by Hudson Kamphausen CTNewsJunkie
HARTFORD, CT – The state Department of Transportation announced Thursday that riders of its Hartford Line will face some limited disruptions in service in the portion of the line north of Hartford because of construction planned for the coming months.
The department said in a release that the disruption is for improvements to the line north Hartford, including the addition of a new station in Windsor Locks and improvements to other parts of the line. Based on the disruption, the department said some riders will need to be bussed to their destinations.
“This amended service plan will expedite these critical projects and save a year on construction and significantly reduce cost uncertainties,” Benjamin Limmer, the department’s Bureau Chief of Public Transportation, said in the release. “We appreciate the public’s patience as these needed station and track improvements occur on the Hartford Line.”
Work on the project will begin starting May 28 and will continue until Nov 1. Work will happen between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Josh Morgan, communications director for the transportation department, said in an email that the department is hopeful that ridership will not be harshly affected, primarily because work will not be occurring during peak hours.
Morgan said that the improvements are part of the Customer Experience plan, and that they will make the Hartford Line “even more desirable.”
The new station in Windsor Locks, on which the government broke ground in 2022, includes the addition of high-level platforms as well as other safety measures.
The Windsor Locks portion of the project was priced at $87.14 million, of which $59.11 million was approved by the State Bond Commission in 2020. More funding will come from a $17.49 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, as well as an estimated $10.54 million contribution from Amtrak.
