Construction was officially begun on the $7.5 million Beehive Bridge project on June 1, 2018 at a ceremony attended by state and city officials.
According to a March 28th City Council resolution, “utilizing art and architecture inspired by the City’s seal as well as Complete Streets style improvements such as brick walkways, decorative lighting, and landscaping, the Beehive Bridge project strives to help re-connect both sides of downtown New Britain, and undo some of the damage imposed on the downtown area from the construction of Route 72 over 45 years ago.”
When, on May 24, 2016, the New Britain legislative delegation, then Senator Terry Gerratana (D-6), State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25), Rep. Rick Lopes (D-24) and Rep. Betty Boukus (D-22), announced that state bonding was to be allocated for the project, they said that, “CTFastrak has been a major success for New Britain, and these improvements will help capitalize on its popularity by making the downtown area more accessible and attractive to city residents, visitors, and businesses. Aesthetic and pedestrian access improvements will be made to the bridge, improving access to and from the station and adjacent neighborhoods, creating a gateway to downtown New Britain.”
In addition to the $2,100,000 in state bond funding, the project is funded by $650,000 from a State of Connecticut Department of Transportation Fix-it-First Grant, $1,600,000 from the Federal Transportation Administration’s Bus Livability Grant, $2.37 million in city borrowing and $780,000 in other grant funding.
