Photo courtesy of Wikimedia user 209harrison / Public domain

The state is finally beginning construction on Norwalk’s infamous Walk Bridge, which carries Metro-North and Amtrak trains over the Walk River.

The bridge, originally built in 1896, has been repeatedly stuck in the open position over the years, causing havoc on the busiest rail line in the country.

Efforts to rebuild the bridge have been in process for at least the last 10 years.

“The original Walk Bridge was created during the administration of President Grover Cleveland, and now 127 years later during the administration of President Joe Biden we are replacing it with a modernized bridge that will be strengthened and fully capable of serving the busiest rail line in the nation,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “This corridor is a critical link for rail travel in the Northeast and is essential to supporting economic growth and jobs in Connecticut. This project ticks all the boxes – it helps achieve our goal of faster rail service, reduces traffic on our roadways, promotes economic development, and protects environmental and historic preservation.”

The new bridge will be a redundant structure with two independent, movable spans that are designed and constructed to be resilient and sustainable for extreme weather events, Lamont’s office said. When completed, a speed restriction over the bridge will be eliminated, allowing for trains to travel at speeds that are 15 miles per hour faster.

The $925 million construction project is approximately 80 percent federally funded and 20 percent state-funded. It is expected to be completed in 2029.

“This project will result in better, more reliable service for our customers and represents another step forward in the common pursuit of safe, efficient, and sustainable rail transportation that meets the needs of the modern traveler,” Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi said in a statement released by Lamont’s office.