DOT to close bridge for weekend

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NAUGATUCK — In what is becoming a regular occurrence, the state Department of Transportation announced that the Route 68 bridge will be closed again this weekend.

The bridge, which connects Bridge Street to Prospect Street, is undergoing a significant rehabilitation project. The bridge will be closed at 8 p.m. on Friday and remain closed through 5 a.m. Monday, the DOT stated in a press release.

The detour route provided by the DOT for travelers on Route 68 east is: follow Route 63, south to Route 8, north to exit 28 to Route 68 east. For those driving on Route 68 west the route is: follow Route 8, south to exit 26 to Route 63, north to Route 68 west.

The bridge is undergoing a $12.8 million rehabilitation project that started in April. The project includes replacing the existing concrete bridge beams with high-strength weathering steel, full replacement of the existing concrete deck, reconstruction of the bridge set at both abutments, reconstruction of existing wing walls and various repairs to the existing five piers. Extensive utility relocation is also included in the plans, according to DOT. The project is expected to last until November 2018.

The project is one of two major bridge reconstruction projects under way in Naugatuck. Work on the Whittemore Bridge downtown is also being done, and the bridge is only open to traffic heading west from the Route 8 off ramp toward Church Street.