An image showing what the bridge will be once work is completed.
DERBY-SHELTON — The state awarded a $6.3 million contract to renovate the bridge that connects Route 34 in downtown Derby to Route 110 in downtown Shelton, the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments announced Monday.
The project is seen as a step forward for Derby, where officials have been trying to get redevelopment efforts on the south side on Route 34/Main Street (along the Housatonic River) off the ground for decades.
While the city, the state and private property owners have been successful in tearing down structures along the south side of Main Street in Derby, replacing those buildings has not been as easy — causing the south side of Main Street to look like a no man’s land.
Meanwhile, just across the Housatonic River, Shelton’s downtown is constantly reinventing itself by replacing outdated industrial buildings with new housing and small businesses.
But there have been clear signs of progress in Derby, such as:
In February 2020, the city’s planning and zoning commission approved plans for 203 apartments and 8,000 square feet of retail space on Factory Street. Work has not started.
In January, Derby approved an application for 70 apartments for the former Lifetouch property on Main Street.
And Mayor Rich Dziekan’s administration, along with the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen, are trying to acquire a scrap yard in order to provide more parking — and to rid the redevelopment zone of an eyesore.
The state’s long-planned widening of Route 34/Main Street through downtown Derby is supposed to go out for bid in July, according to the Naugatuck Valley of Governments (previously it has been the spring).
Rick Dunne, a Derby resident who is executive director of the Naugatuck Valley of Governments, is scheduled to update Derby about the Route 34/Main Street widening project during an Aldermen/Alderwomen meeting on Feb. 11.
The Bridge
The state contract for the rehabilitation of the Derby-Shelton bridge was awarded Jan. 26 to Mohawk Northeast, Inc.
Construction is scheduled to begin by April 1, with an estimated completion date of December 2023, according to a news release from NVCOG.
The rehab will include replacing the walls on the side of the bridge and adding decorative railings. In addition, existing ugly street lamps will be replaced by decorative lighting.
“The project also includes colored LED “up-lighting” that will accent the archways and parapets from below the bridge and can be changed and programmed depending on the season or special events,” according to the press release.
In addition to making the bridge more attractive to look at and walk over, the rehab will also make the structure easier to drive across, according to NVCOG:
“Roadway improvements will include adding a second travel lane for traffic heading to Derby, new pavement and curbing, and the shifting of the travel lanes to accommodate wider sidewalks on the south side of the bridge and a bi-directional cycle-track to separate bicyclists from both vehicle traffic and pedestrians,” the agency said in a press release.
Reaction
Elected officials from both sides of the river said the bridge is an important gateway to the downtowns in Derby and Shelton, and that the rehab work will do a better job tying the two communities together.
The bicycle lane and sidewalks will connect the two river walks in each city. It will make it easier for pedestrians to get from downtown Shelton to the Derby train station.
“As Shelton’s downtown sees continued private investment, improvements like this make these and future projects more attractive to investors, residents, and visitors. This will become a new and beautiful gateway to Shelton over the Housatonic,” state Rep. Jason Perillo said in a prepared statement.
“Smart investments like these do more than strengthen our infrastructure, they yield incredible results for the people of Derby and Shelton, including boosting local business and connecting our communities even further,” said state Rep. Klarides-Ditria.
The Dziekan administration sees the bridge work as a step in the right direction, especially when coupled with recent advancements in the redevelopment zone.
“The improvements to the Derby-Shelton Bridge are great for both cities,” Andrew Baklik, the Derby mayor’s chief of staff, said in an email. “The aesthetic elements alone are exciting, but when you consider the increased interconnection between the two downtowns, the project becomes even more relevant. Shelton folks will have a more direct line to the train station as well as the businesses that currently exist downtown Derby and vice versa. We hope to continue to build and grow, giving the Shelton residents even more reasons to cross the bridge into New Haven County.”
