DOT Issues Warning About Lead Paint Peeling Off Bridges In Glastonbury

GLASTONBURY, CT — Lead-based paint is peeling off two bridges in Glastonbury, local officials said Monday, and cleanup efforts have begun. As a precaution, the public is being urged to stay away from the spans for now until a definitive timetable can be worked out.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation said that "bridge structures throughout the state have been experiencing a sudden, unexpected release of lead-based paint chips, believed to be a result of the recent extreme swings in temperature."

In Glastonbury, two bridges have been identified with paint peeling to a "severe" degree:

• Bridge No. 01697 – Route 2 Eastbound / Route 94
• Bridge No. 01707 – Wassuc Road / Route 2

DOT officials said that, "although lead is a known health hazard, the existence of paint chips on the ground poses little danger to your health if the following practices are observed to reduce exposure." They are:

• Do not handle or move the debris
• Avoid walking through, or disturbing the debris
• When encountering areas of paint release on roadway travel surfaces, limit your time in areas where traffic is crushing paint chips”

A cleanup effort is currently in progress at all affected bridges, Glastonbury included, officials said. A definitive schedule for work has yet to be defined, local officials said. Accordingly, the Glastonbury Health Department is advising all residents to avoid the state bridges mentioned above, and observe the safety measures. The steps can help prevent the" creation a health hazard within resident homes," local officials said.

Here is the official DOT advisory:

Bridge structures state-wide have been experiencing a sudden, unexpected release of lead-based paint chips, which is believed to be related to the recent extreme swings in temperature. Although lead is a known health hazard, the existence of paint chips on the ground poses little danger to your health if a few common-sense practices are observed. Your goal is to reduce exposure and contain the hazard.

First, do not handle or move the debris. Cleanup efforts are already in progress and a larger state-wide mitigation plan is in development. Second, avoid walking through or disturbing the debris. Crushing the paint chips and tracking them to other locations on the soles of your shoes can increase the size of the contaminated area and increase your likelihood of exposure. Third, when encountering areas of paint release on roadway travel surfaces, limit your time in areas where traffic is crushing paint chips and possibly creating contaminated dust. Finally, take note of the location and the area of impact. Is it on the roadway, sidewalk, in a stream or river, or is it in a residential or school zone? Record the information and inform your supervisor upon your return to your work facility.

During the course of your normal duties, if you encounter areas that have been impacted by the sudden release of lead-based paint, following these few simple best-practices will either reduce or eliminate your chance of exposure to lead and help contain the hazardous material.

For more information about lead and its impact on health please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Envi...