Connecticut boaters could face hours-long bridge closures tied to World Cup

Amtrak is considering a plan that could keep several railroad bridges along the Connecticut shoreline closed for hours at a time this summer to allow for increased rail service tied to the World Cup in Boston, according to the Old Lyme Harbor Master.

The proposal would affect the following railroad bridges on the dates of the World Cup matches in Foxborough.

• Conn River Railroad Bridge in Old Saybrook / Old Lyme
• Niantic River Railroad Bridge in East Lyme
• Shaw’s Cove Railroad Bridge in New London
• Thames River Railroad Bridge in New London
• Mystic River Railroad Bridge in Mystic
• June 13th, 2026 – 6pm to 9 pm, 10 pm to 11:59pm
• June 16th, 2026 – 3pm to 6 pm, 7pm to 9pm
• June 19th, 2026 – 3pm to 4pm, 5pm to 9pm
• June 23rd, 2026 – 1pm to 3pm, 4pm to 7pm
• June 26th, 2026 – 12pm to 3pm, 4pm to 6pm
• June 29th, 2026 – 1:30pm to 4:30 pm, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
• July 9th, 2026 – 1pm to 4pm, 5pm to 7pm

“This is just our plan, and we are looking for any feedback from the boating community,” the memo from an Amtrak representative states. “Please send any concerns to me by 4/28/26. At that point, we will move forward with our Coast Guard Request.”

NBC Connecticut reached out to Amtrak about the memo and is waiting for a response.

Fans are expected to ride the Northeast Corridor to and from World Cup matches in Boston, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Upon arrival in Boston, they’ll have to transfer to the MBTA to get to the stadium in Foxborough.

In Niantic, Capt. Greg Dubrule, a captain for Black Hawk Fishing, said he has never seen anything like the proposal.

“This is pretty outrageous,” Dubrule said. “It’s devastating.”

Dubrule, who said he has spent 56 years making his living on the water, said the timing would be especially harmful for seasonal businesses. He said many tourists come from out of state to fish, and with the bridge operating would be difficult.

“I don’t think they stand a prayer in hell to get it through. I don’t think the Coast Guard is going to let them do it,” Dubrule said.

In Old Lyme, where construction is underway on an improved railroad river bridge, cranes are already in the water, adding to the challenges for boaters.

Old Lyme Harbor Master Capt. Matthew Lynch said the impact could be significant if the bridges remain closed for several hours at a time.

“If the bridges are closed for, say, five hours on a Friday night, the number of boats that are going to be stacked up on either side, to me, it’s going to be pretty, pretty significant.”

“There’s pilings in the middle of all the spans. There’s work barges moving. So it’s already a chaotic area,” Lynch said.

The Connecticut Marine Trades Association also said they have significant concerns regarding the potential bridge closures.

The CMTA’s concerns relate to restricted navigation and access (“disruptions will create confusion”), safety risk to boaters (“Boats forced to hold position while awaiting openings may face increased risk of collision”), emergency response concerns (“bridge closures could delay response times to emergencies on the water”), and economic impact on marine businesses (“restricted access during peak summer months—coinciding with World Cup Activity—would negatively affect revenue, customer satisfaction, and seasonal employment).

“While we fully appreciate the regional importance of the World Cup and the anticipated increase in rail traffic, any extended or unpredictable closures of movable railroad bridges along the Northeast Corridor present significant challenges to the marine community,” the CMTA said.

NBC Connecticut reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard for comment. We will update this story when we hear back.

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