Watch Historic I-84 Southington Bridge Replacements in Time-Lapse

The state has released time-lapse video footage of the replacement of two I-84 bridges over Marion Avenue in Southington within one weekend.

The project cost $6 million and was completed ahead of schedule the last weekend in June thanks to the Accelerated Bridge Construction technique implemented. The ABC construction procedure involves building the new bridges next to the ones being replaced and lifting them when the time comes to swap them out.

That's the first time the method was used in such a "large-scale construction project" in Connecticut, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said. The DOT has used the ABC technique on smaller projects before and plans on utilizing the technology more in the future after the I-84 bridge replacement went smoothly.

“This project not only demonstrates the unprecedented investments we are making to improve and modernize our transportation infrastructure but also the steps we are taking to ensure these kinds of projects are completed ahead of schedule and with as little interruption as possible to area residents and travelers,” Malloy said in a statement. “By employing ABC principles, CTDOT took a creative approach to virtually eliminate what would have been many months or even years of traffic disruptions and congestion on I-84 and the local roads surrounding the project.”

Connecticut Department of Transportation contractor Northern Construction began building the 102-foot replacement bridges in summer of 2013. The bridges weighed 2 million pounds a piece. The old bridges were installed in 1963 and fell into "poor condition," Malloy said.

Earth Cam Inc. produced a time-lapse video of the construction for the DOT and it can be viewed on Malloy's YouTube Channel.

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