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Blumenthal, Malloy express outrage over bridge malfunction

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HARTFORD, Conn. – U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy expressed outrage over a malfunctioning 118-year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk that delayed commuters at least twice in the past two weeks, and called for restrictions on bridge openings until a permanent solution is affected.

At a press conference in Hartford Monday morning, Blumenthal said every time the bridge built in 1896 gets stuck it disrupts train travel an average of 90 minutes. However, in the two most recent incidents it remained stuck for three hours and five hours respectively.

In 2013, the bridge failed 16 times, which is about a 6 percent fail rate. The bridge was opened 271 times that year, according to Blumenthal.

“One way or another this 118-year-old bridge is susceptible to these malfunctions in the short-term there need to be repairs and better maintenance,” Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal is calling on the U.S. Coast Guard to reduce and restrict the times that the Walk Bridge in Norwalk is opened. Blumenthal said the U.S. Coast Guard has the ability to keep the bridge closed and it’s unclear at the moment what commercial marine traffic uses the bridge.

He said he’s asked the mayor of Norwalk to inform him exactly what commercial interests may be involved in requesting the opening of the bridge.

See the complete story at CT News Junkie.

Comments

8 responses to “Blumenthal, Malloy express outrage over bridge malfunction”

  1. One and Done.

    A do nothing Senator, who as AG launched countless investigations in gas prices over a few decades that did NOTHING. When HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING THE STATE who was stealing our taxes from the transportation fund to pay off unions for scores of useless departments stocked with relatives and friends who provide near zero in terms of services. This is the result of decades of graft and corruption in Hartford. That is where the outrage needs to be placed. We pay 2 billion a year in fuel and gas taxes and only a fraction of it gets spent on one of the busiest corridors in the country.
    .
    One and Done.

  2. Blumen stall

    What’s up with Blumnethal? … he’s not sure what’s affected but he’s calling on less use in terms of opening and closing. It would be best to come down to Norwalk and see for himself? Survey the situation before calling for big changes. It’s easy to sit up in Hartford or DC and offer up solutions that clearly are not practical. And start with Devine bros .. who will be affected immensely. Club members of St. Anns who moor their boats beyond that bridge.

  3. LWitherspoon

    From the CT News Junkie story:
    .
    “This is now the second major failure in two weeks, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and causing unacceptable delays,” Malloy said in a statement. “Let me be clear, this is outrageous.”
    .
    The article goes on to note that the bridge is owned by the CT Dept. of Transportation, which is under the Governor’s purview. So who exactly is the target of Malloy’s outrage… is the Governor outraged with himself?

  4. piberman

    Of there’s outrage. Its an election year. So the good Senator is covering for our charismatic Governor. Curious no comment from Washington about bridge monies. No comment from our Governor about repair monies. Just outrage – solves problems every time.

    Here’s my take. The gods above have finally noticed CT’s many challenges. So the bridge is the symbol of failed gov’t. After all the Governor called the LBO’s $1.5 billion deficit projection
    “ludicrous”. The gods are having their revenge.

    isn’t it a good time to be a CT Democrat ! Even the gods are dismayed.

    So far the only politico in good standing about the bridge is Mayor Rilling. He’s been quiet. After all its a state and federal problem. It will take more than outrage.

  5. Norwalk19

    It’s a good thing the box car with the $550 million in cash for the 9 mile New Britain-Hartford busway Gov. Annoy, Duffitup, and Bloomenstall support and are NOT outraged about – made it through on the rails to Hartford without getting stuck….

  6. Norewalk Lifer

    I don’t know what it takes to get people to understand, this bridge was built in 1896, if the daily boat traffic requires it, then it should be repaired, this bridge has been slated for repair but Thank you Larry Cafero and Bob Genuario, nothing was done about it.

    Why? because it wasn’t as bad as it is right now.

    So if you want to find someone to blame, please refer to Mrs. Rell and her lawyer cum accountant, Bob Genaurio.

    In my view, if Norwalk turned into a “bedroom community” with high commuter traffic vis a vis Metro North, then the foresight should have been taken to protect that interest.

    Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20.

    Yes, of course, 118 year old bridge fails and becomes a “point of interest” on Malloy’s watch, and it’s all his fault.

    Sure folks, just like the concrete roads built in Louisiana which allows the oil companies to haul heavy equipment to the shores for deep water rig construction, were left there by said oil companies, were the governor’s fault.

    Sure, the blame game is fun, but the truth is? this bridge could have been repaired.

    Under Rell

    Regards
    Norwalk Lifer

  7. John Hamlin

    The only outrage that’s warranted is outrage at our elected officials who have done nothing to fix Metro North for years. These two are the leaders of these failed politicians — if they weren’t so busy protecting their jobs by paying off the unions we might have had some action. Outrage? Maybe we should be outraged at the fact that they do nothing.

  8. lilly deacon

    I can’t stop laughing when I hear that Malloy, Blumenthal, and Duff say they are outraged over the MTA issue when they are the freakin’ [people] running the show! And to be “outraged” that a 116 year old bridge is breaking down is a dark comedy in the making….
    *
    OMG! “Outrage”???!! All these less than zero politicians get the Harvard Pudding Award for their “outrage” performances…
    *
    Hysterical!! Absolutely hysterical!!!`

    This comment has been edited to conform to our policy.

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