Project Update /Traffic Update

Merritt Parkway improvement project in Westport and Fairfield to begin next Stage of Construction July 30, 2019.  

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that on or about July 30, 2019 the next Stage of construction for improvements to the Merritt Parkway in Westport and Fairfield will begin.  Motorists can expect changes beginning in the southbound direction with lanes shifted to the right side to establish a work zone for construction of median improvements. Concrete barriers will be installed on the left side of the southbound roadway to separate the median construction work area from traffic. Lanes will remain reduced to 10 feet wide and justified to the right side of the roadway. Motorist can anticipate similar traffic alignment changes occurring in the northbound direction as shoulder reconstruction work is completed and median reconstruction begins. All work will be done with nighttime lane closures.

The project will improve a 5 mile section of the Merritt Parkway (Route 15) and restore 11 historic bridges (over and underpasses) from the Newtown Turnpike overpass in Westport to the Congress Street overpass in Fairfield.  Roadway improvements include new drainage systems, new Merritt Parkway guiderail and barrier systems, new signing, and upgrades to the roadway pavement to current standards.

DOT Project No. 0158-0211/207 was awarded to Manafort Brothers, Inc. at a cost of $56,712,000.00 on January 20, 2017 and is scheduled to be completed August 8, 2020.

TRAFFIC IMPACT INFO

Nightly southbound lane closures between the hours of 7PM and 6AM Monday through Thursday, 8PM and 6AM on Fridays, and 8PM to 9AM on Saturdays. Intermittent closure of entrance and exit ramps at Exit 41 and 42 with signed detour routes may occur as needed.

All motorists traveling on the Merritt Parkway are required to obey posted vehicle restrictions and are reminded that no vehicles over 8 feet tall are allowed on the Parkway. The existing vertical clearance under the Newtown Turnpike Bridge is lower than the existing bridge height during this construction.