CHESTER

Repairs to the King’s Highway Bridge in Chester are beginning on Monday, July 8 with hopes to be completed for use by the commuting public after one month, in estimation of the Public Works Department.

The project comes on the heels of two years of needed repairs in regards to both routine traffic and the aftermath of an accident, according to Director of Public Works Cameron Evangelisti. The critical replacement of a water main along King’s Highway by Connecticut Water Service last year also put a pause on needed repairs.

Evangelisti said that Nathan L. Jacobson and Associates are “handling the drawings, bidding out the contractor and the full scope of the plan” to ensure that all aspects of the repairs are executed correctly starting in the first steps of the process. Jacobson is the town engineer.

“Right now, we're hoping just the regular scope of the work is to fix the sides of the bridges and put the co-compliant guardrail and safety system around there and make sure anything that needs to be done is done correctly,” said Evangelisti. “If something happens or pops up [which is in need of repair], Jacobson will take care of that and let me know what's going on.”

Evangelisti and Chester Town Hall both said the work will take a month to complete in a “best-case scenario.” The former said the timeframe in which the work will be completed could depend on the condition of the bridge’s blacktop and its surroundings.

The road will be completely closed to pedestrians and motorists on both sides during its repair, while alternative routes to get places in town are open in different directions.

“There’s access from [Route] 154 for the two residents right there at the beginning, and then everybody else can access from Water Street and Goose [Hill Road] everything else to their residence that way,” said Evangelisti.

The town will keep residents updated on the progress of the work through town-wide emails and on its website.

In terms of financing the project, Connecticut Water Service, one of the stakeholders in the project, will be offering $113,000 for the paving portion of the repairs, something which the Board of Selectmen confirmed in October 2023. Otherwise, the Public Works Department will “narrow down contractors” for additional paving, pulverizing of the street, and to address drainage, said Evangelisti. In the meantime, the department will work within its budget to do some road improvements before bids are accepted by contractors for further work.

The total cost of the project is currently undetermined and “ever-changing,” said Evangelisti.

“Every day, the numbers are changing for piping, concrete, and pavement. We're doing our best to keep it as low as possible,” he said.