Niantic River Drawbridge pedestrian stairwell to close Tuesday
Waterford — The Department of Transportation announced Monday that a pedestrian stairwell tower on the Waterford side of the Niantic River Drawbridge will close to the public beginning Tuesday as the DOT begins a $13.9 million project to repair the drawbridge.
The stairwell extends from the north side of the bridge down to Waterford's Mago Point.
DOT project engineer Brent Church said Monday he hopes the repairs will take less than three weeks, as the DOT is going "to fast track it."
"People are out walking, but not as many people as there are in the summer, so we are hoping to get it done sooner," he said.
According to the DOT, the drawbridge project, which will require periods of alternating one-way traffic on the bridge over coming months, will consist of replacing the 27-year-old span's structural steel, deck joints, and electrical and mechanical systems, along with repainting and repairs to the bridge deck and control house. The project is expected to be completed by December 2021.
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