Work to start on Merritt, Cornell bridges

Even as the Representative Town Meeting this week approved a deal with the state to replace the Valley Road bridge, town officials announced that work to rebuild two other spans in the Stratfield area will get under way soon.

Officials said work on the Merritt Street bridge could start as early as next week, while work on the Cornell Road bridge is expected to begin around Sept. 1.

Both bridges were given a poor rating by the state Department of Transportation in its periodic inspections of local bridges.

Traffic will be detoured around both spans while construction takes place. Both Merritt Street and Cornell Road will be closed to through traffic, however, local traffic will be allowed up to the bridge construction area.

Officials say roads will not be shut down until necessary, but once closed they will remain off limits until bridge and road work is completed.

The Merritt Street bridge is a larger project, which involves building a completely new bridge. It is estimated to re-open in July 2013.

The Cornell Road bridge is a deck replacement project estimated to be completed by late December.

Anyone with questions or comments about either project should contact town Engineering Manager William Hurley at 203-256-3015.

Periodic updates on the projects will be posted on the town's website, www.fairfieldct.org, and the town's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/fairfieldct.