(HADDAM, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today joined Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto and Congressman Joe Courtney at a news conference to announce the completion of the East Haddam Swing Bridge rehabilitation project.

The historic, 112-year-old bridge, which carries Route 82 over the Connecticut River between Haddam and East Haddam, has been upgraded with new mechanical and electrical systems, substructure repairs, and roof replacement to enhance structural performance and reliability for the 12,000 vehicles that cross this bridge every day.

A new sidewalk on the south side of the bridge is connected to newly constructed sidewalks on both sides of the river, offering a safe, accessible crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.

Administered and overseen by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, this $88.8 million project was funded through a mix of 80% federal and 20% state funds. Construction spanned from September 2022 through May 2025 and was completed on time.

“The East Haddam Swing Bridge is both a transportation lifeline and a state landmark,” Governor Lamont said. “Thanks to this investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re preserving a key piece of infrastructure for the next generation while making it safer and more accessible for everyone who uses it.”

“We’re no longer applying a ‘band-aid’ fix. This full rehabilitation ensures the East Haddam Swing Bridge will continue serving Connecticut for many decades to come,” Commissioner Eucalitto said. “We’re grateful to the Haddam and East Haddam communities for their patience and partnership during construction, and we’re proud of the improvements made.”

“The modernization of the iconic East Haddam Swing Bridge is a stellar example of how federal infrastructure dollars are supposed to work,” Congressman Courtney said. “Thanks to over $70 million from the federal infrastructure law, we were able to deliver a long-overdue, full-scale rehabilitation of a 112-year-old bridge that is safer for both motorists and pedestrians, while retaining its unique design. Congratulations to the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the contractors who swiftly executed this complex project, which will endure for decades to come.”

Originally built in 1913 by the American Bridge Company, the East Haddam Swing Bridge has now been fully rehabilitated by that same company, bringing the bridge into the 21st century while preserving its historic integrity.

The East Haddam Swing Bridge consists of four spans, including a moveable swing span that required upgrades to address operational issues identified during inspections. Previous repairs were completed in 1988, 1998, 1999, 2007, and 2016.

Tuesday’s news conference at Eagles Landing State Park in Haddam was capped by a special appearance by an oxen display, a tribute to the original ribbon cutting for the East Haddam Swing Bridge in June 1913. More than a century later, a new generation of oxen returned to help celebrate a new chapter in the bridge’s history.