The Saw Mill Road Bridge was constructed in 1929, and has been under observation since 2005. In 2013, the bridge was identified by the CT and US DOT as “functionally obsolete” and the state required full replacement for the following two reasons. The bridge and the approaches to the bridge are too narrow for the high volume of traffic that crosses the bridge daily, resulting in an unacceptable number of motor vehicle accidents on or near the bridge. The bridge also has a very shallow foundation which is insufficient to withstand the velocity of Ball Pond Brook flowing through the bridge. The resulting scour has undermined the bridge footings. For these reasons, the State and Federal governments have agreed to fund 80% of the cost of replacing the bridge, with the Town funding the remaining 20%.
The current bridge is an intermediate size steel arch bridge with stone faced concrete abutments and wing walls which must be dismantled. Before the old bridge can be removed, the utility lines that run above the bridge as well as those underground lines that run across the bridge must be temporarily relocated and protected during construction. The Fire Department’s dry hydrant located adjacent to the bridge must also be removed during construction and reassembled after construction. Once construction begins, cofferdams will be constructed to divert the flow of water while the new bridge is under construction. This preparatory work will take approximately 1 month. Steel piles will be driven into the underlying ledge to ensure that the footings will not be undermined by the flow of the water. Concrete footings and abutments will be poured and allowed to cure to ensure the required strength, and precast concrete beams will be placed on top of the abutments to form the roadbed. Construction of the four abutments will take approximately 3 months. The final step will be to relocate the aboveground and underground utilities, reinstall the dry hydrant and construct the road surface and drainage. This work will take approximately 2.5 months. The remaining work will include constructing the approaches to the bridge, paving and landscaping which will take approximately 2 weeks. This is a complex project with both historical and environmental implications. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 203-312-5600. | 
