Connecticut Department of Transportation

Moveable Bridges


Bridgeport, Yellow Mill Channel

Stratford Avenue Bridge
At mile 0.3, opens on signal if at least 24-hours' notice is given.

 

Connecticut River

AMTRAK Old Saybrook-Old Lyme Bridge
At mile 3.4, will open as soon as practicable for all non-commercial vessels that cannot pass under the closed draws, but in no case shall the delay be more than 20 minutes from the time the opening was requested.

 

East Haddam (Route 82) Swing Bridge
At mile 16.8, opens on signal except that, from May 1st through October 31st between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., the draw opens for recreational vessels on the hour only. 

 

Middletown-Portland Railroad Swing Bridge
At mile 32.0, opens as soon as practicable for all non-commercial vessels that cannot pass under the closed draws, but in no case shall the delay be more than 20 minutes from the time the opening was requested.

 

Housatonic River

US 1 Bridge
At mile 3.5, opens on signal; except that, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, and 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. daily, the draw need not open for the passage of vessels. From December 1 through March 31, from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., the draw shall open on signal if at least six-hours' notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

 

Metro-North (Devon) bridge
At mile 3.9, opens on signal; except as follows:

  • From 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal holidays or an emergency, the draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels.
  • From 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and from 5:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays, the draw need not be opened more than once in any 60-minute period.
  • From 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., the draw will open on signal if notice is given before 4:00 p.m. on the day of the intended passage.

A delay in opening the draw may not exceed 20 minutes for the passage of approaching trains from the time of the request.

 

Mianus River

Metro-North bridge
At mile 1.0, operates as follows from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

  • The draw opens on signal immediately for the passage of commercial vessels and as soon as practicable but no later than 20 minutes after the signal to open for the passage of all other vessels.
  • When a train scheduled to cross the bridge without stopping has passed the Greenwich or Riverside stations and is in motion toward the bridge, the draw shall open as soon as the train has crossed the bridge.

The draw will open on signal from April 1 through October 31, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., after at least a four-hour advance notice is given and from November 1 through March 30, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., after at least a twenty-four-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

 

Mystic River

Amtrak Mystic River Bridge
Amtrak currently opens the bridge more often than required by Coast Guard regulations. At mile 2.4 opens on signal 24 hours a day throughout the year. Openings may be delayed up to eight minutes to allow trains to clear the block. When a vessel is in an emergency that may endanger life or property, the draw shall open as soon as possible.


Note: Severe weather (wind, heat, or cold) and mechanical failure can cause a drawbridge to be unable to open. Mariners are advised to monitor VHF Channel 16 and 22 for bridge outages.



New Haven Harbor, Quinnipiac and Mill Rivers

Tomlinson Bridge
At mile 0.0, across the Quinnipiac River opens on signal; except that, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., noon to 12:15 p.m., 12:45 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic.

 

Ferry Street Bridge
At mile 0.7, across Quinnipiac River, opens on signal; except that, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the draws need not open for the passage of vessel traffic. From 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the draw opens on signal if at least a one-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

 

Grand Avenue Bridge
At mile 1.3, across the Quinnipiac River opens on signal; except that, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic. From 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the draw shall open on signal if at least a one-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

 

Chapel Street Bridge
At mile 0.4, across the Mill River opens on signal; except that, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic. From 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the draw shall open on signal after at least a one-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

 

Niantic River

Amtrak Bridge
At mile 0.0, Niantic, opens on signal at all times. When a train scheduled to cross the bridge without stopping has entered the drawbridge block, a delay in opening the draw may occur until the train has cleared the block. The delay should not exceed 10 minutes.

 

Route 156 Highway Bridge
At mile 0.1, Niantic, opens on signal; except that, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, the draw shall open only for the passage of commercial vessels. From December 1 through March 31, from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., the draw shall open on signal if at least six hours' notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

 

Norwalk River

Washington Street Route 136 Bridge
At mile 0.0, bascule bridge at South Norwalk, has a clearance of 8 feet closed.

  • The draw opens on signal; except that, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays, the draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels that draw less than 14 feet of water.
  • The draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., on the first Saturday in December, to facilitate the running of the annual Norwalk River Fun Run. Should inclement weather force the postponement of the race the above bridge closure shall be implemented the next day, the first Sunday after the first Saturday in December, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • The bridge opening signal is three short blasts. Vessels drawing 14 feet of water or more shall add one prolonged blast after the three short blasts.

Metro-North “WALK” bridge
At mile 0.1, Norwalk, railroad swing bridge just above the highway bridge, has a clearance of 16 feet closed; an overhead power cable with a clearance of 203 feet crosses the river near the railroad bridge.

  • From 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., except that, from Monday through Friday excluding holidays, the draw need not be opened from 7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., unless an emergency exists.
  • Only once in any 60-minute period from 5:45 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
  • From 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., if at least four hours' notice is given.

A delay of up to 20 minutes may be expected if a train is approaching.

Information on the bridge replacement project can be found here: http://www.walkbridgect.com/

 

Pequonnock River 

Stratford Avenue Bridge
At river mile 0.1, Bridgeport; vertical-lift, clearance 8 feet down and 68 feet up

Opens on signal; except that, from 6:45 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., 1:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. to 6:10 p.m., the draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic. From December 1 through March 31, from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., the draw shall open on signal if at least a six-hour notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

 

Metro-North Peck Bridge
At mile 0.3, Bridgeport, shall open on signal or after three blasts as follows:

From 5:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. except:

  • From Monday through Friday, excluding holidays or emergencies, the draw need not be opened from 6:45 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. to 6:10 p.m.
  • From Monday through Friday, excluding holidays or emergencies, the draw need not be opened more than once during the periods from 5:45 a.m. to 6:45 a.m., 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 6:10 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

From 9:00 p.m. to 5:45 a.m., the draw shall open on signal if at least an eight-hour notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

The draw need not open on signal if a train is approaching; however, any delay in opening the draw shall not exceed seven minutes from the time the request to open is received. The bridgetender monitors VHF-FM channel 13; call sign KU-6033.

 

Congress Street Bridge
At mile 0.5, the draw spans have been removed due to deterioration, but the approach spans have been retained.

 

East Washington Street Bridge
At mile 0.6, shall open on signal or after one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts, if at least a twenty-four-hour notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

 

Saugatuck River

Metro-North “SAGA” Bridge
River mile 1.1 at Saugatuck; bascule span with a clearance of 13 feet closed. Overhead power cables at the bridge have a clearance of 192 feet.

Opens as follows:

  • Year-round need not open: Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. except on federal holidays; From 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
  • From October 1-May 31, open on signal: Weekdays from 8:10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Weekends and federal holidays 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; If at least eight hours' notice is given: daily, from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and weekends and federal holidays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • From June 1-September 30, open on signal 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., except as provided above.

A delay in opening the draw not to exceed 10 minutes may occur when a train scheduled to cross the bridge without stopping has entered the drawbridge block.

 

Cribari Memorial Bridge
Route 136, river mile 1.3 at Saugatuck, swing span bridge with a clearance of 7 feet closed.

Opens as follows:

  • Year-round, need not open weekdays, except federal holidays, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • From April 15-October 31, open on signal if at least two hours' notice is given, except as provided in paragraph (1) above.
  • From November 1-April 14, open on signal: From 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. if at least eight hours' notice is given; From 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., if at least 24 hours' notice is given, except as provided in paragraph (1) above. 

 

Thames River

Shaw's Cove
Amtrak currently opens the bridge more often than required by Coast Guard regulations. The Shaw’s Cove bridge opens on signal 24 hours a day throughout the year. A delay of up to 10 minutes may be expected if a train is approaching. When a vessel is in an emergency that may endanger life or property, the draw opens as soon as possible.

Note: Severe weather (wind, heat, or cold) and mechanical failure can cause a drawbridge to be unable to open. Mariners are advised to monitor VHF Channel 16 and 22 for bridge outages.

Amtrak Bridge
Mile 3.0, at New London, opens on signal to 75 feet above mean high water for all vessel traffic unless a full bridge opening to 135.3 feet above mean high water is requested.

The 75-foot opening will be signified by a range light display with one solid green light and one flashing green light and the full 135.3-foot opening will be signified with two solid green range lights.

The draw shall open on signal for public vessels of the United States and commercial vessels; except that when a train scheduled to cross the bridge without stopping has passed the Midway, Groton, or New London stations and is in motion toward the bridge, the lift span will not open until the train has crossed the bridge.  The draw will open on signal as soon as practicable for all other vessel traffic but no later than 20 minutes after the signal to open is given.