Construction kicked off April 17 on a $136.5 million project to replace a pair of aging bridges in West Haven, Connecticut, according to a news release from Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. The two bridges are each more than 70 years old and carry I-95 over 1st Avenue and the Metro-North Railroad train tracks.
The project’s design-build team is made of Littleton, Massachusetts-based contractor The Middlesex Corp. and New York City-headquartered design engineer H&H, Connecticut DOT said.
The goal of the project is to reduce congestion, improve safety in the region, boost stormwater management and lower future bridge maintenance costs, according to the agency. The new spans are designed to have a minimum service life of 75 years, which will significantly improve long-term safety and reliability.
Of the country’s 623,000 bridges, 49.1% are in “fair” condition and 6.8% are rated “poor,” according to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2025 Report Card. They are increasingly threatened by extreme weather, making strategic asset management planning and routine maintenance essential, per ASCE.
In addition to replacing the bridges, the Connecticut project includes extending the southbound lane from Exit 44 to create a continuous travel thoroughfare that will ultimately serve as an exit-only lane for Exit 43, per the release. There will also be drainage, shoulder, traffic signal and lighting improvements, according to Connecticut DOT.
“Replacing these aging bridges and revamping the interchange will ease the daily commute for more than 142,000 drivers on I-95,” Connecticut DOT Deputy Commissioner Laoise King said in the release. “By tackling this now, we’re avoiding future disruptions to highway and rail travel. ”
This project will employ about 100 workers, per the release. It is funded through a mix of 90% federal dollars and 10% state money.
Construction is slated to be completed in phases by the end of 2027.
