Swing Bridge Construction Update: Week of March 25, 2024

Submitted by Sara Mendillo

(March 25, 2024) —  The Connecticut Department of Transportation advises the following construction activities at the Haddam/East Haddam Swing Bridge (Route 82) for the upcoming week of March 25, 2024:

63-Hour Bridge Closure

• No 63-hour bridge closure this week.

Overnight Bridge Closures

There will be overnight closures as follows:

• Monday night (3/25) into Tuesday morning (3/26) – 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Tuesday night (3/26) into Wednesday morning (3/27) – 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Wednesday night (3/27) into Thursday morning (3/28) – 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Thursday night (3/28) into Friday morning (3/29) – 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Friday night (3/29) into Saturday morning (3/30) – 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Swing Span Testing

• Contractor will be performing test openings of the new mechanicals of the swing span throughout the week. These random tests will occur between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The contractor will work to limit traffic backups, but delays should be anticipated during these test runs.

Marine Advisory

The Swing Bridge openings for boaters on the Connecticut River will be as follows from April 1, 2024, through August 31, 2024:

• Sunday openings at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
• Monday openings at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Tuesday openings at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Wednesday openings at 10am and 2pm.
• Thursday openings at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Friday openings at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday openings at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.

During 63-hour bridge closures, the bridge will remain in the closed position, NO OPENINGS FOR BOATS WILL WILL OCCUR. (CLICK HERE to review closure calendar)

Mariners are advised that on weeks when 63-hour bridge closures occur, the Swing Bridge openings will be as follows:

• Sunday openings at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.
• Monday: NO openings.
• Tuesday: NO openings.
• Wednesday: NO openings.
• Thursday openings at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Friday openings at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday openings at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.

Inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances have the potential to impact the actual dates of these 63-hour closures. A mariner notice will be issued at least twenty-four hours prior to the start of a cancellation.

The contractor will be removing a portion of the scaffolding to provide additional clearance for boats. The removal of this scaffolding is scheduled to occur by the end of March.

The tide clearance board is recommended as the best reference for gauging clearance at time of passage. The board is located on the bulkhead at Goodspeed. It has been adjusted to reflect the vertical clearances to the contractor’s suspended scaffold.

Once the bridge openings begin, the bridge operator can be reached at 860-218-4973.

Text Alerts

• You can sign up for Text Alerts to receive notifications on bridge closures and re-openings, closure cancellations, and any emergency closures. To opt in, text the word SWINGBRIDGE to 888777. (Message and Data rates may apply). In addition to SMS messages, if you would like to receive Swing Bridge open/closed status notices via email or a voice call from Everbridge, please click here to enter the required information. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to opt out.