Update 4/24/13 - Amesville Bridge CLOSED Until Further Notice

Amesville/Water St. Bridge     

Update  4/24/2013  - Click Here For Engineers Report

The Amesville Bridge Committee has chosen WMC Engineering to design the restoration of the bridge. There have been several meetings between the engineers, committee, and Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT); the emphasis has been to expedite the design so that construction can occur in the shortest amount of time as possible.

The configuration of the bridge does not meet modern engineering standards, and thus we are seeking waivers from the DOT for several aspects of the design. First, it is a one-lane bridge, which, regardless of its function to slow traffic, would not be permitted with public funds in today’s standards. Second, the approaches are curvy and require stops at each end if traffic is advancing from the opposite side. Third, there are many newer environmental requirements concerning river scouring, flood capacity and materials; some of these cannot be addressed with the older design and construction. Finally, there are structural and safety requirements that must be addressed in the new design.

The DOT has been cooperative and helpful in considering the community goals of maintaining the historic nature of the bridge. Each of the deficiencies mentioned above is either being addressed, or will be addressed, by the various departments which oversee these aspects of a major bridge project. We are well aware of the frustration that exists among the neighborhood users of the bridge, and we will continue to work to expedite this process in every way possible to return the bridge to full use. This page will receive periodic updating as we move through this process, and we are grateful for your patience and cooperation.