Pearl Harbor Bridge Reopens in New Haven

After years of planning and construction, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge reopened in New Haven on Saturday.

Before traffic would be allowed on the bridge’s southbound lanes thousands of people lined for their one chance to walk along it.

“I saw the original bridge and drove on that, the first day it opened in 1958,” said Jodi Marra.

Marra drove in from Guilford to see more history made as the bridge, often called the “Q,” was dedicated.

Thousands joined her. Some walked, while others took a two wheel tour and enjoyed a new view of the New Haven skyline.

“It’s just really cool to be walking across this bridge after watching it being built for the past ten years plus,” said Anthony Schaffer of Woodbridge.

Planning for the project started in the early 90’s. The Department of Transportation said the crumbling concrete and congestion convinced officials of the need for a new bridge over the Quinnipiac River.

“The original bridge was designed for 40,000 vehicles a day. Right now, it’s carrying in excess of 140,000 vehicles a day,” explained DOT Assistant District Engineer John Dunham.

That bridge carried six lanes of traffic. There are now ten, five in each direction. It will be lit at night. However, even during the day the structure with its long cables and pillar-like supports catches your eye.

“The thing that’s interesting is that it’s got the cable stays on it, so that’s unusual,” said John Babina, an infrastructure historian, and one of the first to cross over the bridge Saturday.

The extradosed design is popular in Europe and Asia.

“It’s a new design and it’s new to the United States, and we were able to capture this and implement it for the state of Connecticut,” explained Lead Bridge Designer Bob Anderson, who flew in from Tampa Bay, Florida for the dedication.

The bridge features supports that look like smoke stacks on a battleship and gold leafing to mark the day that will live in infamy.

“It’s something that will last year after year, every time they mention it they’ll remember Pearl Harbor,” said Pearl Harbor survivor Floyd Welch.

He was joined for the dedication by 97-year-old survivor Jack Stoeber.

“Just glad I made it, haha,” said Stoeber.

The bridge, which has a life expectancy of 100-years, cost $417 million. It’s part of a larger project to widen the interstate from exit 55 to 44. The project includes improvements to rail and bus lines in the corridor. Dunham said the total construction cost was $668 million. He added that the federal government picked up 87% of the tab.

The DOT said crews would put the finishing touches on the bridge next weekend, and reopen it to traffic at six am Monday September, 28th.

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