Dart Hill Road Bridge Back Open In Vernon ... Yes, It's Really Open

VERNON, CT — The road was a little bumpy and crews were busy pitting the finishing touches on the sidewalk, but cars in Vernon were passing over the Hockanum River on the Dart Hill Road bridge Thursday.

The detour sign was gone on Dart Hill Road at the Walgreens corner. The Center Road detour sign was still up, as was the Dart Hill detour sign on the South Windsor side of the bridge. But the bridge was open.

It really was.

Work began last spring to replace the aging bridge. The Connecticut Department of Transportation administered federal funds totaling $1,333,200 for the project under the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program. Vernon's cost-share was about $400,000.

The original hope was to have the bridge worked on all summer and open in time for the start of school. With eight bus routes using the as well as thousands of residents on an almost daily basis, it was deemed a priority.

Delays pushed the opening to November and then it was pushed to Dec. 16. Thursday marked one day earlier than the latest projection. Town officials blamed most of the delayed on a new natural gas line from Eversource Energy. A temporary pipe was run over the river though the woods and a was being replaced by a larger capacity permanent pipe at the bridge. Town officials went as far as placing signs at the bridge blaming the utility for the delays.

Alas the pipe was finished and crews began the paving process this week.

Traffic was flowing over it with smiling faces at the wheel Thursday.