(VERNON, Connecticut) – Replacement of the Dart Hill Road bridge over the Hockanum River is scheduled to begin in May and will require a complete closure of the bridge and a detour from about June 7 until late October 2022 so that work on the project can progress safely and efficiently.
When the detour is in place, traffic that normally travels on Dart Hill Road will be detoured to Windsorville Road (Route 74). Eastbound traffic will go north on Skinner Road to Windsorville Road and westbound traffic will go north on Route 83 to Windsorville Road. (Please see the attached map.)
“Vernon has been proactive in maintaining its bridges,” Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said. “When the project is complete, this bridge will be up to 21st Century standards. Closing the bridge to complete the project this summer and fall will save a significant amount of taxpayer money and limit the detour to one construction season.”
Once construction begins, Vernon’s emergency service leaders have coordinated with colleagues in South Windsor to ensure a timely response to emergency calls west of the bridge. Vernon Public Schools officials will also reroute school buses. Rockville High School students who live west of the Hockanum River and who now walk to school will be able to ride school buses for the duration of the detour.
“Keeping the bridge open during construction would complicate the project and add to its cost,” Vernon Town Engineer David Smith said. “The contractor would have to build alternating traffic lanes and construction crews would have to dodge vehicle traffic and pedestrians that use the bridge. Complete closure of the bridge will allow the contractor to work more efficiently and keep the public safe.”
When completed in November 2022, the new bridge will be wider, and have better geometry and sight lines, Smith said. The new bridge will also have a protected area for pedestrians, adding to overall safety, Smith said.
During the detour period the bridge will be closed to pedestrians, impacting people who use the Hockanum River Linear Park Trail.
Construction will begin in May. The project went out to bid and a $2.1 million contract was awarded to New England Road Inc. of Clinton.
The project’s $2.5 million cost is being covered mostly by a federal grant through the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program, which is administered by the Capital Region Council of Governments and the Connecticut Department of Transportation.
Federal money covers the $2.1 million construction costs while the Town of Vernon is paying about $400,000 for design, construction management and inspection costs.
