Amtrak bridge traps boats and business
Updated: Monday, 02 Nov 2009, 8:02 PM EST
Published : Monday, 02 Nov 2009, 1:34 PM EST
East Lyme (WTNH) - It's been a bad enough year for the economy. And, now some businesses in Waterford are being forced out of business because of an old, failing railroad bridge. The maritime traffic, on the Niantic River, has now come to a dead standstill.
The Sunbeam V is a 60-foot charter boat used for fishing expeditions. But Sunday afternoon it got stuck out in the bay unable to get under the Amtrak railroad bridge which is now broken in the down position.
The captain waited for hours and then had to drop anchor and abandon it in the bay.
Now the Sunbeam Fleet has one boat stuck out. The others are stuck in at the dock because nothing's going in and nothing's going out.
The bridge has shut down their business completely and they have no idea when it'll be repaired.
"That's it, yeah, we're shut down until Amtrak can get that bridge fixed," said Captain Bob Wadsworth of the Sunbeam Fleet. "You know, it's been a bad year, tough economy and now we're stuck behind the bridges and we can't get out."
The Sunbeam Fleet revealed that even though it's November, they're booked through Thanksgiving. They have charters coming up this week from Wednesday through Sunday. And, they don't want to cancel them. Now, they are just waiting for word from Amtrak.
The bridge also got stuck in the closed position in July and trapped several fishing boats.
Amtrak has plans to build a new $105 million bridge to replace the 102-year-old span.
Updated: Monday, 02 Nov 2009, 8:02 PM EST
Published : Monday, 02 Nov 2009, 1:34 PM EST
East Lyme (WTNH) - It's been a bad enough year for the economy. And, now some businesses in Waterford are being forced out of business because of an old, failing railroad bridge. The maritime traffic, on the Niantic River, has now come to a dead standstill.
The Sunbeam V is a 60-foot charter boat used for fishing expeditions. But Sunday afternoon it got stuck out in the bay unable to get under the Amtrak railroad bridge which is now broken in the down position.
The captain waited for hours and then had to drop anchor and abandon it in the bay.
Now the Sunbeam Fleet has one boat stuck out. The others are stuck in at the dock because nothing's going in and nothing's going out.
The bridge has shut down their business completely and they have no idea when it'll be repaired.
"That's it, yeah, we're shut down until Amtrak can get that bridge fixed," said Captain Bob Wadsworth of the Sunbeam Fleet. "You know, it's been a bad year, tough economy and now we're stuck behind the bridges and we can't get out."
The Sunbeam Fleet revealed that even though it's November, they're booked through Thanksgiving. They have charters coming up this week from Wednesday through Sunday. And, they don't want to cancel them. Now, they are just waiting for word from Amtrak.
The bridge also got stuck in the closed position in July and trapped several fishing boats.
Amtrak has plans to build a new $105 million bridge to replace the 102-year-old span.
Shoreline unhinged by bridge problems
Updated: Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 7:22 PM EST
Published : Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 6:00 PM EST
Niantic (WTNH) - Railroad bridge problems are still causing trouble for boats as of Tuesday evening.
A bridge that goes over Niantic Bay, in East Lyme, still has not been repaired. And, for an hour and a half, Tuesday, the bridge spanning the Connecticut River between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme also had a problem.
Amtrak does know why this bridge over the Connecticut River was stuck; signal problems between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme were to blame. That bridge has since been repaired.
But, there's more serious problems in Niantic. In a statement released, today, Amtrak explains what happened at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday:
"The main drive on the south side of the bridge broke resulting in the lift span free-falling to a close. The energy from the impact caused the lift span to shift and come to rest misaligned from its normal closed position."
"It seemed to be stuck for a while not almost down but two thirds of the way down and then all of a sudden bang," said Allan York of The Dock.
The main drive has been fixed but the bridge is still out of alignment. Repairs are expected to be complete by this weekend. That means a big drop in gas sales at Allan York's marina during this already slow time of year.
"It's probably $2,000-3,000 that we don't get; that this year it would be nice to get," said York.
Amtrak does plan to replace the century old bridge and that can't come soon enough for folks in Niantic.
Updated: Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 7:22 PM EST
Published : Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 6:00 PM EST
Niantic (WTNH) - Railroad bridge problems are still causing trouble for boats as of Tuesday evening.
A bridge that goes over Niantic Bay, in East Lyme, still has not been repaired. And, for an hour and a half, Tuesday, the bridge spanning the Connecticut River between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme also had a problem.
Amtrak does know why this bridge over the Connecticut River was stuck; signal problems between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme were to blame. That bridge has since been repaired.
But, there's more serious problems in Niantic. In a statement released, today, Amtrak explains what happened at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday:
"The main drive on the south side of the bridge broke resulting in the lift span free-falling to a close. The energy from the impact caused the lift span to shift and come to rest misaligned from its normal closed position."
"It seemed to be stuck for a while not almost down but two thirds of the way down and then all of a sudden bang," said Allan York of The Dock.
The main drive has been fixed but the bridge is still out of alignment. Repairs are expected to be complete by this weekend. That means a big drop in gas sales at Allan York's marina during this already slow time of year.
"It's probably $2,000-3,000 that we don't get; that this year it would be nice to get," said York.
Amtrak does plan to replace the century old bridge and that can't come soon enough for folks in Niantic.