Replacement Fairfield Ave. bridge opens early, below cost estimate

NORWALK, Conn. — Seven months to the day after the Fairfield Avenue bridge sagged and fractured under the intense heat of a gasoline-fueled fire, its replacement opened Monday carrying traffic and pedestrians over Interstate 95.

“It was a coordinated sprint to today,” said Garrett Eucalitto, commissioner of the state Dept. of Transportation, describing how the replacement bridge was completed months earlier than scheduled and under its projected cost.

The project “was an example of what happens when hundreds of hardworking individuals come together with a common purpose,” Eucalitto said.

The bridge’s opening was preceded by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Gov. Ned Lamont (D), and attended by local, state and federal officials.

In his remarks, Lamont emphasized the importance of getting the project completed.

“Thank God we got this thing going,” Lamont said as he glanced over at the line of construction workers watching the ceremony. “And by the way, we didn’t get it going,” he said to them. “You guys got it going. You guys are amazing. You’re the ones that showed up every day.”

“What you’re witnessing here today is an absolute miracle,” said Mayor Harry Rilling (D), who recalled being notified by the police and fire departments about the early-morning inferno on May 2.

The blaze was triggered by a three-vehicle collision in the southbound lanes of I-95 that caused a tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline to veer into the bridge’s north abutment and burst into flames. The fire enveloped the overpass, damaging it beyond repair and forcing the closure of I-95 at the location near Exit 14 for four days.

None of the occupants in the involved vehicles were injured and the fire was mostly extinguished about 70 minutes after it started. Norwalk firefighters were assisted by Stamford Fire companies and a foam pumping engine from the chemical manufacturer King Industries.

Before the highway could be reopened, the ruined bridge had to be demolished, requiring the removal of over 1,200 tons of concrete, 200 tons of steel, 300 tons of asphalt, Eucalitto said.

Construction of the replacement bridge began in June and was initially scheduled to be completed next spring.

The new bridge features wider shoulders, enabling sidewalks to be located on both sides and bike lanes adjacent to the vehicle travel lanes in both directions.

Eucalitto said its construction is expected to cost $16.8 million, with 90 percent of the funding coming from the federal government.

“For me it’s not just a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a normal project,” Eucalitto said. “It’s a celebration of teamwork, resilience and the ability of our state employees to rise to the occasion.”

About an hour after the ceremony, the orange cones and barrels blocking entry to the bridge were removed and traffic began flowing over it. The bridge connects the intersection of Connecticut and Clinton avenues on its north end with Reed St. on its south end.