Built in the 1930s, the Merritt Parkway, stretching from the New York/Connecticut line almost to New Haven, was groundbreaking and picturesque. Its Art Deco bridges, limited access, and wide, landscaped right-of-way have earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Sikorsky Bridge was built in 1940 to span the Housatonic River and connect the Merritt with another parkway, but due to financial constraints, the bridge ended up being a utilitarian steel structure, shoulderless and narrow-laned. Nearby residents considered it a noisy eyesore. Despite repairs and improvements over the years, engineering studies concluded that the bridge needed to be replaced, and in 2000, the Beard Concrete Company -- a Lafarge customer -- was awarded the project.

The new Sikorsky Bridge incorporates a bikeway/walkway on the deck, offering unobstructed views of the Housatonic and connecting bike paths and trails on both sides of the river. Architectural details include stylized parapets, classic-style fencing, and decorative lighting on pylons at the piers and abutments. It gets high marks for sustainability as well. Lafarge SF Cement and fly ash significantly reduce the embedded energy of the concrete used in the reconstructed bridge deck. While cost and performance considerations were the primary reasons for using these materials, the environmental benefits are in line with the project’s goals and the community’s values.