Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge

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Sikorsky Memorial Bridge
Traveling eastbound (toward Milford) on the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge in June 2007.
Official name	Igor Sikorsky Memorial Bridge
Carries	6 lanes of Route 15
Crosses	Housatonic River
Locale	Stratford, Connecticut
Maintained by	Connecticut Department of Transportation^[1]
Design	steel continuous stringer/multi-beam
Total length	548.6 m
Width	16.2 m
Clearance below	25.9 m
AADT	79,700
Opening date	2003
Toll	(Until 1988) $0.35
Coordinates	41°12′19″N, 73°06′35″W

The Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge (also known as the Sikorsky Memorial Bridge, and the Housatonic River Bridge) carries Connecticut Route 15 over the Housatonic River, between Stratford (at Oronoque Village) and Milford, in Connecticut. It joins the Merritt Parkway and the Wilbur Cross Parkway. The bridge was first referred to as the Sikorsky Bridge because the massive Sikorsky Aircraft plant is located just north of the bridge on the Stratford side. The 2006 replacement span was dedicated as the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge. A toll plaza was located at the eastern end of the bridge from its opening in 1940 until Connecticut abolished tolls in 1988. The toll booth is now preserved in Stratford at the Boothe Memorial Park and Museum.

This is the second bridge at the site. The original bridge was built in 1940. After years of environmental studies, the Connecticut Department of Transportation awarded an $87 million contract to Balfour Beatty Construction to build a replacement bridge in 2000^[2]. The southern half of the new bridge opened in 2003; the 1940 span was demolished in 2004. A major accident resulted in one death in February 2004. While removing structural steel from the old bridge, the load unexpectedly shifted, causing a crane to overturn and fall into the partially-frozen Housatonic River, killing its operator. The remaining half of the replacement bridge was completed in 2006, two years behind schedule.^[3]^[4]^[5]

The old bridge was notable for its two narrow lanes in each direction and open steel grid deck (to save money^[6]) which was not much liked by drivers.^[7] The new bridge has a concrete deck, with blacktop, three lanes in each direction, full left and right shoulders, a sidewalk for pedestrians, wrought-iron railing, and aesthetic lighting.