Construction & Roadway Projects

The Town maintains 217 miles of roadways and averages 8.5 miles of paving each year including reconstruction and repaving projects.  In 2023, we paved 6.6 miles, which is below the annual target. This is largely attributable to the fact that several arterial roadways were resurfaced this year. These roadways are much wider than local roadways and cost more money to resurface.

The Engineering Division annually performs visual pavement condition assessments at the end of each year. The following link shows the 2022 Pavement Condition Map. This map displays the pavement conditions by colors for either Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, or Extremely Poor. In 2022, 20 miles of roadways were rated in Extremely Poor condition, while 32 miles of roadways were rated in Poor condition.

Each year, the Town focuses its paving resources toward the Extremely Poor roadways. As part of the repaving effort, the Engineering Division meets with the utility companies to review its tentative list of roadways to be repaved.

The following roadways were reconstructed this season: 

• Meriline Avenue
• Lynn Court
• Ardmore Road 
• Avalon Road 
• Vincent Street
• Brattle Street  

Roadway reconstructions are more complicated than re-paving and therefore take longer to complete, about one to two months. The work generally includes the replacement of existing curb with granite curb, the replacement of existing driveway aprons with concrete aprons, selective sidewalk and drainage structure replacement, re-establishment of the roadway base material, and paving.

The Town is in the final stages of completing Trout Brook Trail from New Park Avenue to Asylum Avenue.  This multi-use trail is predominantly off the road, up to 10' wide, and paved for use by non-motorized users including bicyclists and pedestrians.  At its anticipated completion in 2024, Trout Brook Trail will stretch almost 4 miles. 

Phase 3  -  Park Road to Jackson Avenue
The Town is concluding design for this grant-funded phase.  Bidding and construction are slated for 2024. 

Phase 6  -  Duffield Drive to Fern Street
This phase was completed in late summer 2023.

Phase 7  -  Asylum Avenue to Duffield Drive
This phase was completed in fall 2023.  

Please see the Overall Project Plan.

The Fern Street Bridge over Trout Brook is located adjacent to Fernridge Park.  Originally constructed in 1939, the structure is in need of replacement.  Demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the new bridge will start in 2024, with completion expected in Summer of 2025. Traffic will be maintained throughout the project with an alternating one-lane configuration. 

The intersection of Mountain Road and Albany Avenue is heavily congested and experiences excessive vehicular delays. The proposed improvements will reduce the Mountain Road queues and better accommodate motorists and bicyclists. The project will focus on the Mountain Road approaches, where the roadway will be widened to provide a left turn lane, thru lane, and a shared thru/right lane in each direction. The project will also include: traffic signal replacement, sidewalk repairs, bicycle lanes, and an extension of the culvert under Mountain Road serving Mountain Farms Brook. The project is being designed and utility coordination work is ongoing. The project is expected to be under construction in 2024.

In 2017, the Town completed a Complete Streets Study for the New Park Avenue Transit Area and obtained two State of Connecticut grants to fund the recommended improvements. The project will enhance New Park Avenue for all users between New Britain Avenue and Oakwood Avenue. Project elements include: decorative streetlights, a two-way cycle track, a shared multi-use side path, pocket parks, landscaped medians, street trees, wayfinding signage, enhanced mid-block crosswalks, and traffic signal improvements. In between major intersections, the roadway will be resurfaced and reduced from four travel lanes to three: one travel lane in each direction and a center two-way left turn lane. Survey and design have begun, with an expected construction start of mid-2024. The approximate construction cost is $3.8 million, grant funding ($3.7 million) and matching Town funds ($100k).

For more information, visit the project facebook page below or e-mail the project team at NewParkAvenue@westhartfordct.gov. 

MDC Projects

• South Hartford Conveyance and Storage Tunnel (SHCST) is a four-mile long deep rock tunnel constructed to convey and temporarily store wastewater from portions of Hartford and West Hartford during storm events.  The tunnel will extend from the Hartford Water Pollution Control facility in the South Meadows of Hartford to Talcott Road in West Hartford.  When completed, the tunnel will minimize sewer overflows into the local waterways, the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound during major storm events.  The SHCST project is the largest infrastructure component of the MDC's Clean Water Project and the largest contract ever awarded by the MDC.  For more information visit:  https://www.thecleanwaterproject.com/. 
   
• CTDOT 155-176 Intersection Improvements at Albany Ave. (US-44) and North Main St. (CT-218) - The Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun design of the Albany Avenue (US-44) and North Main Street (CT-218) intersection, which will provide pedestrian and vehicle safety and operational improvements. The current estimated project cost is $5.5 million. Design is expected to continue until early  2025.  Construction should begin in mid-2025 and be completed in 2026. Please click here for the official project website. The DOT held a virtual public meeting on July 13, 2023 to discuss the project, the recording of which will be posted to this link.