Waterford — Contractors completed the first half of an Interstate 395 bridge overhaul three days ahead of schedule, according to Waterford police.

To replace an aging bridge deck, the state Department of Transportation last Friday closed the northbound lane of the highway where it crosses Route 85, setting up a temporary traffic intersection using Exit 2, monitored by Waterford police and state troopers.

DOT initially expected the project to cause delays for 10 days, and engineers advised caution and alternate routes, especially for travelers familiar with the area. I-395 and Route 85 combined handle more than 50,000 vehicles daily in the area, the DOT said.

But Waterford police said Friday afternoon that Plantsville-based contractor Mohawk Northeast Inc. completed the northbound lane bridgework in just seven days.

The southbound lane will see a similar closure, also likely to take up to 10 days, tentatively set for the last week of July.

The project has been in the works since 2017, when routine inspections of the 1957 bridge revealed the deck was due for a replacement. Mohawk Northeast, which has performed repairs on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, also will blast clean and paint the steel, protecting it from the elements and extending its longevity.

The DOT did not immediately respond to a message Friday afternoon.

Anyone with questions on the project should email dot.constrD2@ct.gov, and the email subject line must include project number 152-158 or 0152-0158.