Repairs To Pepper Street In Monroe Continue Starting Monday

MONROE, CT — A major road reconstruction project continued Monday on Pepper Street in Monroe, part of a $7 million improvement effort that is largely paid for by state and federal grants, according to officials.

"The project has been challenged due to the extensive number of overhead and underground utilities that require relocation," officials wrote on Facebook (see below). "While utility companies are included in the project planning and scheduling, they are not bound by the project schedule. Furthermore, some delays are also due to unforeseen underground conditions, pandemic-related supply chain issues and staffing challenges. We have had considerable, ongoing communications with the utility companies, project contractors, as well as CT-DOT, in order to move the project forward. We received a commitment to focus, and 'catch up' on, utility work over this past summer. At this time, over 90 percent of the utility relocations are now complete."

Beginning Monday, crews will excavate and widen the road to accommodate the new design, which will include the installation of new gravel, a new base course of pavement, and new curbing.

During the constuction, vehicles will be shifted to different lanes, so motorist should expect traffic delays through the area. Additionally, there will be sections of roadway that, once milled, will be temporarily gravel for up to a few weeks while work progresses, officials said.

"These sections of the road currently under construction will have a base course of pavement completed prior to the winter season," officials said. "The balance of the road reconstruction, completion of the section of the multi-use trail, as well as the final top course of pavement, is currently projected for the spring of 2022.

"While the temporary impact to travel is frustrating, we thank you for your patience as work progresses. This will ultimately result in significant long-term improvements, better accommodate traffic to our industrial park, while also improving this section of the Housatonic Valley Rail Trail."