Fairfield's Mill River Bridge on Pace To Open Soon

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Drivers on Fairfield’s Mill Plain Road have been seeing the signs for 15 months now: “Bridge Out Ahead,” “Road Closed,” “No Thru Traffic.” But in three weeks, one of Fairfield’s busiest streets will be complete again. Town Engineer Bill Hurley says the Mill River Bridge is on track for its Sept. 1 reopening.

“It appears to be on schedule,” Hurley said. “There’s nothing holding it up now as far as I know.”

The town closed portions of Mill Plain Road in May 2010 so that it could replace what was then an 81-year-old bridge over the Mill River. The new bridge will be wider and more secure than the previous structure.

Problems with wires running underneath the bridge and a failed inspection for a portion of the bridge set the project back about a month this winter. But Hurley said the project was a month ahead of schedule at that point, so overall the construction is still on time.

The reopening day will bring relief to drivers heading between Greenfield Hill and the town’s Center. The suggested detour takes drivers along Duck Farm Road and Mill River Road, adding time and mileage to commutes. For example, for someone trying to go from Stillson Road to Brookside Drive — two parallel streets separated only by Riverside Park — the detoured route winds 1.8 miles. A straight trip over the bridge would span only about two-tenths of a mile.

Construction crews have finished the bridge deck and are working on the connections to Mill Plain Road and utility lines underneath the bridge. Passersby might not always see the action on the project, because a great deal is done below the deck on lines running underneath Mill Plain Road. But Hurley assures Fairfielders that crews are out each day working toward the Sept. 1 opening.

“If people were driving by, it might sometimes look like nothing was going on,” Hurley said. “But there was work going on all year, with people down in the hole.”

Are you looking forward to the Mill River Bridge’s reopening? How have you dealt with the detour so far? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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