Two contractors win contract to build $1.3bn moveable Connecticut River Bridge

The new bridge will replace the original Connecticut River Bridge, first built in 1907 between the towns of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, roughly midway between New York City and Providence, Rhode Island.

The new bridge will involve the construction of a two-track, electrified, moveable bridge structure, with new track, signal, catenary, power, communication, controls and security features.

Carrying Amtrak trains, CTRail’s Shore Line East and freight trains, the bridge is expected to have a 100-year lifespan.

The new moveable bridge will be located immediately south of the existing, 1500-foot-long (457m) moveable bridge. Construction, under a design-bid-build contract, will start in summer or early autumn 2024.

The design for the bridge is 100% complete and Aecom has won a construction management contract on the project to assist Amtrak with management of the contractor, document control, schedule and budget oversight, and community outreach support.

The new bridge will allow a maximum operating speed of 70mph, a 55% increase from today’s maximum speed of 45mph. The existing bridge is also proving unreliable due to its failure to open and close consistently, resulting in delays to rail and maritime traffic.

The $1.3 billion project is receiving funding primarily through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), thanks to a $826.6 million federal grant. The remaining portion will be funded by Amtrak and the State of Connecticut.