Connecticut awarded $65M to replace 113-year-old bridge in Old Lyme

Connecticut has been awarded $65 million in federal funding to begin the replacement of the 113-year-old Connecticut River Bridge that carries trains over the water between the towns of Old Lyme and Old Saybrook, reports Construction Equipment Guide.

The estimated $400 million project, proposed by Amtrak, would replace the existing railroad lift bridge with a new, 1,600-foot-long bascule bridge 52 feet south of the old structure.

The original bridge, which dates to 1907, is an essential link on the Northeast Rail Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., and would remain operational during construction. It currently carries at least 56 trains every day, bringing not only Amtrak passengers, but also shuttling commuters on the Shore Line East service and giving passage to freight trains headed to Worcester and Providence.

According to Construction Equipment Guide, the existing structure will be largely removed once the new bridge is completed.

The funding will kick-start the replacement, which is meant to streamline travel and reduce delays for rail and maritime traffic, said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Joe Courtney, of the 2nd District.

"There is tremendous potential for increasing the flow of rail traffic here if we have reliable speedy crossing of this river, which right now is simply not happening," Blumenthal explained during the official announcement for the project on Oct. 27.

"It's time to move on to a new structure," added Courtney, who was also present for the announcement. He called the project a "really exciting development for the state of Connecticut and also for the crusade and cause of really improving and upgrading ground transportation."

The $65 million award will cover funding on the first phase of the bridge replacement. The monies are part of a $144 million grant from the Federal Transportation Administration's (FTA) State of Good Repair Grant (SGR) program, which also will allow for the replacement of the Walk Bridge down the coast in Norwalk.

According to the grant proposal, the entire project is estimated to cost $432,470,000. The proposal included a $40.45 million contribution and $14.46 million commitment from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).

The environmental assessment for the new bridge has been completed and the design for the replacement is almost finished, he confirmed.

Construction is expected to begin in 2024 and be completed by 2030.