The state Department of Transportation has scheduled a public hearing for tonight - Wednesday Nov. 18 - at 7 p.m. at Crosby High School on an upcoming proposal to repair several bridges that are part of the Route 8/Interstate 84 interchange in Waterbury that’s known locally as the ‘Mixmaster.’

The hearing will be held in the auditorium at Crosby, 300 Pierpont Road. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. It will be held Dec. 10 in case of bad weather.

Repairs will be made to 10 different bridges and ramps that are part of the interchange. The work includes a proposed temporary alignment of Route 8 northbound that will carry through traffic to the north of the interchange via a temporary bypass to better accommodate proposed bridge-deck replacement work.

The temporary bypass will require exiting northbound Route 8 traffic to be carried around the section being reconstructed. The proposal is to construct a temporary bypass diverting traffic from the mainline in the vicinity of Exit 30 to a two-lane road that will reconnect with the existing Route 8 North about 350 feet north of Freight Street.

Traffic will be carried over the Naugatuck River on two temporary bridges and travel on a new section of roadway. North of the second bridge, the two-lane section will occupy the right of way now carrying Riverside Avenue northbound. Riverside Avenue southbound will become bi-directional, with one northbound and one southbound lane. The northbound bypass would be carried over Freight Street on a third temporary bridge and reconnect with the mainline.

Work is expected to begin in the spring of 2018 and wrap up by fall 2021. Federal-aid funds will be used to bankroll the $190 million project.

DOT officials will bring drawings of the proposed work to the public hearing so residents may inspect them.