Pequonnock River Railroad Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Pequonnock River Railroad Bridge is a railroad drawbridge (movable bridge) over the Pequonnock River
in Bridgeport, Connecticut
. Owned by the State of Connecticut and maintained and operated by Metro-North Railroad
, it is also referred to as Pequonnock River Bridge, PECK Bridge, and Undergrade Bridge 55.90 (the mileage from Grand Central Terminal
). Currently the bridge is part of the Northeast Corridor
line, carrying rail traffic of Amtrak
and Metro-North, as well as freight trains operated by the Providence & Worcester Railroad.
(replacing an earlier bridge) as one of two through girder Scherzer rolling bascule bridge
s on the New Haven Line. The bridge consisted of twin parallel rolling lift spans.
It was one of eight legacy moveable bridges on the Amtrak route through Connecticut surveyed in one multiple property study in 1986. The eight bridges from west to east were: Mianus River Railroad Bridge
at Cos Cob, built in 1904 (the surviving twin of the Pequonnock Bridge); Norwalk River Railroad Bridge
at Norwalk, 1896; Saugatuck River Railroad Bridge
at Westport, 1905; the Pequonnock Bridge; Housatonic River Railroad Bridge, at Devon, 1905; Connecticut River Railroad Bridge, Old Saybrook-Old Lyme, 1907; Niantic River Bridge
, East Lyme-Waterford, 1907; and Thames River Bridge
, Groton, built in 1919. The old bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1987, an honor not enjoyed for long, as it was obvious even before the survey that total replacement, rather than repair, was needed for the span.
By the 1980s, the 1902 bridge had seriously deteriorated due to corrosion and metal fatigue. Compounding this was downstream movement of the main (pit) pier which supported the machinery and the waterproof chamber housing the descending component of the rolling lift spans; all of these issues forced a 10 mph restriction on all trains and closed the bridge to marine traffic. A new structure was designed with the same alignment utilized, but with improved track spirals
to allow higher train speeds, and a bascule component which allowed a higher clearance and a wider channel for shipping. In 1992, $80 million in federal funds were put aside to help replace the Pequonnock River railroad bridge by Rep. Christopher Shays
, R-4th District and Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3rd District..
Construction work, which had begun as early as 1989, commenced at full speed by the mid-1990s with trains being diverted to a fixed shoofly
bridge, and electrical utilities (United Illuminating as well as Metro-North) relocated to temporary structures. All work was completed in 1998. As on the old bridge, the movable span is twin parallel spans, capable of independent as well as tandem operation.
Pequonnock River
The Pequonnock River is a waterway in eastern Fairfield County, Connecticut, flowing through the city of Bridgeport. The river has a penchant for flooding, particularly in spring since the removal of a retention dam in Trumbull in the 1950s. There seems to be a sharp difference of opinion among...
in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
. Owned by the State of Connecticut and maintained and operated by Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
, it is also referred to as Pequonnock River Bridge, PECK Bridge, and Undergrade Bridge 55.90 (the mileage from Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
). Currently the bridge is part of the Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
line, carrying rail traffic of Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
and Metro-North, as well as freight trains operated by the Providence & Worcester Railroad.
History
The previous bridge was constructed in 1902 by the New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadNew York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
(replacing an earlier bridge) as one of two through girder Scherzer rolling bascule bridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
s on the New Haven Line. The bridge consisted of twin parallel rolling lift spans.
It was one of eight legacy moveable bridges on the Amtrak route through Connecticut surveyed in one multiple property study in 1986. The eight bridges from west to east were: Mianus River Railroad Bridge
Mianus River Railroad Bridge
The Mianus River Railroad Bridge, also known as the Cos Cob Bridge, is a bascule bridge built in 1904 over the Mianus River, in Greenwich, Connecticut. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987...
at Cos Cob, built in 1904 (the surviving twin of the Pequonnock Bridge); Norwalk River Railroad Bridge
Norwalk River Railroad Bridge
The Norwalk River Railroad Bridge — the Amtrak and Metro-North Railroad right-of-way over the Norwalk River was built in 1896, when the route was widened to four tracks...
at Norwalk, 1896; Saugatuck River Railroad Bridge
Saugatuck River Railroad Bridge
The Saugatuck River Railroad Bridge, also known as Saugatuck River Bridge, is a railroad bridge carrying trackage of Metro-North railroad's New Haven Line over the Saugatuck River in Westport, Connecticut...
at Westport, 1905; the Pequonnock Bridge; Housatonic River Railroad Bridge, at Devon, 1905; Connecticut River Railroad Bridge, Old Saybrook-Old Lyme, 1907; Niantic River Bridge
Niantic River Bridge
Niantic River Bridge, also known as Amtrak Bascule Bridge No. 116.74, is a railroad bridge carrying Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line across the Niantic River between East Lyme, Connecticut and Waterford, Connecticut...
, East Lyme-Waterford, 1907; and Thames River Bridge
Thames River Bridge (Amtrak)
Amtrak's Thames River Bridge spans from New London to Groton, Connecticut, USA, crossing Connecticut's Thames River.The bridge was originally constructed in 1919 by the American Bridge Company for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad replacing a span dating from 1889...
, Groton, built in 1919. The old bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1987, an honor not enjoyed for long, as it was obvious even before the survey that total replacement, rather than repair, was needed for the span.
By the 1980s, the 1902 bridge had seriously deteriorated due to corrosion and metal fatigue. Compounding this was downstream movement of the main (pit) pier which supported the machinery and the waterproof chamber housing the descending component of the rolling lift spans; all of these issues forced a 10 mph restriction on all trains and closed the bridge to marine traffic. A new structure was designed with the same alignment utilized, but with improved track spirals
Track transition curve
A track transition curve, or spiral easement, is a mathematically calculated curve on a section of highway, or railroad track, where a straight section changes into a curve. It is designed to prevent sudden changes in centripetal force...
to allow higher train speeds, and a bascule component which allowed a higher clearance and a wider channel for shipping. In 1992, $80 million in federal funds were put aside to help replace the Pequonnock River railroad bridge by Rep. Christopher Shays
Christopher Shays
Christopher H. Shays is an American politician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives and represented the 4th District of Connecticut....
, R-4th District and Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3rd District..
Construction work, which had begun as early as 1989, commenced at full speed by the mid-1990s with trains being diverted to a fixed shoofly
Shoofly
Shoofly can refer to*Shoofly pie*Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me, a traditional children's song.*Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy, a song first performed by June Christy....
bridge, and electrical utilities (United Illuminating as well as Metro-North) relocated to temporary structures. All work was completed in 1998. As on the old bridge, the movable span is twin parallel spans, capable of independent as well as tandem operation.
See also
- Connecticut Railway and Lighting Company Car BarnConnecticut Railway and Lighting Company Car BarnThe Connecticut Railway and Lighting Company Car Barn is located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The building was built in 1910 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 3, 1987...
- History of Bridgeport, ConnecticutHistory of Bridgeport, ConnecticutThe history of Bridgeport, Connecticut was, in the late 17th and most of the 18th century, one of land acquisitions from the native inhabitants, farming and fishing. From the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century, Bridgeport's history was one of shipbuilding, whaling and rapid growth...
- Thames River Bridge (Amtrak)Thames River Bridge (Amtrak)Amtrak's Thames River Bridge spans from New London to Groton, Connecticut, USA, crossing Connecticut's Thames River.The bridge was originally constructed in 1919 by the American Bridge Company for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad replacing a span dating from 1889...