North Street Bridge: Construction Starts This Month
One-way traffic outside of rush hours this spring; then full closure this summer; then one-way traffic again until project completion
Construction begins this month on the North Street Bridge replacement — a project years in the making that will impact commutes for most District 11 residents and other who cross through D11 from now through Spring 2027.
The bridge, which spans West Brothers Brook between Cotswood Road and Macpherson Drive, was built in 1909, rebuilt in 1950, and deemed in critical condition after its 2022 inspection. That inspection wasn’t just a warning sign — it triggered emergency repairs, a 4-ton weight limit, and the launch of this $4.52 million replacement project.
For those of us who drive North Street daily, this is long-overdue news. But it comes with real disruption ahead — and this bridge is just the first in a series of infrastructure projects that will affect this corridor through the end of the decade. Read on for a clear picture of what to expect with this project and beyond for North Street.
The Big Headline: An 81-Day Full Road Closure This Summer
The most significant impact is a complete closure of North Street from June 8 through August 28, 2026 — up to 81 consecutive days. DPW timed this deliberately to coincide with summer school recess, sparing the morning and afternoon school-run chaos that would compound the disruption. If the contractor finishes key phases early, the road reopens ahead of schedule.
Before and after the full closure window, North Street will remain open but with alternating one-way traffic during construction hours. DPW has built in explicit protections for peak commute times — no lane restrictions during the 6–9 a.m. and 3–6 p.m. windows, Monday through Friday.
Project Timeline
Construction begins March 2026
Alternating one-way traffic begins March 2026
Full road closure starts June 8, 2026
Full road closure ends August 28, 2026
Alternating one-way traffic resumes Late August 2026
Estimated project completion Spring 2027
All dates are weather-dependent and subject to change.
Daily Traffic Schedule (Outside the Full Closure Period)
Monday–Saturday
6:00am – 9:00am ✅ Normal two-way traffic
9:00am – 3:00pm ⚠️ Alternating one-way (police/flaggers on site)
3:00 – 6:00 p.m. ✅ Normal two-way traffic
After 6:00 p.m. ✅ Normal two-way traffic
Sunday No construction
Construction hours: Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
The Detour Route
There is an official detour. The Town has had it approved by the Connecticut Department of Transportation since early 2025, and it’s designed to accommodate all vehicles including large trucks and emergency responders.
The official detour is 2.7 miles and runs:
North Street → Fairfield Road → Old Church Road → East Putnam Avenue → North Maple Avenue
The detour will be proposed for both directions of travel. DPW has been clear that people familiar with the area will find their own shorter routes — but this is the official signed path for all vehicles.
One thing to watch: DPW has also committed to temporary traffic calming measures along the detour corridor and nearby side streets if cut-through traffic becomes problematic. That could include additional signage, variable message boards, and even temporary speed humps on smaller residential roads. The Town will be monitoring surrounding roadways throughout construction.
What the Town has not yet published is a detailed detour map for the 2026 closure — but here is what was shared in prior public meetings.
What to Expect During Construction
Residents near the bridge will notice increased activity, including:
Micropile installation — less invasive than conventional pile-driving, but expect noise and some vibration
Crane operations for placing precast footings, abutments, and deck units
Tractor-trailer deliveries of materials and equipment
No utility interruptions are currently anticipated. Water flow in West Brothers Brook will be maintained throughout.
Why This Matters Beyond the Commute
About 7,000 vehicles cross this bridge every day, many of them heavy trucks that have been exceeding the posted 4-ton weight limit for years. The new bridge will be built to carry all standard road vehicles without restriction. Emergency responders will follow the official detour during the full closure and can access all residences without traveling through the work zone.
The project is funded almost entirely by the state through LOTCIP (Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program), with the Town responsible only for design costs, cosmetic upgrades, and a novel performance incentive for early completion. Construction is being performed by McCarthy Concrete, Inc.
Who’s Affected: Schools and Houses of Worship
The North Street corridor serves an unusually dense concentration of institutions. DPW’s own planning documents identify the following as directly affected by construction impacts and the detour route:
Schools
North Street Elementary School
Greenwich Country Day School (Pre-K through High School)
Greenwich Catholic School (Pre-K, Elementary & Middle)
Greenwich Academy (two campuses: Pre-K/Kindergarten and Elementary/Middle/High School)
Brunswick School (Upper School)
Central Middle School
Greenwich High School
Places of Worship
Saint Michael’s Church
Greenwich Reform Synagogue
Second Congregational Church
Christ Church of Greenwich
Temple Sholom
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Grace Church of Greenwich
DPW has committed to providing direct notifications to schools throughout construction. The summer timing of the full closure was explicitly chosen to avoid the school year — but summer activities and families with fall schedules on this corridor should be aware that alternating one-way traffic will resume in September and continue through project completion in Spring 2027.
This Is Just the Beginning: A Decade of Infrastructure Work Ahead
The North Street Bridge is the next domino for this area (after the GHS fields remediation and Central Middle School construction). DPW’s October 2024 public presentation laid out the full pipeline of major infrastructure projects affecting this corridor — and residents should plan accordingly:
[ongoing] Central Middle School construction Dec 2024 – Summer 2027
North Street Bridge (West Brothers Brook) March 2026 – Spring 2027
Route 1 Bridge at Greenwich High School (State project) Spring 2027 – Spring 2028
Fairfield Road Culvert (Old Church Rd to Hillside Rd) Summer 2028*
The Fairfield Road Culvert project will not begin until the Route 1 bridge is complete.
The coordination between the North Street Bridge and the Route 1/GHS bridge project has been an explicit concern — DPW has been in active discussions with CTDOT to ensure detour routes don’t overlap and compound each other. That’s a reasonable precaution given that the two projects were originally slated to overlap.
Taken together, this corridor faces meaningful disruption well through 2028. This is infrastructure that needed attention so stay informed and engaged as plans evolve.
How to Stay Informed
Project page: greenwichct.gov/2440
DPW project manager: Finton Sweeney, 203-622-7783
Community input form: Available on the project page above
DPW social channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Sources: Town of Greenwich DPW press release (March 9, 2026); North Street Bridge project page; DPW Public Information Meeting No. 2 presentation slides (October 9, 2024); Greenwich Free Press coverage of January 2025 Board of Selectmen meeting; Patch coverage of DPW detour presentation.