Track Switched; Road Widened

If you’ve noticed an uptick in activity in the Amtrak Bridge area – including lots of extra whistle-blowing – that’s because two crucial parts of the job are taking place.

As of last Thursday, railroad track 1 was shifted to a new portion of the bridge. (See photo above.) Track 2 will be moved to an existing alignment to make room for construction of a new portion of the bridge, which is supposed to take place later this month.

A second part of the $44.7 million Department of Transportation project, the widening of Route 1, starting at Alps Road,(pictured left) to accommodate the bridge is also underway. The overall project is expected to cost about $70.5 million.

The changes have necessitated a new Shore Line East schedule from New Haven to Branford. Click here to see the new Shore Line East spring schedule.

According to the state Department of Transportation, changes have been made in the Shore Line East commuter spring train schedule to accommodate the construction since only one track will be available for train service between New Haven and Branford.

The changes primarily affect the afternoon and evening schedules. There is no overall reduction on the number of trains running between New York and Boston.

Jan Pacanski is project consulting engineer for the Department of Transportation/Amtrak bridge replacement now underway at Route 1 and Short Beach Road. 

Pacanski said that preparation for the actual changeover required specialized equipment to make sure the track alignment and elevation are correct. He added that all Amtrak trains are now running on a single track.

Those living in the area have noticed more movement and more noise. ​“Extra whistles mean extra people on the tracks,” Pacanski says.

He said this winter was a catch-up time due to the mild weather.

In preparation, crews have been working weekends so that the train traffic can be shifted to the temporary positions.

The second section of steel won’t be put in place until August or September. The first new section was placed just a year ago, necessitating a short closure of Route 1 over a Saturday night.

Traffic will continue to move under the bridge indefinitely in its present two-lane east and one-lane west pattern.

To accommodate the widening of the bridge, Route 1 or West Main Street as it is known in Branford, is being widened almost up to Orchard Hill Road. The bulk of that work is now taking place from Walgreen’s entrance to Alps Road, where a new right-hand turn lane is being added.

Storm drains and pipes are waiting placement and the roadway alongside Alps Road has been dug out. Orange and white cones dot the side of the road.

Work started on that phase of the project six months ahead of schedule. Pacanski said there was the opportunity to move it up that was favorable to the overall schedule.

Branford First Selectman Anthony ​“Unk” DaRos expressed some concern that the paving of that area would be left until the end of the project, but he was assured that all paving and landscaping would be completed in conjunction with the widening.

Pacanski said he expects that phase to be wrapped up by summer. Access to businesses in the area will not be affected.

The project is expected to be completed in 2014. It began in August 2009. The contractor is J.F. White/Empire of Framingham, Mass.

For previous stories click here and here
And here.

DOT maintains an information line with regular updates at 203 – 315-0966.

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