Daily Five: Mystic River Bridge Closures April 10-11

1. Ah, spring. Don't you love the smell of dirt? Here's the National Weather Service's forecast for today:

• Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 11 to 15 mph.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind 14 to 17 mph.

2. The Mystic River drawbridge will be closed from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11, 2013, according to the state Department of Transportation. "The temporary closures are required to complete the start-up and balancing of the bridge as the project nears completion. In addition, concrete barriers and the temporary traffic signals will be removed and minor roadway restoration will be completed at the bridge approach from Stonington. Pedestrian access will be restricted on a limited basis. However, marine traffic in the river channel will remain restricted through April 15, 2013.

DETOUR INFO
Through traffic will be detoured from Route 1 to I-95 along Allyn Street (State Hwy 614) in Groton and Route 27 in Stonington. Local traffic and visitors to Mystic will be able to navigate and park along Route 1. Traffic signs and other devices will be used to warn motorists of the bridge closure and to guide motorists along the detour route.

3. Monday was Opening Day of baseball season, and the Red Sox drove down I-95 to play the Yankees. We had some fun on the Patch Facebook page. Turns out there are lots of fans of both teams in town!

4. On Monday, a new flag was raised in front of Town Hall. According to an email from First Selectman Ed Haberek, "Today, we will raise a Donate Life flag in front of the Town Hall as part of a nationwide initiative to show our support for organ and tissue donation. Flags Across America encourages all municipalities, donor hospitals, transplant centers and workplaces supportive of donation to fly a flag during April, the federally sanctioned National Donate Life Month.  We look forward to raising the flag in honor of those who have given the gift of life through donation and in support of transplant recipients and candidates. There are more than 116,000 people waiting for an organ transplant and countless others rely on donated tissue to restore sight, avoid infection from devastating burns, and prevent amputation.  If you have interest or would like more information feel free to visit the New England Donor Registry, www.DonateLifeNewEngland.org."

5. The Official Ribbon-Cutting of Wayne's Barbershop is 5-7 p.m., Thursday. Join the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce in officially welcoming Wayne Richards to his new location on Pearl Street in Downtown Mystic. Ribbon-Cutting ceremony will take place at 5:30pm.