September 30, 2016

Senator Duff Brokers Compromise Between the Department of Transportation and Two Businesses Affected by the Walk Bridge Replacement Project

Norwalk, CT—Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today announced that a compromise has been reached between the Department of Transportation (DOT) and two Norwalk businesses affected by the planned replacement of the Walk Bridge. Originally, DOT planned for Coastwise Boatworks and the Maritime Rowing Club to vacate their current location (11 Goldstein Pl., Norwalk) at the end of the year. Senator Duff brought the DOT and the businesses together to produce a compromise that will allow the Maritime Rowing Club and Coastwise Boatworks to stay in their current locations until March 31, 2017. The additional time will help both businesses as they relocate.

The DOT is undertaking the Walk Bridge Program to address the deteriorating railroad bridge over the Norwalk River in Norwalk. As one of the oldest movable bridges in the country, the Walk Bridge is a critical transportation link on the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., New York City, and Boston, carrying four tracks of Metro-North Railroad, Amtrak and freight service. The Walk Bridge carries 200 trains and 125,000 passengers a day in the Northeast Corridor.

“This extension is extremely helpful for the continued success of these businesses and I want to thank the DOT for their ongoing dialogue with me, my office and the affected businesses,” said Senator Duff.” “I will continue to work with the DOT and area businesses to minimize the impact that the project will have on their operations.”

“It is tremendously helpful that the Department of Transportation has extended the time that we can stay on the property until the end of March,” said Matt Condon of Coastwise Boatworks. “This extension will help facilitate our move off of the property. We appreciate the work of the DOT and their continued negotiations with Coastwise to make this transition easier and we look forward to continuing to work with them on our move from the property. I want to thank Senator Duff for his support on our behalf during these ongoing negotiations with the DOT.”

“We would like to thank the DOT for helping the Rowing Club remain on the property until March 31st,” said Roman Vengerovskiy, business manager for the Maritime Rowing Club. “The extra time will allow the club to move our business to a new location without any interruption. Equally as important, this extension will mean that there will be no disruption of the training process for our rowers. We greatly appreciate Sen Duff’s help in making sure local Norwalk businesses were represented in this process.”