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05/17/2016 01:45 PMThere was an eruption of applause as Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Jim Redeker, State Representative Phil Miller, First Selectman Lauren Gister, and others cut the ribbon officially opening the Main Street Bridge in Chester on May 12, 10 days ahead of schedule. Chester town residents, merchants, Department of Transportation workers, town and state officials, and the owners of Arborio Construction all gathered for the occasion to celebrate a job well done.
“We love Chester, it is a terrific town,” said Redeker. “This project was done with grace, great support, and friendship…and free coffee for the workers in the morning didn’t hurt.”
He added, “This is a signature project for us. It was not just about the bridge and the roadway, it was about how we work and how we care about the projects we do, understanding and reaching that balance with the town and going above and beyond to ensure that our projects are completed on time and on budget.”
Commending Ken Fargnoli (the district engineer for DOT District Two in Norwich, who was instrumental in this project) for a great job, Redeker said, “Ken has had a stellar career with the DOT and this is his final project before retiring in 2 ½ weeks. What a great project to end with.”
“We had great people to work with, a great contractor, and a great town,” said Fargnoli.
With a price tag of $4.5 million (paid for by the state), the project broke ground on Jan. 11 and had an anticipated end date of May 22. With a mantra to make lemonade out of lemons, the town of Chester and the Main Street merchants banded together to make the best of a situation that cut off Main Street for several months.
“I think the message from all the merchants is how grateful we are for the group that got in here and got this project done, and ahead of schedule. It has been a wonderful experience,” said Lark owner Suzie Woodward. “We have all made some really great friendships and rallied around one another to work together as a community to make this project as painless as it could be.”
Ed Meehan, the former first selectman who was instrumental in planning for this project, said all the planning was well worth the effort because the project came together nicely and everyone involved did an excellent job.
“Now we can have a fabulous spring and summer,” said Gister. “We are thrilled this project is complete and ahead of schedule. We couldn’t ask for more. This has been a wonderful experience.
“The combined professionalism from the workers to the contractor to the DOT management all came together and everyone was professional and considerate,” Gister continued. “We had good communication with each other and in the end it was an outstanding job all the way around.”
She added, “We as a town appreciate that our merchants could hang in there for this project. They were very stalwart and gracious throughout the entire project and that really made a big difference.”
Main Street in downtown Chester is now officially open. The street is smoothly paved and wide and was tested out first by Paulette Heft with her mother MarieAnne in the passenger seat. The two drove the late Lou Heft’s recognizable white pick-up truck over the bridge first to commemorate Lou and all he had done for the town in the past (Lou Heft passed away in March).
“We felt it was fitting to have Lou’s truck be the first vehicle to drive over the completed bridge because this town meant so much to him and he was such a dedicated resident for so many years,” said Gister.
A few minor punch list items still need to be completed on the project, such as stamping of the cross walk, decorative lighting, additional signage, and a few more minor details before the project is completely finished, but for now the town is happy and rejoicing that it has its Main Street back over a safer and sturdier bridge. The new bridge also features handicap-accessible ramps, wider sidewalks, and radius curbing that will help define traffic flow in town.
“This has been a fun job,” said Pete Arborio, co-owner of Arborio Construction of Cromwell, the contractors for this project. “It was challenging, but everyone involved had the best interest of the project foremost and everyone gave 100 percent. We worked through the challenges and made it happen with a get-it-done attitude.”