Woodbury selectmen report Heskey Bridge paving near completion; traffic counters show higher speeds on detour route

First Selectman Paul Zolpa told the Board of Selectmen on April 14 that the Heskey Bridge roadway has been fully paved and that the state Department of Transportation lists a May 15, 2026 completion date, though he said progress suggests work may finish ahead of schedule.

Zolpa also presented recent traffic-monitoring data from two speed-tracking signs on Bearhill Road. "Between March 30 and April 12, a total of 7,045 vehicles passed the sign located at 38 Bearhill Road," he said, noting that roughly 15% of those vehicles were traveling above 31 miles an hour and six vehicles were recorded over 40 mph. By contrast, 5,706 vehicles passed the sign at 72 Bearhill Road during the same period; Zolpa said 4.34% of that traffic exceeded 31 mph with one vehicle over 35 mph.

The data cover movement on the detour route while the bridge work continues. Zolpa said the board will continue monitoring speeds and traffic patterns and take additional steps if they remain a safety concern after the bridge reopens. He urged residents to watch town channels for updates about the project timetable and related traffic changes.

No formal action was taken on the bridge status during the meeting; the board framed the update as informational and part of ongoing oversight of the DOT-managed project.