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Discussion relating to the operations of MTA MetroNorth Railroad including west of Hudson operations and discussion of CtDOT sponsored rail operations such as Shore Line East and the Springfield to New Haven Hartford Line

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 #1294271  by Arlington
 
F-line to Dudley via Park wrote:http://www.fta.dot.gov/15138_16147.html
$161M awarded today from the FTA in Sandy-related funds for replacing the Walk Bridge. A lot less than needed, but a significant start.
Gov's statement implies it is a $466m bridge. Are they motivated to find the other $300m?
And is there any chance the replacement will get straighter approaches (higher speed) or higher above the water? (less storm conflict, sure, but also fewer leisure boating fights?)
It looks like they have a small opportunity to straighten the alignment using space abutting a sewage treatment plant on the northeast side.
 #1294312  by DutchRailnut
 
Alignment stays same, can't touch historic district, can't touch sewage plant, cant change Danbury connection , and you don't want to replace two stations.
As for clearance, only way to build a bridge at that location is to make it a lift bridge, build towers slightly further out, then in future hang new span in towers and float old bridge out.
a lift bridge would not have any structure underneath as compared to the rotating span so higher clearances are guaranteed.
 #1294329  by afiggatt
 
Arlington wrote: Gov's statement implies it is a $466m bridge. Are they motivated to find the other $300m?
And is there any chance the replacement will get straighter approaches (higher speed) or higher above the water? (less storm conflict, sure, but also fewer leisure boating fights?)
It looks like they have a small opportunity to straighten the alignment using space abutting a sewage treatment plant on the northeast side.
The state had already promised $116 million for the state matching contribution for the replacement bridge. Now the state has to come up with $188 million to complete the $466 million funding package which Gov. Malloy says he will do. The Hartford Courant wrote an article last week on the $161 million grant and the start of the scramble to line up the rest of the money needed: State Sought $349M To Replace Problem Railroad Bridge, Gets $160M.

Is there an Environmental Assessment or public document somewhere with information and drawings of what the plan is for the replacement bridge? Since the state has a $466 million cost estimate, that has to be based on at least some level of preliminary engineering design.
 #1294332  by DutchRailnut
 
again building a bridge, over or under existing bridge, leaves very little to no options, other than lift bridge in same location.
 #1296051  by NH2060
 
Funding plan for the replacement bridge announced Thursday: (Fair use quote below)
Between 2016 and 2018, the state will allocate $146 million of its federal transportation funds and provide $36.5 million in state funds. Last month, the state received a $161 million federal storm resiliency grant toward replacing the bridge, which, along with $68 million in bonds, will cover the cost of the replacement and associated costs.
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/a ... 797502.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Considering the cost it sounds like the plan is to replace both the swing span as well as the approaches. The replacement of the Thames River bascule was only $76M (as reported here: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/a ... dge--11944" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
 #1296645  by F-line to Dudley via Park
 
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/p ... ent--42101" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CDOT making up up the $$$ difference to make the Walk replacement fully-funded. Now let's see what they come up with for a schedule.
Built in 1896, the Walk Bridge is the oldest movable bridge along the New Haven Line/Northeast Corridor in Connecticut. The bridge will be replaced with a more resilient vertical lift bridge that opens for marine traffic from one side with a counterweight system and will significantly enhance the safety and reliability of commuter and intercity passenger service along the Northeast Corridor, ConnDOT officials said.
[...]
In all, this project will be funded with 34 percent state funds and 66 percent federal funds.
Mod Note: added fair use quote ...
 #1319029  by hcobin
 
The engineering firm designing the WALK bridge rebuild/replacement project presented the results of its preliminary analysis at a public forum Tuesday night. This linked story includes a video showing significant portions of the presentation: http://tinyurl.com/q497nwh.
Continually updated information about the project can be found at http://walkbridgect.com. H.F.C.
 #1328417  by hcobin
 
State Transportation Commissioner Redecker held a news conference in Norwalk Tuesday to announce upgrades to Walk Bridge have been completed, enabling it to operate automatically. At the conclusion of his remarks, the bridge was opened and closed, as shown in the video included with this story ... http://tinyurl.com/nc5hr8z
 #1328442  by NH2060
 
If anyone hasn't seen this here's a summary of potential replacement options:
http://walkbridgect.com/potential-solutions.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's a PDF with more details and larger renderings:
http://walkbridgect.com/assets/public-i ... utions.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My hunch tells me that Option 8A will become a reality since the main span's length is comparable to the length of the current swing span as Options 2G and 3A make the shipping channel rather narrow in comparison to 8A -even though it would be wider than the current two channels- and 11C has a much longer main span and 4S is a rather large bascule; lifts seem to be preferred over bascules where possible. Now James Redeker in the news conference yesterday said the replacement bridge would be a "bascule" so unless it was meant to be a general description of an "up and down bridge" and not an actual bascule bridge then perhaps Option 4S is the defacto preferred final design. However given the pros of lift spans vs. bascules and swings (as has been noted here before) either the 8A or the 11C option lift spans will likely get the green light.

Also each "finalist design" includes renderings for replaced/rerouted transmission lines with shorter monopoles implying that the current ~200'(?) tall towers will be torn down. The Norwalk skyline -much like Bridgeport after PECK was replaced- will certainly change dramatically.
Last edited by NH2060 on Wed Apr 29, 2015 9:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
 #1328447  by DutchRailnut
 
The 11 c plan would close line for long time while old bridge is removed, the 8a plan can be build with current bridge in place .
and once old bridge id floated out new bridge can be in use next day.
 #1328473  by Arlington
 
DutchRailnut wrote:The 11 c plan would close line for long time while old bridge is removed, the 8a plan can be build with current bridge in place and once old bridge id floated out new bridge can be in use next day.
Are all these other choices just a set up to drive the political decision making toward a choice (8A) that the engineers have already made?
It feels like the real estate agent's trick of showing you 3 not-right houses before they show you the one they want you to buy, plus one more (11C) that you can't afford.

I know there are plenty of 100-year old bascules out there, so they must have been optimal somehow (Unlimited height clearance, yes, and something else, like faster-lifting?), but for replacement isn't it vertical-lift every time?
 #1328495  by DutchRailnut
 
they have to show all options, but there is not much room in south norwalk a historic district at one side .
maritime museum and danbury branch on other side , for any of other plans a temporary bridge would need to be build.
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