Hesseky Brook bridge work on schedule; detour traffic prompts speed monitoring on Bear Hill Road

First Selectman Paul Zulpa told the Board of Selectmen on March 24 that work on the Hesseky Brook bridge on Route 317 is progressing on schedule and that the town has taken steps to address detour-related traffic on nearby roads.

"The concrete work on the bridge has now been completed," Zulpa said, adding that crews are installing drainage structures and performing full‑depth roadway reconstruction with that phase expected to be finished by April 27 and overall project completion targeted for May 15.

Zulpa said traffic volumes have risen substantially on Bear Hill Road because it is being used as a detour. In response, the Town installed two speed‑monitoring devices that display motorists' speeds in real time and log speed and time data for later review. "Both signs are now installed, fully operational and delivering data," he said. The Board discussed moving the signs to other locations after the bridge work concludes.

Zulpa also reported that the Connecticut Department of Transportation inspected the intersection of Route 6 and Route 317, replaced a crosswalk push button, realigned signal lights and recalibrated timers and trip plates. He said the Town will continue to monitor the intersection for recurring issues.

Selectmen praised the Department of Public Works' responsiveness to resident concerns and emphasized the need to preserve staging areas for the final phases of the project. A resident letter read into the record asked the Town to consider a formal traffic study to determine whether lower speed limits or other interventions are warranted; the Board did not set a study timeline during the meeting.