Connecticut River Bridge Set to Receive Long-Awaited Upgrades Under New Infrastructure Law, Courtney Announces

NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that the 115-year-old Connecticut River Bridge is set to receive a long-awaited upgrade, thanks to new funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Under the IIJA, Connecticut will receive two grants totaling $85.2 million from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for rail improvement projects on the Northeast Corridor. The first grant, in the amount of $65.2 million, will support the replacement of the existing Amtrak-owned Connecticut River Bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. The second grant will support upgrades on the New Haven Line.

The Connecticut River Bridge was built in 1907. Age and deterioration to the bridge have caused significant delays to both rail and maritime traffic. The IIJA included a total of $66 billion over 5 years to address Amtrak’s backlog of improvement projects, including $30 billion to modernize the Northeast Corridor—the largest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak 50 years ago.

“This is exactly the long overdue, transformative project that our region and rail users have sought for decades,” said Rep. Courtney. “The recently enacted infrastructure law’s investment in Amtrak means this 115-year-old rail bridge will finally be replaced. A new, modern span is going to mean a safer, faster transit over the Connecticut river, as well as improved maritime traffic that has struggled with chronic breakdowns of the existing drawbridge. Major projects like this have been ‘in the queue’ for years awaiting funding. Passage of the IIJA solved that problem for Amtrak.”

“The Connecticut River Bridge has long-been identified as a place where, if improvements are made, speeds can increase along Shore Line East. With the recently added electric trains, the SLE service continues to receive important investments that improve services,” said CTDOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti. “Investing in rail infrastructure means speeding up trains, improving services, and increasing safety. These projects are happening more quickly because of increased Federal dollars coming to Connecticut through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Thank you to Governor Lamont,  Congressman Courtney, and the entire Congressional delegation for the continued support and investments in public transportation.”

The IIJA included substantial investments for Connecticut’s mass transit systems that would expand access and cut down on commuting time. The bill will provide a 41% increase in Connecticut’s mass transit fund, enabling improvements in rail service, safety, and speed that have been out of reach for decades. The IIJA also invests $66 billion over five years to eliminate Amtrak’s maintenance backlog, including $30 billion specifically to modernize and upgrade the Northeast Corridor.

The Connecticut River Bridge was completed 115 years ago in 1907, and is the oldest moveable bridge between New Haven, CT and Boston, MA. Today, the bridge poses a significant risk of long-term disruption to the Northeast Corridor due to its age and condition. It serves the Northeast Corridor main line and is used by Amtrak’s intercity service, Shore Line East commuter rail service, and freight operators.

In February, Courtney wrote to Amtrak Administrator Amit Bose, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, and others to encourage the prioritization of the replacement of the Connecticut River Bridge a prime candidate for these IIJA repair dollars. In March, Courtney was joined by Senators Richard Blumenthal (CT) and Chris Murphy (CT), and by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) in writing to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to express strong support for the Connecticut River Bridge Replacement Project, encouraging him to consider it for funding through the FRA.

Today’s IIJA grant award of $65.2 million will support completion of the replacement of the existing Connecticut River Bridge with a modern and resilient new moveable bridge. The project will improve safety, reliability, and trip time, and delays from bridge openings will also be significantly reduced. Maximum speeds will increase from 45 miles per hour on the current span up to 70 miles per hour. The replacement bridge will maintain the two-track configuration and existing channel location and provide a moveable span with additional vertical clearance for maritime traffic.

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