A Path Forward for the Viaduct Project

The impending replacement or repair of the Alpha Avenue Bridge or the Viaduct has rightly become a matter of deep concern for the Town of Stonington and especially for Stonington Borough. The issue has profound implications for both residents and businesses, including mobility, safety and even the ability of individuals and businesses to occupy their properties.  

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has recently proposed completely replacing the bridge, rather than repairing the existing structure. This proposal is contrary to prior conversations with local officials and involves the taking of significant private property. This proposal is obviously unacceptable, as was clearly communicated to the DOT by residents in a July 31st meeting.

The DOT analysis has concluded that a complete replacement would be most cost effective, even though at $48 million it is far more expensive than the repair option This conclusion was based on a new bridge lasting 75 years, while a repair would have a significantly shorter life expectancy. What was left unsaid is that a bridge may simply not be needed for that long. Within the last 10 years the Federal Railroad Administration has proposed to reroute the Amtrak rail route inland. While this particular proposal was scrapped due to significant public opposition, it is certainly reasonable to expect that they will continue to pursue an inland route, making the viaduct unnecessary. In the meantime, we will have unnecessarily spent tens of millions of dollars, destroyed private property and upended lives. 

We wouldn’t know Amtrak’s intentions, however, because they have refused to engage in any meaningful dialogue with local officials or DOT. They have responded with a hard “no” over the years to pleas for emergency access to an at grade crossing. Those of us that were here for the July 3, 2003 fire at the former Monsanto factory understand the critical importance of this access. In that incident only unseasonably cool and rainy weather with favorable winds saved the village from an immediate mass evacuation. The same scenario with a single lane trying to accommodate an evacuation while mutual aid equipment is simultaneously trying to enter would be nothing short of catastrophic.

A temporary at grade crossing is key to significantly reducing the impact of this project and for the ongoing public safety for Stonington Borough. There are over 200,000 at grade crossing currently in the national rail system, including many local ones.  

Much of the impact, cost and timeline of the viaduct project is a function of how vehicle and pedestrian access is maintained during the project. Two way vehicle traffic is critical for local business and public safety. It is also the only practical way to provide ADA access during the project. A compliant ramp system for the current pedestrian overpass is simply not practically achievable.

A temporary at grade crossing with a state of the art hardware system and a 24 hour safety officer during the project would likely make this the safest stretch of track in rail system. Amtrak’s refusal to discuss this option is simply unacceptable. It would also significantly enhance public safety and emergency management options for Borough residents.

As First Selectman I look forward to working closely with our State and Federal delegations to vigorously pursue both the repairing rather than replacing of the viaduct as well as an at grade crossing. Together we can complete this project in a way that works for everyone.