Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge
Sikorsky Memorial Bridge | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 41°14′47″N 73°05′29″W / 41.24639°N 73.09139°W |
Carries | 6 lanes of the Merritt Parkway (Route 15) |
Crosses | Housatonic River |
Locale | Between Stratford and Milford, Connecticut |
Official name | Igor Sikorsky Memorial Bridge |
Maintained by | Connecticut Department of Transportation[1] |
Characteristics | |
Design | steel continuous stringer/multi-beam |
Total length | 1,800 ft (548.6 m) |
Width | 53 ft (16.2 m) |
Clearance below | 85 ft (25.9 m) |
History | |
Opened | 1940 (original span) reconstructed 2000-2006 |
Statistics | |
Daily traffic | 79,700 |
Toll | (Until 1988) $0.35 |
Location | |
The Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge (also known as the Sikorsky Memorial Bridge, and as the Housatonic River Bridge) carries the controlled-access Merritt Parkway (Connecticut Route 15) over the Housatonic River, between Stratford and Milford, Connecticut.
The first bridge on the site, known as the Sikorsky Bridge, was completed in 1940, marking the completion of the
The Sikorsky Bridge was named after aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky, whose helicopter factory remains located north of the roadway, along the western riverfront, immediately north of the approach to the bridge - which in the 21st century operates as a component of Lockheed Martin Corporation.
After years of environmental studies, the Connecticut Department of Transportation awarded an $87 million contract to Balfour Beatty Construction to build the replacement bridge, the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge, in 2000.[5] The southern half of the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge opened in 2003; the Sikorsky Bridge was demolished in 2004. In February 2004, the load unexpectedly shifted on a crane that was removing structural steel from the old bridge. The crane overturned and fell into the partially frozen Housatonic River, killing its operator.
The remaining half of the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge was completed in 2006, two years behind schedule.
In 2006, the new bridge was formally dedicated as the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge.
See also
- List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Connecticut
- List of crossings of the Housatonic River
- Sikorsky Aircraft
- Sikorsky Memorial Airport
References
- ^ Connecticut Department of Transportation
- ^ Charles R. Roth (2007). "The Merritt Parkway — The Queen of All Parkways". Trumbull, Connecticut Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2007-10-02.
- ^ Charles R. Roth. "The Merritt Parkway — The Queen of All Parkways". Trumbull, Connecticut Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2007-10-02.
- ^ Kurumi (2007). "The Merritt Parkway — Goodbye steel bridge".
- ^ Jill K. Dion (November 21, 2007). "New bridge wins praise". Milford Mirror. Retrieved 2007-12-22.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "What's New - Connecticut Division". Federal Highway Administration. August 11, 2006.
- ^ "Merritt Parkway — Historic Overview". Eastern Roads. 2006.
- ^ "Sikorsky Bridge Replacement Project". MetroPool. 2006. Archived from the original on 2004-04-29. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
External links
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. CT-177, "Bridge No. 00761, Spanning Housatonic River at State Route No. 15, Milford, New Haven County, CT", 60 photos, 16 data pages, 4 photo caption pages
- Sikorsky Bridge (1939) at Structurae
- Sikorsky Memorial Bridge (2003) at Structurae
- Construction Inspection - Sikorsky Bridge over the Housatonic River Milford/Stratford, Connecticut