Heads up, I-84 drivers: Nighttime Highway Closures in Waterbury

(From the Waterbury Republican-American)

WATERBURY — Interstate 84 will be closed in both directions from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. tonight, Thursday and Sunday for the installation of steel girders to support the deck of the new Hamilton Avenue bridge.

The closure began overnight Tuesday and is expected to last four days.

Westbound traffic is being detoured at Exit 23. From there, motorists should turn right onto Hamilton Avenue, continue straight on Hamilton Avenue/Union Street and turn left onto I-84 via the Exit 22 westbound on ramp.

Eastbound traffic is taking Exit 23 toward Prospect, Route 69 southbound. At the end of the exit, motorists should cross Hamilton Avenue and reenter I-84 via the Exit 24 eastbound on ramp.

Next week, I-84 eastbound will be closed overnight from June 20 to 22 for the installation of girders on the third bridge segment. The fourth segment will be installed offline.

Twenty steel girders will be installed — five girders on each of the four segments.

As part of the I-84 reconstruction project, the Hamilton Avenue bridge is being widened to five continuous lanes. It will have a turn-only lane for the eastbound on ramp. Part of the bridge has been demolished and the new bridge is being built in its place.

Lanes have been narrowed on the existing part of the bridge. When the new section opens this fall, traffic will be moved onto it and the old part will be demolished and rebuilt. This method allows to bridge to remain open while construction is underway.