Four months after a fire destroyed the Fairfield Avenue Bridge over Interstate 95, crews with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) have begun construction on a new overpass.
“Now that steel has been installed, we plan to re-open the I-95 south, Route 7 on-ramp lane to its original configuration in early September to ease congestion,” CDOT Spokesperson Samaia Hernandez said in a statement.
In the next phase of the $20 million bridge, crews will install utility lines and pipes that will run through the core of the structure. When that is completed, a metal deck will be placed on top of the bridge and paved with concrete.
The old overpass was demolished and cleared within 80 hours of the fire on May 2. An oil tanker swerved to avoid a collision, and the back of the tanker ripped open, which spilled gasoline and caused the fire, according to officials.
Engineers completed a design for the bridge by June 1.
The Federal Highway Administration had immediately released $3 million to help cover demolition and repair costs, with the federal government expected to cover up to 80% of the costs for the entire project, according to the state.
Construction is expected to be completed in the spring.
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Source: Nancyonnorwalk.com, Stamfordadvocate.com
