Stiles Bridge Reopens Thursday, East Windsor Police Say

EAST WINDSOR, CT — The Stiles Bridge on Route 191 in Broad Brook is set to reopen Thursday afternoon, according to the East Windsor Police Department.

Police said the Connecticut Department of Transportation plans to reopen the bridge at about 3 p.m. on December 18th. At that time, Route 191 and all nearby connecting roads will reopen, and the detour will be removed. Drivers are asked to use caution as traffic returns to the area.

The bridge had been closed for months as part of a $9.1 million construction project, and officials previously said the road could remain closed through the winter. The DOT now says traffic can safely return while crews pause work until the spring.

When construction resumes, crews will finish replacing the bridge and complete the remaining roadway work. The bridge is being rebuilt with a new steel and concrete structure, and the road leading to it is being raised by about four feet.

The project is being done by ROTHA Contracting Co., which was awarded the contract in September 2023. The work was planned to take two construction seasons, with utility work completed first and bridge construction happening next.

According to the DOT, the bridge needed major repairs because of its age. The Stiles Bridge was built in 1925 and was last repaired in 1987. Because of its history, it is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, officials say.

DOT officials say all work on the project is still expected to be finished by April 2, 2026.