs.
They extend an invitation to all: “Bring your own food, drinks and chair, and come say hello!”
Y’s Women at Compo Beach.
==================================================
Is there anything more natural in Westport than water, sun and clouds?
Jason Pike captured this scene perfectly, for our “Westport … Naturally” feature:
(Photo/Jason Pike)
==================================================
And finally … on this day in 1957, Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” debuted on ABC. Televised entertainment was never the same.
(“06880” has your weekend covered. And every other day too. Please support your hyper-local blog. Click here — and thank you!)
At 11:15 I-95 was still closed down Northbound ensuring that Westport traffic, and Connecticut traffic will be messed up all day.
Certainly the State DOT can figure a way to clear accidents quicker. Take care of the injured and get the infrastructure together to clean things up quickly. Four hours seems to be a long time. These problems are among Westport’s greatest traffic problems, not a little extra development on the Post Rd!
I-95 is back open!
Little overview on I95 project
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that work on Interstate 95 and Hendricks Avenue in Norwalk on June 14, 2022.
The proposed work consists of reconstruction of the median and right shoulders of I-95, along with repairing of the concrete pavement and resurfacing of the highway mainline and ramps at Interchanges 16 and 17. The median will be reconstructed consistent with other stretches of I-95 to provide 6-feet wide capped concrete barrier section and 12-feet wide left and right shoulders. The horizontal and vertical alignment of I-95 and the ramps will remain unchanged, except for Interchange 16 Northbound onramp, which will be extended to provide adequate acceleration length.
In addition to the above work, the following bridges will be rehabilitated:
Bridge No. 00062 (I-95 over Route 33 – Saugatuck Avenue) – Total replacement, utilizing Lateral Slide Accelerated Bridge Construction Methods, with lane and shoulder widths that comply with current design standards.
Bridge No. 00063 (I-95 over Franklin Street) – Concrete deck repairs, replacement of expansion joints, and installation of new standpipes.
Bridge No. 00064 (I-95 over Saugatuck River) – Concrete deck repairs, replacement of expansion joints, and upgrades to existing standpipes.
Other proposed improvements include upgrade/repair of existing drainage structures, replacement of existing highway illumination system and Incident Management System (IMS), guiderail upgrades, construction of a portion of the Yankee Doodle Trail in Norwalk, and reconstruction of the existing commuter parking lot off Hendricks Avenue.
DOT Project No. 0102-0295 was awarded to Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc at a cost of $103,411,848 on April 30, 2022 and is scheduled to be completed on November 1, 2024. This project is administered by the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, Office of Construction, District 3 in New Haven.
LANE CLOSURE INFO:
There will be periodic lane closures on I-95 during nighttime operations starting in mid-July.
There may be a fatality. An investigation takes time. Motorcycle accident
The Tacombi manager has no name and crabbers are the new terrorist’s.