Preparations on Arrigoni Bridge Have Begun

State workers today are beginning preparations for the reconstruction of the Arrigoni Bridge. The prep work includes putting up directional signs for traffic and setting up the staging material for the first phase of the construction project.  No temporary barriers will be installed at this time and daily lane closures will be limited to off peak hours between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The staging work precedes the first stage of reconstruction of the bridge, which calls for replacing the steel grid deck on the bridge and the sidewalks on the main spans. The project, which is being overseen by the state’s Department of Transportation, also calls for completing the work from the bridge and from a temporary work platform that will be suspended below it. Other reconstruction work includes replacing elastomeric bearings and pedestal repairs on the Portland side, putting down a new bituminous overlay on the main span of the bridge and installing new expansion joints.

The bridge work will be completed in three stages with the first stage scheduled to begin in late June and the last stage completed by November of 2012.  Preconstruction is slated to begin June 6.

During the staged construction process traffic on the four-lane bridge, which spans the Connecticut River and runs from Middletown to Portland, will be limited to two lanes, one lane in each direction.  Pedestrian and bicycle lanes will be open depending on which stage of the project is underway.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Middletown Police Department reminded motorists not to block the intersections when traffic from the bridge becomes backed up onto local streets.  Motorists, police officials said, should not enter an intersection unless they can drive completely through the intersection and not obstruct other vehicles or pedestrians.

The Middletown Fire Department also is reminding motorists not to block the driveway to the firehouse on Main Street.

Portland’s Emergency Response Plan is in effect for the expected bridge closures during the project.

The bridge work is estimated to cost $17 million.