East Lyme — Amtrak announced Wednesday that it has awarded a $104.7 million contract to Cianbro/Middlesex VII for replacement of the 102-year old movable bridge over the Niantic River. Cianbro Corp., of Pittsfield, Maine, is involved in heavy industrial and civil construction projects. Some of the projects completed by Cianbro include the replacement of the Thames River railroad bridge, the construction of the Tomlinson Bridge in New Haven, two 12,000-ton offshore semi-submersible oil drilling rigs, a 1.5 MW General Electric wind turbine and decommissioning work at the Yankee Rowe Nuclear Plant.

Cianbro Corp., of Pittsfield, Maine, is involved in heavy industrial and civil construction projects. Some of the projects completed by Cianbro include the replacement of the Thames River railroad bridge, the construction of the Tomlinson Bridge in New Haven, two 12,000-ton offshore semi-submersible oil drilling rigs, a 1.5 MW General Electric wind turbine and decommissioning work at the Yankee Rowe Nuclear Plant. Cianbro's joint venture with the Middlesex Companies, of Littleton, Mass., is currently performing work on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge over the Quinnipiac River and the replacement of the Brightman Street Bridge in Fall River and Somerset, Mass.

Cianbro's joint venture with the Middlesex Companies, of Littleton, Mass., is currently performing work on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge over the Quinnipiac River and the replacement of the Brightman Street Bridge in Fall River and Somerset, Mass. The DEP approved Amtrak's application for the Niantic River Bridge in September. Next, Amtrak needs approval from the Army Corps of Engineers, which has already submitted a draft permit. The Coast Guard is last to issue the final permit.

The DEP approved Amtrak's application for the Niantic River Bridge in September. Next, Amtrak needs approval from the Army Corps of Engineers, which has already submitted a draft permit. The Coast Guard is last to issue the final permit. Amtrak officials said the three-year project is set to begin in April. It is being funded by $47.1 million from Amtrak's annual capital program and $57.6 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to a press release issued by Amtrak Wednesday.

Amtrak officials said the three-year project is set to begin in April. It is being funded by $47.1 million from Amtrak's annual capital program and $57.6 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to a press release issued by Amtrak Wednesday. The project involves construction of a new two-track bridge south of its present alignment. Additional work includes expanding the navigation channel beneath the bridge used by water traffic, realigning the east and west track approaches to the bridge, and relocating the Niantic Bay Overlook (boardwalk), including beach restoration.

The project involves construction of a new two-track bridge south of its present alignment. Additional work includes expanding the navigation channel beneath the bridge used by water traffic, realigning the east and west track approaches to the bridge, and relocating the Niantic Bay Overlook (boardwalk), including beach restoration. The plan is for the existing bridge to remain in operation until the new bridge is built, and the river to remain open to water traffic throughout construction.

The plan is for the existing bridge to remain in operation until the new bridge is built, and the river to remain open to water traffic throughout construction.a.renczkowski@theday.com

a.renczkowski@theday.com