The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently began construction on the $925 million Norwalk River Railroad (Walk) Bridge Replacement Project in Norwalk.
The Walk Bridge, which was built in 1896, is a four-track railroad bridge spanning the Norwalk River. It is one of the oldest movable bridges in the region and has failed to close on several occasions, significantly disrupting travel on the New Haven Line, the busiest rail line in the United States.
The bridge is on the Northeast Corridor, connecting Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. and other major cities.
The replacement bridge will be two independent, movable spans that are designed and constructed to be resilient to extreme weather events.
“A new Walk Bridge enhances the safety and reliability of rail service, offers operational flexibility and provides for increased capacity, speed, and efficiencies of rail transportation along the Northeast Corridor,” Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said. “The strong partnerships we have with Amtrak and Metro-North, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, and the unwavering support of our local, state, and federal officials have allowed us to get this project moving forward.”
The project is expected to be completed in 2029. The federal government funded approximately 80 percent and Connecticut funded the remainder.