The West Hartford Road paving project will result in fewer lanes

WEST HARTFORD — A paving project on more than a mile of a major road in West Hartford and Hartford will result in a road diet, cutting the number of lanes from four to three.

The Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that it will mill and repave a portion of New Britain Avenue, from Newington Road in West Hartford to Newington Avenue in Hartford.

According to the DOT, milling work for the project began Sunday, and resurfacing is expected to begin Aug. 7. Work is expected to last until Aug. 12.

The completed project, however, will result in a partial road diet for the busy road, reducing the number of lanes from two in each direction to one in each direction from South Street in West Hartford to Newington Avenue in Hartford. A third lane would also be created — a shared center lane for left turns. The state agency said the changes would be “in an effort to improve safety and provide greater shoulder widths for bicyclists.”

The state said the new road use “will be evaluated during this period prior to the resurfacing.”

According to the DOT, motorists should expect lane closures during the project, with planned overnight work from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.