There are no bridge-centered traffic jams as a result of the closing of the Grand Avenue Bridge for an18-month rehabilitation.
That’s in large part because so many fewer cars are on the road, one of the slim silver linings of the Covid-19 pandemic
That’s the word from Director of Transportation, Traffic & Parking Doug Hausladen one week after the closing of the bridge.
“Working fine; there’s no real traffic out there,” Hausladen wrote in an email message Monday morning.
The length of the lights have changed both at the bridge-closed intersection at Grand and Front, as well as at the approaches to the Ferry Street Bridge, which is receiving the former Grand Avenue Bridge crossers.
Hausladen said his department has “made some tweaks to traffic signals at Ferry, Farren, and Grand Avenue.”
The red light coming north on Front Street lasts longer, allowing traffic approaching the closed bridge more time to make the natural right turn to follow the river down to the Ferry Street Bridge.
There is also a detour sign on Front Street going south at the intersection directing you to turn right and west along Grand toward Ferry, and then down to the bridge.
Hausladen said his department has adjusted traffic signals in “the surrounding network in response to the detoured travel patterns.”
Rebuild Moves Ahead
City Engineer Giovanni Zinn provided the following summary of the work that has been proceeding, the effect of the pandemic on the work crews, and what to look for next in the coming weeks:
“We will be opening and jacking the bridge later this week. In order to access the main span after the bridge is open, access will occur over the barges. Other work that is on-going is mechanical and electrical, and preparing for blast cleaning and painting the structure.
“The contractor has Covid-19 protocols in place and is minimizing gatherings of workers and providing PPE as appropriate. Job meetings are virtual now and we are following social distancing on inspections and site visits. Some operations in particular (such as blast cleaning and painting) will require PPE anyway due to the nature of the work.
“At this point we don’t have any known delays (Covid or otherwise). We’ve seen general notices from contractors and suppliers stating that they consider COVID-19 a force majeure event (a term of art in contracting), but it has not impacted any schedule.”
Bus Route Changes
The closure has also led to some changes in the Grand Avenue 212 bus routes. The main changes for those on the west side of the Quinnipiac River bound for Walmart and other locations on the east side of the bridge are that the stops at Grand and Front and Grand and Perkins are no longer being serviced.
Folks wanting to cross the river eastbound for Walmart and other destinations will have to hop on the east-bound bus at Grand and Clinton, which then travels north on Clinton to Middletown Avenue.
CT Transit is also operating a one-way shuttle service loop to get shoppers from Walmart to various locations on the east side of the closed bridge.
Here are the details from CT Transit’s release: “The service will operate a one-way loop from Walmart, R/Quinnipiac Ave, L/ E. Grand Ave, L/ Russell St, R/ Clifton St, L/ Eastern St, R/ Bella Vista Dr, circle Bella Vista Apt, R/ Eastern St, L/ Foxon Rd, L/ Walmart Supercenter. This 10-minute loop will operate every 20 minutes from the Walmart Supercenter bus stop.”
I love the idea of the shuttle. It has increased the reliability of this route. And yes, I know the true test will be when business is back to normal, but I applauded CTtransit for not using the Ferry St bridge. It will surely be a traffic jam in the near future.