Bridge over I-95 reopens six months after fiery accident

NORWALK – The Fairfield Avenue Bridge over Interstate 95 has reopened six months after it was struck by a fuel truck and was set ablaze and destroyed. Gov. Ned Lamont and state Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto announced the bridge opened ahead of schedule and under budget.

The new bridge, which needed to be demolished, was rebuilt within seven months thanks to the quick and effective efforts of the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), Yonkers Contracting Co., several other state agencies, and a team of dedicated subcontractors from across the state. Originally projected to cost roughly $20 million, the overall bridge replacement and demolition was completed for $16.8 million.

The initial timeline for the reconstruction project aimed for completion by spring 2025, but because of around-the-clock collaboration and hard work of construction crews, the new bridge has been fully restored and is now open to traffic. In addition to the early completion, the total cost of the project was lower than initially anticipated.

“Today marks a significant milestone for the Norwalk community and the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on this critical highway,” Lamont said during a ribbon cutting for the bridge. “This is a great example of what can be accomplished when government, contractors, and local leaders work together with a sense of urgency and purpose.”

Eucalitto was full of praise for all parties involved in rebuilding the bridge.

“Every partner on this project overperformed the ambitious deadlines we set in May,” he said. “This is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates what we can get done for the traveling public when federal, state, and local partners share a common purpose.”

The new bridge, spanning approximately 170 feet in length over I-95, maintains sidewalks on both sides and reduces the width of the vehicle travel lanes to better accommodate bicyclists.

Immediately following the motor vehicle collision in May that resulted in the original bridge being destroyed,  Lamont declared a state of emergency and sought the support of federal emergency relief funds. In the following days, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released $3 million in “quick release” emergency relief funds for CTDOT to help cover demolition and repair costs. The federal government is expected to cover 80% of the costs for the entire project.