Work on the second stage of the Millstone River bridge replacement on Route 1 will begin this month, causing initial overnight delays as construction crews work to shift traffic into a new pattern.
The second stage of the project involves constructing the east (northbound) side of the bridge.
On Friday, February 12, two lanes on the southbound side will be closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. with a single lane remaining closed until 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 13. Then, on Friday, February 19, two lanes on the northbound side will be closed from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. with a single lane remaining closed until 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 20.
According to a notice from the state Department of Transportation, once the new traffic patterns are implemented, the southbound side of the highway will have three lanes shifted to the right, while the northbound side will have three lanes shifted to the left. The work zone will be on the northbound side of the highway, defined with temporary concrete construction barriers.
The state began work last year to replace the bridge on Route 1 over the Millstone River, a project that was part of the 2008-2011 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. In July, crews began work on the southbound (westerly) side of the highway.
The Millstone River bridge was constructed in 1928 and rehabilitated in 1959. The existing bridge is 104 feet long and 76 feet wide and carries six travel lanes on Route 1 with no shoulders or sidewalks on either side. The bridge also carries gas, water, telephone, and fiberoptic utilities.
But it is in poor condition. The new structure will be two spans, 110 feet long and 126 feet wide and will accommodate six travel lanes with full shoulders/auxiliary lanes for bicycles, and two sidewalks for
pedestrians. The state is fully funding the project. Construction is expected to be completed by July, 2010.
