Officials Applaud as Norwalk Road Is Finally Open

NORWALK, Conn. – Residents of Maritime Yards and other Norwalkers can rejoice – the road now known as North Water Street is finally open to traffic.

"A few days ago I had a chance to drive through it, and it is a much easier and more convenient way of getting through to downtown South Norwalk than going all the way around the lights and hitting the traffic," said state Sen. Bob Duff, who was instrumental in getting the final approval from the state Department of Transportation, allowing the road to open after months — years — of delays.

City and state officials met with the people who designed and built the underpass and members of the media to mark the opening Thursday. "We were here a few years ago for the opening of the overpass, of the rail, now we want to make sure we properly opened up the underpass as well, for traffic," Duff said.

Mayor Richard Moccia pointed out that the bridge had earned the Achievement Civil Engineering (ACE) 2011 Structural Award of Merit for the Department of Public Works and A. DiCesare Associates, P.C. of Bridgeport. Duff and Moccia praised the bipartisan effort that made the road a reality.

"We've seen it for a long time, not open yet, and it's nice to have it actually open today," Duff said. "This is going to make a lot of people's rides a lot better, a lot easier, a lot more convenient. It opens up a critical area for us in South Norwalk, in the redevelopment area."

Moccia agreed, saying, "This is going to be the artery going into SoNo, it's going to make it so much easier."

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