The state Department of Transportation says it is metallizing bridges in northwest Connecticut.
The upcoming work will include the bridge that carries Route 8 over Hill Street in Torrington, according to the DOT.
The work is scheduled to begin on Friday, February 20 and be completed on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, according to the DOT.
As a result, Hill Street will be closed to through traffic starting February 20 and through Wednesday, April 22, according to the DOT.
All traffic will be detoured to Laurel Hill Road and there will be traffic control signing patterns to guide motorists through the work zone, according to the DOT.
“Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions” and are “advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area, according to the DOT.
The agency noted, records show, that the “purpose and need of the project is to protect the steel members and preserve the condition of these bridges, thus extending their useful service lives and keeping them in a state of good repair.”
There also will be “minor utility impacts anticipated, involving temporary lowering and/or burial of communication facilities at a few sites,” according to DOT records about the full project.
A meeting on the project was held in 2024 and, in response to a question, Mike Jacovino, of the engineering firm Close, Jensen and Miller, P.C., said that, because of the age of bridges in the program, the specifications “call for lead testing and there are additional procedures in place for that. The enclosures are required so as to not release anything into the environment. There are also construction and coating inspectors on site that make sure the project is following the book.”
And, in response to a question about steel repairs and bridge safety, Jacovino responded that the “proposed repairs are routine in nature and are being performed in part as a preparation for painting. He ensured the attendees that there were currently no unsafe conditions on these bridges.”
This project included metallizing bridges along the Route 8 corridor between Torrington and Colebrook, and includes Torrington, Winchester and Colebrook, the DOT record shows.
According to the DOT the project was awarded to Allied Painting Inc. for $15.8 million in December 2024. It is scheduled to be completed Nov. 30, 2027 and is administered by the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, Office of Construction, District 4 in Thomaston.