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Posted by
seabeachexpress
on Fri Jul 25 20:41:58 2014
edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d HARTFORD -- The notorious Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River, which snarled Metro-North Railroad traffic twice earlier this summer after it got stuck in the open position, is set for a $3 million repair job.
The State Bond Commission on Friday approved the funding, ensuring the bridge will be returned to an operational status before $360 million in federal money can be secured for a replacement.
"One malfunctioning bridge can disrupt the whole Northeast Corridor," said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who chairs the bond commission.
"We approved $3 million to repair the bridge and restore automation and we are implementing these repairs until full replacement of the Walk Bridge can occur," Malloy said. "We are waiting to hear from our request for federal funding."
The state money will pay for work on devices which lift the rails and re-seat them and other improvements to restore automated operation of the bridge. The bridge swings open over the Norwalk River to allow boats to pass under and pedestrians to cross the waterway.
The bridge caused huge delays and headaches for Metro-North riders after it twice got stuck in the open position in June and May. Trains could not pass, backing up rail traffic across Connecticut and beyond. The bridge has since been opened manually only when necessary.
After the latest malfunction, Malloy put together a team of engineers to figure out a solution. The team this week released a report outlining a series of modifications over the next nine months to improve operating systems and reliability of the bridge.
"The New Haven Line is the busiest commuter rail line in America," Malloy said. "Because our customers -- and our economy -- rely on this system every day, we are implementing these fixes to increase reliability in the near term until the full replacement of the Walk Bridge can begin."
"I commend the team of professionals who completed the thorough engineering evaluation of the bridge and developed these recommendations in record time, as well as the Metro-North personnel who have been manually operating the bridge without failure since we met in June to discuss the fate of the Walk Bridge," the governor said.
James Redeker, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation, said the fix includes establishing a separate drive system to open and close the movable pieces of rail which lock the bridge into place, installing electronic switches and repairing rollers and rods in the center pier on which the bridge pivots.
A gear and shaft system will also be readjusted to properly align wedges at either end of the movable span. The new mechanisms will be programmed into the automation of the bridge to reduce manpower now needed to open the bridge, Redeker explained.
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