Ribbon Cut For South Windsor's Main Street Bridge

The ribbon was cut, so now the winning runner can break the tape.

With a number of local dignitaries and representatives from Folsom Construction on hand, South Windsor Mayor Tom Delnicki cut the ribbon to officially re-open the Main Street Bridge, located between Strong Road and Governor’s Highway.

The bridge, which was originally constructed in 1939, underwent a four-month, $830,000 to $850,000 partial replacement and renovation over the summer. The work was completed on Sept. 27.

Time was of the essence, as Main Street is part of the official course of the ING Hartford Marathon, which is set to take place on Oct. 13. Any delay in the construction could have spelled disaster for the 26.2-mile race, as the course is certified and last-minute deviations would have been difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.

“On behalf of the 4,000 runners next Saturday, we are thrilled to have this pristine roadway finished and finished on time,” said Beth Shluger, executive director of the marathon.

That the work was done by Folsom, a South Windsor construction company, was an added bonus to Delnicki, who said that the project was a symbol to the commitment that the residents, town officials and state representatives have in maintaining the town’s infrastructure.

Delnicki went on to gently needle Shluger, saying that the ING Hartford Marathon should be renamed the ING Greater Hartford Marathon.

Schluger jokingly responded that they would rename the race the South Windsor Marathon.

State Sen. Gary LeBeau (D-3rd Dist.) noted that the state - though his, state Rep. Tim Larson and state Rep. Bill Aman’s efforts - is funding about 30 percent - or around $250,000 - of the project’s cost.

“Our bridges need work,” he said. “Hopefully we can continue to go forward with improvements in the town of South Windsor.”

Others in attendance included Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano, Town Councilors Cary Prague, Cindy Beaulieu and Kevin McCann, and former Mayor John Mitchell.

Area residents, for their part, were pleased that the construction - which shut down the bridge in early June - was finally over.

Retired Brigadier Gen. Jim Throwe offered glasses of champagne to the people in attendance to celebrate the occasion.