The Walk Bridge is a four-track railroad bridge that crosses the Norwalk River, connecting South and East Norwalk. Built in 1896, it’s one of the oldest movable bridges in the region. The 564-foot long, swing bridge is part of Metro-North Railroad’s (MNR) New Haven Line and a critical link in the busiest rail corridor in the nation, the Northeast Corridor, connecting Boston, New York, and Washington D.C.
The Walk Bridge has outlived its intended lifespan and experienced repeated operational failures in recent years. It is vulnerable to damage from storm surges and high winds, and requires replacement.
Replacing the Walk Bridge is a complex project. It requires construction to be performed in the highly-developed, commercial and residential area of historic South Norwalk, while maintaining rail service and navigation on the Norwalk River, a federally designated, navigable waterway trafficked by commercial and recreational maritime operators.
Environmental Assessment & Environmental Impact Evaluation for the Walk Bridge Replacement Project
In compliance with the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA), CTDOT submitted a Record of Decision (ROD) to the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) in June 2017. In a letter dated July 6, 2017, OPM determined that the Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Evaluation satisfies the requirements of CEPA for this project.
On July 17, 2017, the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Walk Bridge Replacement project in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). By doing so, FTA has determined no further evaluation is required under NEPA.
The 240' Span Vertical Lift Bridge
Design of the 240’ Span Vertical Lift Bridge alternative advanced following the Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision issued in Summer 2017. This alternative was selected for the Walk Bridge replacement due to the design and construction benefits it provides over the other movable bridge alternatives. Benefits include:
-Lower risk during construction
-Improved river channel alignment with the Stroffolino Bridge
-Prevention of extended navigational restrictions
-Greater architectural and aesthetic flexibility
The Design
The new Walk Bridge design maintains navigation on the Norwalk River and provides a widened, unobstructed channel alignment with the Stroffolino Bridge. The replacement bridge features two, movable spans carrying two tracks each, which can be operated individually in the event of a necessary track outage.
The lift bridge’s towers are 150 feet above the level of the railroad tracks. This is nearly 100 feet shorter than the existing high towers, which are removed as part of the project. Prominent aesthetic features include machine room enclosures at the top of the towers, arch design on the towers, enclosed staircases and elevators, and decorative railing on the exterior walkways. These design considerations were made with the involvement of local members of the Design Advisory Committee (DAC).
Construction of the New Walk Bridge
In addition to replacing the existing bridge, elements of the project include: east and west approach embankment work and retaining walls, track work, catenary and signal system upgrades, new catenary structures, removal of the existing high towers and relocation of high-voltage transmission lines.
The new bridge foundations and towers are built outside of existing foundations allowing the swing bridge to remain operable. The Program constructs the bridge truss offsite and floats in the two spans by barge, one half at a time. The existing bridge is removed and deconstructed to the north during the first float-in. The northern tracks and approaches will then be constructed and the second float-in will occur about a year and a half after the first. The first float-in will require a complete rail service outage over an extended weekend with the second float-in taking about a weekend.
Throughout the majority of the construction, two-track rail service is maintained.
Community Benefits
The new lift bridge provides greater rail service reliability with improved infrastructure and the redundancy provided by two independent, movable spans. A reliable bridge benefits commuters and mariners while bolstering an integral link of the Northeast Corridor.
Local improvements include the extension of bike and pedestrian trails in Norwalk and the revitalization of the wharf area near N. Water Street, with a roadway realignment, wider sidewalks and new, open space repurposed for public use. Features like improved driving sightlines, traffic signals, designated bike lanes, wider traffic lanes, new sidewalks, and under-bridge lighting are included on Ann Street, East Avenue, Osborne Avenue, and Fort Point Street.
Environmental and historical preservation are key elements of the project. The program restored the historic fencing at the Lockwood Mathews Mansion in 2021. Wetlands will be restored along the Norwalk River. An archaeological excavation in East Norwalk preserves Native American artifacts revealing new details of Norwalk’s rich history.
The project also offers cultural and educational enrichment opportunities to the community. These initiatives include the addition of permanent informational panels along the Norwalk river, two permanent education exhibits in Norwalk, and the coordination of education programs and field trips for area students. The Walk Bridge Welcome Center serves as an additional resource for the community, offering event space for local organizations, a state-of-the-art virtual reality demonstration, and exhibit space for local artists.
Key Milestones & Cost
FINALIZED ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS: September 2017
FINAL DESIGN: 2020
ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION START: Construction for the Walk Bridge Project is anticipated to begin in spring 2023, pending receipt of a series of environmental permits from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP), the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION DURATION: 6 years.
ESTIMATED WALK BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION COST: The total cost of the Walk Bridge Program including design, rights of way and construction are currently being updated.
