Boater traffic can resume at the Old Lyme Amtrak bridge

Old Lyme — The Amtrak bridge over the Connecticut River has been repaired, allowing boater traffic to resume in the area.

An Amtrak spokesman said a damaged gear box forced the bridge to remain in the closed position and was fixed overnight Thursday. Boaters over the weekend could not travel under the bridge.

Work currently under way at the Niantic River Bridge had to be rescheduled as workers there were sent to Old Lyme to help repair the bridge.

Amtrak built a two-track, electrified, railroad bascule bridge across the Niantic River between East Lyme and Waterford, 58 feet south of the old bridge. The contractor is taking apart the old bridge and all rail traffic is sharing one track over the new bascule lift bridge. The second track is scheduled to be ready in November.