Branford Awards $11.3M Main Street Reconstruction Contract, Work Starts April 1

Branford Awards $11.3M Main Street Contract to Woodbridge Firm

The Town of Branford has awarded an $11,352,910 contract for a full reconstruction of Main Street, with major work set to begin April 1, 2026. The contract went to Colonna Concrete and Asphalt Paving LLC of Woodbridge, a company with experience on similar roadway projects across Connecticut.

The reconstruction covers approximately 2,350 feet of Main Street, running from South Main Street (Route 146) at the western end to just east of Chestnut Street. When finished, the project will have replaced or rebuilt nearly every element of the corridor — pavement, sidewalks, drainage, lighting, and streetscape features.

The contract was announced by the town on February 18, 2026. Construction is scheduled to begin April 1.

Six Years in the Making

The project has been in development since at least 2020. Branford’s Board of Finance and Representative Town Meeting approved design funding in February 2020, and the Connecticut Department of Transportation committed construction funding through its Local Transportation Capital Improvement Plan (LoTCIP) later that year. DOT expanded the grant in summer 2022.

Under the LoTCIP arrangement, the state covers construction costs. The town funded the design phase and remains responsible for non-eligible items, such as trash receptacles, wayfinding signs, and other streetscape amenities. The town’s total construction estimate was approximately $12 million.

The design incorporated feedback from 233 public survey responses and a community open house. Residents flagged speeding, pedestrian safety, and preserving the New England character of the street as top priorities.

What the Project Includes

The scope goes well beyond repaving. According to the town’s project page, the reconstruction includes:

• Drainage: A new stormwater drainage system, including rain gardens and green infrastructure
• Underground electrical work: Supporting new LED streetlights along the corridor
• Sidewalks and curbing: Full replacement of existing brick sidewalks; all curbing rebuilt to current ADA accessibility standards
• Trolley tracks: Removal of old embedded streetcar tracks — a remnant of Branford’s early 20th century rail history
• Crosswalk signalization: Upgraded pedestrian signals at intersections
• Street furniture and landscaping: New benches, lights, and plantings as part of the redesigned streetscape
• Utility pole relocations: Poles moved throughout the project area

The project follows Complete Streets design principles, which prioritize pedestrian safety, ADA compliance, and traffic calming alongside vehicle movement.

Timeline and Construction Sequence

Colonna Concrete has 240 working days from April 1 to reach substantial completion. That count excludes winter shutdown periods, which run from December 1 through March 31 each year. Weather delays, material shortages, or other unforeseen events also pause the clock. Assuming one winter shutdown, the project is projected to wrap up around March 2027.

Work will proceed in phases: drainage installation first, followed by underground electrical, then curbing and sidewalks, then the roadway itself, and finally landscaping.

M&J Engineering P.C., a firm with a Connecticut team based in Hamden, will provide on-site construction engineering and inspection services throughout.

Colonna Concrete has previously completed roadway projects in Chester, Trumbull, Danbury, and Waterford.

What Downtown Should Expect

Town officials are not minimizing the disruption ahead. A statement from the Engineering Department acknowledged that “this project will be a major change to our daily lives,” while committing to “keep the lines of communication open so we can try and minimize disruptions as we are able.”

The town plans to publish regular updates on lane closures and detours through its website and Facebook page. Engineering staff will attend merchant meetings and remain available at the Engineering Department office at 1019 Main Street during regular business hours — Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — for questions from residents and business owners.

Project updates, maps, and FAQs are available at branford-ct.gov.

Got a tip? Reach out to us at tips@thequinnipiacpost.com.