By Elizabeth F. McNamara

All that land clearing on Division Street by the Route 95 on ramp isn’t some vague exercise in deforestation. Rather, the state Dept. of Transportation is preparing the land because it will be the site of a temporary bridge over Route 4 to handle traffic while the current Division Street bridge is demolished and a new bridge built.

The north side of Division Street, east of 1149 Restaurant.

Sounds messy. But DOT officials say two lanes in both directions will be maintained throughout, with lane shifts. No long-term lane reductions or closures are planned.

Right now, DOT is preparing the land and getting utilities moved as necessary. Construction will start sometime this winter and is anticipated to be completed by fall 2022.

The current bridge was built in 1967 and is classified as structurally deficient. DOT made repairs two years but replacement has been on the books for some time. The estimated cost of the project is $23.8 million.

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