They Crossed That Bridge When They Came To It

After waiting nearly two years, neighbors Rosie Ozyck and Donna Curran got to walk across the Grand Avenue bridge Tuesday — and meet up more efficiently for their daily stroll.

They were among the first pedestrians to take advantage of the first day that the Grand Avenue bridge reopened after almost two years of a $28 million renovation, and reconnected Fair Haven and Fair Haven Heights across the Quinnipiac River. Neighbors celebrated the rehabbed bridge this past Saturday at a pre-reopening event with City Engineer Giovanni Zinn. 

Two years ago, when the bridge was closed, Ozyck and Curran had to figure out a new daily walking route for them and Curran’s dog Pollie. 

Ozyck has lived in the neighborhood for 23 years. Curran has lived in the neighborhood for 12 years. They live across from each other on Quinnipiac Avenue and have walked together for years. 

“We missed it when it was closed,” Ozyck said.

Several drivers honked their horns in celebration while crossing the reopened bridge Tuesday morning. 

While getting exercise and walking Pollie, Ozyck and Curran talked about ​“bringing more life to the park” on Front Street now that they can get to it more easily now that the bridge is open. 

“We love having the connection,” Ozyck said. ​“We’re excited to see what we can make of the park.” 

While the bridge was closed, the duo did learn more about the neighborhood by going on walks in the opposite direction of East Grand Avenue and deeper into the Heights. 

“It was good to get to know the area,” Ozyck said. 

The two said they love the new color of the bridge and larger sidewalk for pedestrians like themselves. They’re looking forward to seeing the new bridge lights. 

Peter Boryszewski, 68, traveled over the bridge Tuesday for his first of many planned daily walks. 

While strolling across the now rehabbed bridge Boryszewski took a look over the bridge’s rails down for a view of the river then up at the green steel beams overhead.

Boryszewski moved into the Bella Vista apartments a year ago. He looked forward to getting familiar with his neighborhood and others by walking. 

“I’ve been looking forward to this for a year,” he said. 

With the bridge closed for the past two years, Boryszewski walked up and down Quinnipiac Avenue and traveled around the city to walking paths at East Rock and the Farmington Canal. 

Boryszewski went across the Grand Avenue bridge Tuesday to get familiar with the pedestrian path and to scope a route that will include a Grand Avenue Bridge and Ferry Street Bridge loop. 

The Grand bridge will also make driving routes more convenient once again for the neighborhood. Boryszewski said he looks forward to no longer taking detours over to Ferry bridge or State Street.

Grand Vin owner Ben Tortora was also happy to see the bridge reopened. He waited around Tuesday for customers from the other side of the bridge to resume shopping in his shop right by the east side of the bridge at 28 East Grand.

Tortora had to deal with a loss of customers due to the pandemic along with the closing of the bridge for the past 22 months.

Tortora stayed in close contact with the construction crew, eager to know when his business could kick out of survival mode. 

He described the past two years as his toughest in business. 

Tortora’s business depended on foot traffic and loyal customers who lived within walking distance for business. When the bridge closed and the pandemic set in, Tortora said he lost at least 30 percent of his customers. 

Tortora missed the in-person conversations about the wines and spirits he offered, as well. Grand Vin is known not only for the spot to pick up a fine wine or spirit but for also getting personal advice and service from Tortora. 

“I felt stranded here by myself,” he said.

So he pivoted.

Before the bridge closure, most of Tortora’s business came from local shoppers. Tortora marketed his business more regionally, and gained out-of-state customers. His most recent delivery was to Newport, R.I., this past Sunday.

“The deliveries used to be extra, but now it’s the service I’ve had to depend on,” he said. ​“It became a matter of survival.”

Before the bridge closed, Tortora would have about a dozen daily customers who lived nearby, walked over the bridge and on average spent about $160 a day apiece

Those who could still come in no longer came in daily but instead began coming weekly or monthly.

He averaged that he’s lost about $50,000 each year since the bridge has closed. 

“It was a lot of pressure,” he said.

This October will make 18 years in business for Tortora.

Some of his regular customers, who have also become friends, found a way to the shop while the bridge was closed. They begged him to stay open and promised to continue supporting him, he said.

About eight years ago Tortora struggled when the streets on East Grand and Quinnipiac Avenues were stripped, then a fire happened at the next-door business, then the pandemic hit. 

“Without my customers loyalty we wouldn’t have made it,” he said. 

Tortora hopes to plan a bridge celebration when the weather gets warmer to remind customers to shop local and that ​“I never stopped selling great beer and really good spirits.”