FAQs

WALK Bridge comprises several interrelated road, rail, and utility infrastructure projects that increase safety, reliability, and ease of travel in Norwalk, along the Northeast Corridor and beyond.

The centerpiece project replaces the Norwalk River Railroad Bridge - known locally as the WALK Bridge.

There are several infrastructure projects associated with the WALK Bridge. Enabling WALK Bridge projects, including the CP243 Interlocking and Danbury Branch Dockyard Projects have been completed.

Other projects include track and catenary upgrades along the New Haven Line between Fort Street and the East Norwalk Train Station and the Advanced Utilities Project on East Avenue.

TIME-2 Projects

Under the Connecticut Department of Transportation's (CTDOT) more extensive TIME For CT (Track Improvement Mobility Enhancement) program, four aging Metro-North Railroad Bridges over Strawberry Hill Avenue, East Avenue, Osborne Avenue, and Fort Point Street will be improved. In addition, Fort Point Street will be realigned, the East Norwalk Train Station will be updated, and roadway reconstruction will take place on East Avenue between Fort Point and Winfield Streets. 

CTDOT can streamline work by coordinating a number of identified needs around planned track outages for the WALK Bridge Replacement Project.

Construction started in spring 2023. The first phase of the WALK Bridge is for staging and foundation work ahead of the bridge's major railroad track level, tower and superstructure work.

The WALK Bridge Replacement started in spring 2023 and should be completed in 2029.

The first phase of construction for the WALK Bridge Project consists primarily of pre-work necessary for the first long-term two-track outage required for the WALK Bridge Replacement. Some of this work includes:

• Establishment of site access, moorings and staging areas east and west of the river.
• Drilling for secant piles ahead of the micro-tunnel bypass for MNR's traction power and railroad communication and signals (C&S) systems - the power lines must be removed from the Eversource high towers - before the towers are removed in the next phase of the project.
• Wetland revitalization improvements North and South of the River.
• Vessel relocation and associated dredging.

The remaining construction phases are anticipated to begin in the spring, summer and fall of 2025, respectively, which include the removal of the high towers and the existing bridge structure before constructing the new lift bridge and approach spans. The overall project should be completed in late 2029.

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Comments or questions can be submitted via email at info@walkbridgect.com or call us at 1-833-GO2-WALK (1-822-462-9255). You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Stop by our Welcome Center at 24 Marshall Street. We're on the corner of N. Water Street and Marshall Street on the first floor of the Lock Building. 

The CTDOT anticipates acquiring Manresa Island easements for approximately five years, beginning in late 2024. CTDOT anticipates utilizing the site for deliveries, mooring of barges, transferring materials, and assembly of the two lift spans.

Railroad service will be maintained and operated during WALK Bridge construction, except for two weekend outages to accommodate the float-in for the new bridge spans.

During improvement work at the East Norwalk Station, four separate (3-week-long) temporary train station closures will occur at the station.

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While commonly referred to as the "WALK Bridge" by the public, the structure’s official name is the "Norwalk River Railroad Bridge, Bridge No. 04288R, MP 41.5". Over time, the "Norwalk River Railroad Bridge" was shortened to the "WALK Bridge" commonly used today. Similarly, the movable "Saga" bridge in Westport refers to the Saugatuck River over which the rail line passes.

The bridge has outlived its intended life span by over two decades and needs replacing. The existing bridge suffers from a system-wide degradation of the bridge structure, significant wear of mechanical and obsolete electrical systems leading to unexpected maintenance costs, operational failures, and emergency repairs. As a part of Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, the bridge is a critical link in the busiest rail corridor in the nation, the Northeast Corridor, connecting Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. 

The existing four-span WALK Bridge will be replaced with a state-of-the-art multi-span bridge, including 240-foot dual lift spans with fixed east and west approach spans over the Norwalk River. See more information about the new WALK Bridge here.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) evaluated more than 70 replacement design variations before selecting the vertical lift bridge.  

A fixed bridge fails to meet federal navigability requirements on the Norwalk River. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) would have indicated this if a low-level fixed bridge was suitable during ongoing consultations with the Program. A high-level fixed bridge that meets the 60' vertical clearance the USCG advised would require a 1% graded incline to reach 60'. Such a measure would require miles of additional construction on the railroad in both directions, including new retaining walls and additional rights of way acquisitions.

The Norwalk River has active marine users utilizing the river upstream. The USCG advised the project that a 60' vertical clearance, matching that of the upstream Yankee Doodle Bridge (I-95), would meet the reasonable navigation needs on the river.

CTDOT employs a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) process. CM/GC is an innovative project delivery method where the contractor acts as the Construction Manager during design and advises CTDOT on schedule, phasing, constructability, materials availability, risk, and cost. This integrated team approach, involving the contractor early in the project, adds value by reducing construction duration and impacts, improving construction sequencing and reducing overall risk.

Meet the entire WALK Bridge project team here.

CTDOT and the WALK Bridge team meet regularly with municipal leaders, private developers, and project stakeholders to coordinate with other planned construction projects. Coordination with other projects has occurred during the CP234 Interlocking and Danbury Dockyard Projects and will continue throughout the WALK Bridge construction phases to reduce construction impacts for residents, businesses, and commuters.