Photo courtesy of Valley Aerial Optics.
DERBY-SHELTON — A multi-million dollar infrastructure project kicked off over the Housatonic River this month.
The $6.3 million refurbishing of the century-old Derby-Shelton Bridge began April 1. Mohawk Northeast, Inc. was awarded the contract by the state Department of Transportation to complete the repair and reconfiguration of the historic bridge straddling the Housatonic River.
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According to DOT spokesperson Kevin J. Nursick, the work will be completed in three phases, with an anticipated completion date of November 2023.
The project, which includes a bike lane, is being designed to better connect booming downtown Shelton with downtown Derby, where there is a train station, the state’s busiest river walk, and several redevelopment projects percolating.
The Work
The project will feature the coordination and movement of several utilities and an overall realignment of traffic on the bridge.
This will result in a final configuration of three, 11-foot travel lanes, two 5‑foot-by-8-foot sidewalks, and a 10-foot bike lane, according to Nursick. The parapets will be reconstructed to meet new safety standards. The existing lighting will also be upgraded and include decorative LED lighting to up-light the bridge from underneath in a wash of different colors.
Since work started, Nursick said sidewalk lighting from the northern side of the bridge has been removed, and the deteriorated concrete underneath the bridge has been located and marked for removal.
A rendering of what the bridge will look like after work is completed.
The contractor will be bringing in portable, truck-mounted work platforms to start removing the old concrete and replacing it, according to Nursick.
Deteriorated sections of concrete will be saw-cut around their perimeters, then jackhammers will remove the deteriorated concrete which will subsequently be patched, Nursick added.
During this time, Nursick said the contractor will shift traffic to the south and will install precast concrete barriers to delineate the work area and begin demolition of the existing northern parapet and sidewalk to allow for utility relocation.
The work involves heavy equipment — jack hammers, hydraulic hammers, dump trucks — so pedestrians will be restricted to the southern sidewalk at that time.
During construction, DOT officials said there will be no need to detour traffic, and two, 11-foot travel lanes between Howe Avenue and Route 34 (Main Street) will be maintained.
Access to and from the Derby Greenway from the bridge will be maintained — except during the actual construction of an upgraded access point, according to the DOT.
Officials: This Is Good
Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan said he’s happy to see the project underway.
“This project will help pedestrian and bicycle traffic come into town,” he said. “Right now it’s all prep work for the bridge. The project will go at least a year and a half. We will have construction meetings with the construction company for a timeline so businesses will not be affected too much. We’re looking for the public to be patient when law-enforcement personnel will be working traffic. I’m looking forward to a lot of foot traffic coming over from Shelton utilizing the Riverwalk and businesses.”
The project is being coordinated with the state’s Route 34/Main Street widening project in Derby. That is supposed to start in September, according to public statements made in February. https://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/derby_alders_receive_update_on_main_street_widening_project/
Meanwhile, two redevelopment projects have been approved in Derby’s redevelopment zone, the area on the south side of Main Street along the Housatonic River from the Derby-Shelton Bridge to the Route 8 south on-ramp.
In January, the city’s planning and zoning commission approved “Trolley Pointe,” a 70-unit market-rate apartment building at the former Lifetouch property on Main Street.
In February 2020, the commission approved 200 apartments and 8,000 square feet of retail on Factory Street, between the Trolley Pointe property and the scrap yard.
That second project has not started, in part, according to city officials, the developers want to make sure a scrap yard there isn’t a neighbor when they market apartments. The city is negotiating with the scrap yard to purchase, relocate, or take through eminent domain with a fair-market price.
Andrew Baklik, Mayor Dziekan’s chief of staff, said the bridge work is important to bolster Derby as a place for transportation-oriented development.
“The improvements to the Derby-Shelton Bridge will help to better connect our two communities with better vehicular flow as well as pedestrian and bicycle traffic,” Baklik said. “Most importantly, Shelton residents will be given easier access to Derby businesses and vice versa. While Derby is somewhat behind in our downtown development efforts compared to Shelton, we anticipate that the future mixed-use development of each downtown will truly complement each other.”
The bridge, in its current state, looks dumpy — a giant slab of concrete with weeds growing in cracks. Baklik noted the refurbishing will change that.
“Additionally, the infrastructure and aesthetic improvements will glorify the historically significant bridge,” Baklik added. “We’re especially excited about the programmable colored LED lights that can be used to recognize and celebrate certain holidays and events.”
Rick Dunne, executive director of Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, who facilitated the project, is glad to see the project get started.
“The timing is excellent as the bridge project should be coming to a conclusion at the point where it needs to tie-in with the Route 34 Main Street Project,” Dunne said. “Together with the prior project on the Atwater Bridge, these three efforts will collectively update all utilities, roadways, parking and pedestrian connectivity across both the Naugatuck and Housatonic Rivers, connecting east Derby with downtown Shelton. It’s really a showcase project for Derby and Shelton, and will serve to reinforce the historical connection between Derby and Shelton.”
Initial funding for the project came through the efforts of elected officials who represent Derby and Shelton in the state legislature.
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