OSHA investigates bridge collapse, company previously fined

Naugatuck, Conn. (WTNH) - The company replacing the Route 63 bridge over the Naugatuck River was just paying off a significant fine from OSHA for safety violations at another bridge. Now OSHA is investigating this site following a collapse that injured a Middlebury man.

OSHA and the State Fire Marshal's office are investigating this incident. The bridge is back open this morning, But the borough's ball field's under the bridge remain off limits during the investigation.

Crews from Brunalli Construction were working on the bridge at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. 59-year-old Anthony Mariano was at the controls of an excavator that was chipping away at the top of the bridge. He felt something was wrong and got everybody off the bridge.

Mariano was trying to move the excavator off the span when it collapsed under him. He remains in the hospital this morning.

OSHA is investigating Brunalli, just as it has before. The Hartford Courant reports OSHA found record-keeping violations on this project in November, and found more serious violations on a bridge project in Canaan two years ago.

Brunalli was paying off a $180,000 fine for that.

The bridge that was being replaced had previously been rated in poor condition.