Fairfield's Bridge of Sighs

Enjoying the scenery while on a detour might be novel the first time, perhaps even the second. But not the third time.

Fairfield residents are indeed grumbling. After 14 months of following the orange neon signs as the town continues its work on Mill Plain Bridge, drivers and cyclists have had enough.

Town Engineer Bill Hurley understands people are annoyed but wants them to know the project is on schedule.

“I know there’s a lot of frustration because it looks like we are not doing anything, but we were ahead of schedule before winter... but then we got delayed,” Hurley said. “Now maybe we are a week or two behind the true schedule, but are trying to make that up. The hope is to shoot for an opening of September 1.”

Hurley said the department would have a better idea of an opening date around Aug. 20.

The repair work began last year. That might seem like a long time for a rather unassuming bridge, which has no suspension, no graceful arches and looks to the unschooled like something built with building blocks.

But appearances can be deceiving. 

For one, Mill Plain Bridge is technically two bridges. Both pieces are joined at the middle of a pier that sits on an island in the middle of Mill River.

“If you stand at Mill Plain Road it doesn’t even look like they’re working,” Hurley said. “You can’t see them. That’s because they are down in the hole doing drainage.”

It was the same situation during the winter when crews were doing the footing work. Curious passersby couldn’t see the crews since the work was below ground.

The work is not limited to just one area either. There is work to be done in the middle of the 81-year-old bridge and on both banks of the river. In addition, conservation and environmental constraints envelop the project.

Also, crews can't work 24/7. Because it’s an environmentally sensitive area, crews couldn’t work in the water between April and June.

Gas lines still need to be relocated and one of the state’s largest gross particle separators still needs to be delivered. The latter will address water quality.

After the bridge re-opens Hurley said there would be some remaining punch list items, including guide rails and decorative work.