BERLIN – Eversource has completed its electric transmission work on the Norwalk Bridge Replacement Project, a necessary step to enable the next phase of replacing of the aging WALK Bridge.
The bridge in South Norwalk is a vital part of the railroad operation along the Northeast Corridor with more than 2,000 trains passing over it daily. After years of close collaboration with the state Department of Transportation (CTDOT), the City of Norwalk and other project partners from early planning through construction, the energy company successfully relocated two electric transmission lines that spanned the top of the bridge. Those lines now run underground through tunnels beneath the Norwalk River and city streets to keep power flowing for customers.
“This project is a foundational step toward building a faster, more reliable rail system in Connecticut and a testament to how upgrading the electric transmission system is a strategic investment in the state’s economic future,” said Eversource President of Transmission and Offshore Wind Projects Bill Quinlan. “Transmission lines are essential to the safe, reliable delivery of electricity to millions of our customers across the region.
“By successfully relocating these high-voltage cables, we’re helping to strengthen the resiliency of the grid and enable future improvements in train speeds and service reliability along the most heavily traveled rail corridor in the nation.”
Relocating the transmission lines underground beneath the Norwalk River is a critical infrastructure step that reduces long-term maintenance needs, and enhances system resilience, according to CTDOT Deputy Commissioner Laoise King. “We appreciate the partnership of Eversource and the City of Norwalk in planning and executing this complex relocation with precision,” King said.
Mayor Harry Rilling, who was present at the July 31 ceremony marking the transmission line work, was grateful to the work done by Eversource.
“I want to thank Eversource for their partnership in completing this first significant step toward replacing the WALK Bridge by relocating the electric transmission lines underground through tunnels under the Norwalk River,” said Mayor Rilling. “Keeping the transmission lines underground will allow our community to be more resilient to future storms, as above-ground power lines are more vulnerable to harsh weather conditions.”
Since project discussions began in 2016, Eversource routinely updated residents and businesses impacted by the work through every stage of the project. The Berlin-based energy company provided frequent opportunities for officials and community members to ask questions and provide feedback, including an open house early in the project’s development, monthly city coordination meetings, door-to-door outreach, translated materials, and frequent meetings with property owners.
As part of the process, several potential relocation routes for the two transmission lines were developed and carefully reviewed. Through strong collaboration with the City of Norwalk and CTDOT. A final route was selected in 2022 that balanced required electrical reliability standards and costs while limiting environmental and community impacts
