Connecticut approves Norwalk bridge replacement funds

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
image description

The Connecticut State Bond Commission has approved more than $53 million for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) to begin work to replace the 118-year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk.

 

The Walk Bridge, which carries more than 140 trains a day and is maintained by Metro-North Railroad under contract to the state of Connecticut, malfunctioned in two separate incidents within a two week period this past summer and caused serious delays for New Haven Line commuters.

“Over the past four years, my administration has made significant strides towards bringing our transportation infrastructure into the 21st Century,” said Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy. “The failure of the Walk Bridge to open this summer, which resulted in massive delays and hassle for Connecticut riders, just underscored the need for us to continue our efforts to aggressively pursue funding for these kinds of projects and ensure a safe, reliable and convenient commute for residents.”

The $53-million in state funds will be used to match a $161 million federal grant awarded to ConnDOT in September under the Sandy Resiliency Project Program for states most affected by Storm Sandy. Gov. Malloy said that Connecticut applied for the federal funding to cover the capital costs of several resiliency, or “infrastructure hardening”, projects central to the New Haven Line, including the design and full replacement of the Walk Bridge. Built in 1896, the Walk Bridge is the oldest movable bridge along the Northeast Corridor in Connecticut. The bridge will be replaced with a more resilient bascule or vertical lift bridge that opens for marine traffic from one side with a counterweight system and will significantly enhance the safety and reliability of commuter and intercity passenger service on the New Haven Line.

Additionally, the State Bond Commission has approved $7 million to implement the design phase of the installation of a Cab Signal System with Automatic Train Control on the 27 mile Waterbury Line Branch. In the past four years, the state has invested almost $11 million in Waterbury Branch-specific projects to restore the line to a state of good repair.

“Improvements on the Waterbury Branch will help us improve on-time performance and reliability on the entire New Haven Line,” said ConnDOT Commissioner James Redeker. “This is basic to our core mission of customer satisfaction.”

 

Tags: