Congress Street Bridge (Connecticut)

In 1909, the City of Bridgeport created a special commission to oversee the construction of a bridge at Congress Street.[1]^:22 A local engineer, Raymond F. Stoddard was hired as design consultant and obtained the license to use the Scherzer design.[1]^:22 A Scherzer rolling-lift bridge with a double-leaf bascule was chosen for construction. The design is a Deck-type plate girder bridge; using two plate girders to support the deck. The Scherzer bascule was a popular design because it avoided the expense of high-stress pivot bearings; though it requires stronger foundations to support the weight of the bridge's operation.[1]^:22 The engineering firm, J. R. Worcester and Company designed and constructed the concrete-arch approach and Fort Pitt Bridge Works fabricated the movable bridge.[1]^:22 The cost of construction was $300,000, which was offset through funding from the Connecticut Company.[1]^:23 A contemporary account from the Hartford Courant gave stated the contract was for $305,000 to Snare, Tristo and Company.[2] The bridge was opened to the public July 16, 1910.[3]

The Congress Street Bridge spanned the Pequonnock River and was designed to carry both street cars, vehicles and pedestrians across the river.[1]^:22–23 It was closed and left in the "open position" in 1997 when the Connecticut Department of Transportation found that the substructure was moving.[4] With its closure, traffic has been diverted to the East Washington Avenue Bridge.[1]^:23 In 2002, the estimated cost to repair the bridge was $30 million, which could be partly funded by Connecticut's "Local Bridge Program".[4] A total of $5.8 million would be provided by the State of Connecticut with an additional $8.8 million loan.[4]

According to Congressman Jim Himes' website, the demolition funding was appropriated in 2009 and consisted of more than $2 million through federal funding. The money was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Comprehensive Appropriations Act of 2009, and a Community Development Block Grant.[5] According to the Connecticut Post, the State of Connecticut funded $1.2 million for the demolition of the bridge, and the first phase of the project was expected to cost $500,000.[6] The contract for the demolition of the bridge was given to S&R Corporation and the first task was to remove the eastern portion of the bridge.[6] The entire process was expected to take six weeks to demolish the bridge.[6] It was estimated that another $450,000 would be needed to remove the bridge's concrete counter-weights and $8 million to remove the approaches.[6] In 2010, the Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Pequonnock River, Bridgeport, CT struck the rule pertaining to the operation of the bridge due to its removal.[7]

The Congress Street Bridge was on Connecticut Historical Commission's list of bridges.[4] Local businesses and residents have claimed that are experiencing reductions in traffic as a result of the closure of the bridge and that it has increased emergency response times.[4] In 2002, Bridgeport's official historian, Charles W. Brilvitch, stated that the City of Bridgeport promised P. T. Barnum to keep the bridge open and free, forever.[4] The promise was made when the city purchased the previous bridge from Barnum and annexed East Bridgeport in 1864.[4] However, limited funds became a concern, with the money needing to be directed to more important projects.[4]

As of 2013, federal funding has secured $40 million for a new bridge, but estimations project $60 million would be needed to complete the project.[5][8] In a 2008 letter to Congress, the rehabilitation of the bridge was projected to secure 440 jobs as a "shovel ready" project example.[9]

• List of movable bridges in Connecticut