The money will help fund the replacement of the Walk Bridge in Norwalk and the Connecticut River Bridge between Old Lyme and Old Saybrook.

Governor Ned Lamont said: “One of Connecticut’s many strengths is the state’s access to rail and the major cities to our east and south. Fixing our ageing bridges is about public safety and speeding up our transportation system. Our Department of Transportation will do a great job in making these improvements for our rail passengers.”

Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), in partnership with Amtrak, was awarded US$79.7 million in federal funds to assist with replacing the Norwalk (Walk) River Bridge, built in 1896, with two independent two-track vertical lift rail bridges.

Amtrak, in partnership with CTDOT, was awarded US$65.2 million in federal funds to assist with replacing the 113-year-old Connecticut River Bridge with a new moveable bridge immediately to the south of the existing structure. The replacement bridge will maintain the two-track configuration and existing channel location, and provide a bascule moveable span with additional vertical clearance for maritime traffic.