26-04-2025
New pier now open to the public at CT's Eagle Landing State Park in CT
A new pier is now open to the public for fishing and outdoor recreation at Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam, officials said.
Built by Amtrak and owned by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the permanent pier now provides an alternate fishing location while the Ferry Landing Pier/Boardwalk in Old Lyme is closed to make way for Amtrak's construction of a new Connecticut River bridge between Old Lyme and Old Saybrook, according to the agency.
Construction for Amtrak's Connecticut River Bridge Project is now underway, according to the company. The project is set to replace the existing 118-year-old railroad bridge with a modern moveable bridge that the company hopes will improve the customer experience by eliminating delays, providing faster journeys, and modernizing critical infrastructure. The project is expected to be completed by 2031.
With construction of the new bridge underway, the Ferry Landing Pier/Boardwalk is now closed, according to officials.
Once the new Connecticut River Bridge is in service and the old bridge has been demolished in 2029, Amtrak said it will build a fully accessible 1,000 foot-long observation deck and stairway at Ferry Landing State Park that is set to open in 2030.
'The new Ferry Landing Pier/Boardwalk will upgrade the overall experience for everyone, featuring a 50% wider walkway with improved accessibility, a location slightly west of the existing site that will provide anglers better access to deep water, and stronger, more durable concrete piles for more support compared to the wooden piles used for the original structure,' DEEP said in statement.
The multi-million dollar project is one of several passenger rail investments currently underway in the state, including the WALK Bridge Replacement in Norwalk, Devon Bridge Repairs in Milford, and new Amtrak stations in Windsor Locks and Enfield, according to Amtrak officials.
Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
