The town is looking at a 2017 construction start to replace the Harbor Street Bridge, a two-lane street level deck which straddles Mill Creek as it meets the Branford River.

Town Engineer Janice Plaziak invites residents, business owners, commuters and other interested members of the public to learn more about the town's plans to replace the bridge; during a public information session scheduled for Tues. April 19, 7 p.m. at Branford Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main St.

The town owned bridge, constructed in 1934, was built in stages when it was originally constructed, said Plaziak.

"It has one side that's pretty well deteriorated," she said.

The bridge will be replaced with a concrete box culvert bridge with stone decorative facing reflective of the character of the current bridge facade. The State Historic Commission has reviewed the plans due to the historic district where the bridge is located.

"The old bridge is in an historic district of town so we will treat the (finish) with stone facing on parapets and wing walls," said Plaziak.

She said there will be no road reconfigurations as part of the bridge replacement.

"It's pretty well restricted to just the bridge and we're going to keep roadway (alignment) with what it is now," said Plaziak. "There will be no elevation of the deck and we're not changing the hydraulics. We're replacing in-kind mostly just because it is deteriorating and insufficient structurally."

The project, which is 46 percent reimbursable by the state, has an estimated cost of $1.5 million.

Plaziak said the bridge will be closed to traffic during replacement and traffic will be re-routed with detours using Maple Street and Stannard Avenue. Traffic over the bridge often includes residents heading down Harbor Street to reach Branford Point at the end of Harbor Street and the Branford state boat launch on Goodsell Point Road.

For those unable to attend the meeting, information regarding the project will be posted at http://www.branford-ct.gov/engineering%20v following the meeting; or contact Town Engineer Janice A. Plaziak, P.E. at (203) 315-0606 or engineering@branford-ct.gov