HADDAM – The historic East Haddam Swing Bridge has reopened following a three-year $88.8 million upgrade.
The 112-year-old bridge, which carries Route 82 over the Connecticut River between Haddam and East Haddam, has been upgraded with new mechanical and electrical systems, substructure repairs, and roof replacement to enhance structural performance and reliability for the 12,000 vehicles that cross this bridge every day.
A new sidewalk on the south side of the bridge is connected to newly constructed sidewalks on both sides of the river, offering a safe, accessible crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.
Administered and overseen by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, project was funded through a mix of 80% federal and 20% state funds. Construction spanned from September 2022 through May 2025.
“The East Haddam Swing Bridge is both a transportation lifeline and a state landmark,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “Thanks to this investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re preserving a key piece of infrastructure for the next generation while making it safer and more accessible for everyone who uses it.”
The governor was joined by state Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto and Congressman Joe Courtney at a news conference to announce the completion of the bridge rehabilitation project.
“We’re no longer applying a ‘Band-Aid’ fix,” Eucalitto said. “This full rehabilitation ensures the East Haddam Swing Bridge will continue serving Connecticut for many decades to come.”
Rep. Courtney pointed out the importance of federal funding used to complete the project.
“The modernization of the iconic East Haddam Swing Bridge is a stellar example of how federal infrastructure dollars are supposed to work,” Courtney said. “Thanks to over $70 million from the federal infrastructure law, we were able to deliver a long-overdue, full-scale rehabilitation of a 112-year-old bridge that is safer for both motorists and pedestrians, while retaining its unique design.
Originally built in 1913 by the American Bridge Co., the East Haddam Swing Bridge has now been fully rehabilitated by that same company, bringing the bridge into the 21st century while preserving its historic integrity.
The East Haddam Swing Bridge consists of four spans, including a moveable swing span that required upgrades to address operational issues identified during inspections. Previous repairs were completed in 1988, 1998, 1999, 2007, and 2016.
Tuesday’s news conference at Eagles Landing State Park in Haddam was capped by a special appearance from the Riendeau family, whose ancestors brought oxen to the original ribbon cutting for the East Haddam Swing Bridge in June 1913. More than a century later, the family returned to the bridge on Tuesday, this time with a new generation of oxen to help mark the bridge’s reopening.
