Photo by Anthony Mullin
Gov. Ned Lamont addresses the press.
DERBY-SHELTON — Gov. Ned Lamont was in the Valley on Tuesday (Nov. 12) to officially mark the completion of the $12 million renovation of the Derby-Shelton Bridge.
The work added a bike line, and a right-hand turn lane from Shelton onto Route 34 in Derby, in addition to resurfacing the travel lanes, adding street lamps, railings, and decorative LED lighting (which should be ready soon) to the side of the structure. The bridge is more than 100 years old.
The work started in April 2021. The $12 million total cost included $8.3 million in federal funding and $4.1 million in state funding. Mohawk Northeast, Inc. was the contractor.
“I really like when towns work together, when they interconnect like this,” Lamont said at a press conference on the bridge Tuesday morning.
The last 20 years has seen several hundred market rate housing units constructed in downtown Shelton, along with steady commercial growth.
Meanwhile, a multi-million dollar upgrade is being planned at the Derby-Shelton train station on the Derby side of the bridge. Route 34/Main Street is being expanded in Derby, though its completion date has been pushed to June. Trolley Point, a 110-unit apartment building, is being built on Derby’s Main Street. Derby is also trying to purchase a property where a scrapyard now sits in its downtown in order to make investment more attractive.
Officials who spoke at Tuesday’s bridge opening said they hope the pedestrian-friendly bridge will better connect downtown Shelton to downtown Derby. The bridge is better lit at night. While fencing meant to prevent people from going over the side of the bridge and into the Housatonic River below are long gone, officials Tuesday pointed out the new side walls are about six inches taller, not including the new railing on top of the walls.
The pedestrian and bike lanes, along with a higher wall and railing, looking toward Derby.
The bridge will promote commerce between Shelton and Derby and promote better social ties, Derby Mayor Joseph DiMartino said. The pedestrian and bike lanes will connect the riverwalks in both cities.
“This bridge is a reminder of our shared future and a reminder that when we come together there is no challenge to great, no obstacle to daunting.” DiMartino said.
In addition to Lamont and DiMartino, speakers Tuesday included state Sen. Kevin Kelly, state Rep. Jason Perillo, state Rep. Mary Welander, state Department of Transportation Garrett Eucalitto, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Executive Director Rick Dunne and Jack Walsh, a Derby resident, Valley historian and retired president of The Valley United Way.
Photo by Anthony Mullin
Derby resident Jack Walsh.
Walsh talked about the rather colorful history of the historic bridge. The first version of the bridge was privately funded. Farmers and merchants had to pay a toll to get across, Walsh said.
Use of the bridge increased dramatically with the construction ofthe nearby Ousatonic Dam in 1870. A pedestrian walkway was added in 1871.
Local governments were apparently not happy with the condition of the bridge — and the fact people had to pay a toll — so they threatened to build a toll-free bridge next to the private bridge, Walsh said. Eventually the owners sold the bridge to the towns in 1872.
Click here for more on the history.
Walsh also pointed out the important role the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club played in getting the rehab underway. Lauretti, the Shelton mayor, also recognized the efforts of former Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri.
Note: The Valley Indy initially reported the price tag as $6.3 million, but Gov. Lamont’s office said on Nov. 12 that number was the federal contribution to the “construction piece only.”
