Plus here are a couple of what we in the business call sidebars that may be in the paper or may not be:
Work will be speedy
Instead of the three year schedule that transportation officials had eyed for the massive road project, it appears the work could be done in a comparatively swift 19 months, officials said Tuesday.
Ralph Carpenter, the state’s transportation commissioner, said plans call for the contractor to complete the job in 19 months, though weather is bound to play a role.
“We’ll jump right on it,” said Carpenter, a Bristol native who is eager to see the new road built.
Carpenter said that construction should begin in late summer or early fall and follow “a pretty aggressive schedule” so that it can be done in the spring of 2009.
That news had city leaders beaming.
State Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat who represents the 31st District, said that during construction, traffic is “going to be a real nightmare.”
The faster it’s done, many officials said, the better. – Steve Collins
Not a highway
Though government officials and reporters who are unfamiliar with the details habitually call the project a highway, it’s not the sort of limited access expressway that the word conjures up.
The new road features a sunken, boulevard-type street slicing through a residential section between Route 372 in Plainville and Yarde’s Pond, which is beside the commuter lot on Todd Street where Rell spoke Tuesday. Parts of it will be as much as 17 feet beneath the surface.
But after that section, the four-lane road will follow the existing right of way on Pine Street before crossing a new Pequabuck River bridge in order to align directly with Riverside Avenue.
Ten intersections with traffic lights are included along the new road
Though the new section of road will be formally designated a state highway, so is the existing Route 72 that snakes through Forestville and crosses under the railroad bridge on Route 229.
The existing Route 72 in eastern Bristol will ultimately be turned over to the city’s care, just another municipal road to pave in years ahead. – Steve Collins
Instead of the three year schedule that transportation officials had eyed for the massive road project, it appears the work could be done in a comparatively swift 19 months, officials said Tuesday.
Ralph Carpenter, the state’s transportation commissioner, said plans call for the contractor to complete the job in 19 months, though weather is bound to play a role.
“We’ll jump right on it,” said Carpenter, a Bristol native who is eager to see the new road built.
Carpenter said that construction should begin in late summer or early fall and follow “a pretty aggressive schedule” so that it can be done in the spring of 2009.
That news had city leaders beaming.
State Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat who represents the 31st District, said that during construction, traffic is “going to be a real nightmare.”
The faster it’s done, many officials said, the better. – Steve Collins
Not a highway
Though government officials and reporters who are unfamiliar with the details habitually call the project a highway, it’s not the sort of limited access expressway that the word conjures up.
The new road features a sunken, boulevard-type street slicing through a residential section between Route 372 in Plainville and Yarde’s Pond, which is beside the commuter lot on Todd Street where Rell spoke Tuesday. Parts of it will be as much as 17 feet beneath the surface.
But after that section, the four-lane road will follow the existing right of way on Pine Street before crossing a new Pequabuck River bridge in order to align directly with Riverside Avenue.
Ten intersections with traffic lights are included along the new road
Though the new section of road will be formally designated a state highway, so is the existing Route 72 that snakes through Forestville and crosses under the railroad bridge on Route 229.
The existing Route 72 in eastern Bristol will ultimately be turned over to the city’s care, just another municipal road to pave in years ahead. – Steve Collins
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
3 comments:
That plus building the new Greene-Hills school is going to make Pine Street interesting over the next couple of years isn't it.
there is no way this thing gets done in 18 months, who are they kidding?
hopefully this will be the catalyst taht continues rt 72 to its logical ending at rt 8 !! anyone who drives on rt 6 from bristol thru terryville and onto thomaston knows there has to be a better way !!
and yes, it can be done in 18 months when you have a reputable contractor like manafort - not like those clowns defelice who screwed up i-84 !!
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