First Selectman's Corner - September 30, 2019 - State Work Zone

September 30, 2019

Today I write to inform all residents of the Town of New Hartford of the specifics of the work scheduled by the State of Connecticut on Route 202, also known as Litchfield Turnpike. 

The State has hired contractors to grind and repave Route 202 between Steele Road/Southeast Road (eastern end) and Harrison Road/Torringford East Street (western end).  This five-mile repaving project has an estimated cost of $1,250,000 of your state taxes being reinvested in New Hartford.

Work on this project has been tentatively scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 7AM and continue every day (at the same time) until 4PM on or about October 24, 2019 depending on weather conditions.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has indicated that work will commence at the intersection of Steele Road and Southeast Road and work its way in a westerly direction (toward Torrington) until completed.  

Commencing work at this time will have a significant impact on our residents who commute to work along this route as well as school bus traffic, school employees and parents who like to drop their children off at any one of our schools in this area (Ann Antolini and Bakerville Schools).  There could be frequent traffic delays during this three plus week construction project.

I write today to ask our residents who commute to work along this route to consider adjusting their commuting times to avoid traffic delays or perhaps consider utilizing alternate routes during the repaving project.   Additionally, if you are a parent who drops your child off at school, please allow more time to account for delays during this major construction project. 

As always, please drive safely in all construction zones.  While I’m sure we’ll all share the frustration of delays for a few weeks during this project – the reward of a newly smoothly repaved highway will be with us for years to come.

Thanks,

Dan