DOT to Rebuild Plumtrees-Whittlesey-Walnut Hill Intersection, Bridge

As the Walnut Hill Road bridge replacement continues and the town prepares for an upcoming weekend bridge replacement on Route 58, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) is also planning to reorganize the intersection of Walnut Hill Road, Whittlesey Ave. and Plumtrees Road.


Reconstruction of the bridge will include reconfiguring the awkward extended intersection of the three roads into a standard four-way intersection.

The new traffic pattern will also include a left-turn lane from Whittlesey to Plumtrees Road, intended to relieve traffic during school openings and dismissals.

The project is “much larger than the Walnut Hill Road bridge,” which has been under construction since April, Bethel Town Engineer Andrew Morosky said.

The Plumtrees-Whittlesey-Walnut Hill bridge project is expected to take two construction seasons (spring to fall), however it won’t require a detour.

“The current plan calls for new concrete box culverts to be installed upstream of the existing bridge,” Morosky explained, allowing traffic to divert over the temporary culvert while the old bridge is dismantled and a new traffic pattern set.

Morosky said, using that plan, they should be able to maintain two lanes of travel at all times.

The DOT is finalizing the project plans and, if on schedule, will put it out to bid this winter. Assuming the process moves along, construction could begin in spring 2014.

Besides the left-turn lane off Whittlesey Ave., are there any other traffic concerns to take into consideration?