Between Long Lots Elementary School and Parker Harding Plaza, there hasn’t been much discussion lately on the future of the William F. Cribari Bridge.
But the 135-year-old swing span — historic, beloved, quirky, narrow — is not getting any younger.
William F. Cribari Bridge (Drone photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)
The state Department of Transportation has spent several years studying the bridge, and planning its replacement. Any new one — if built with state and/or federal funds, that is — would have to meet current standards.
That would probably mean a bigger, wider structure. Meaning: One large enough to accommodate trucks coming off I-95.
Sources say that an environmental assessment is being prepared, though by a different company than originally hired.
The belief is that DOT will recommend replacing — rather than renovating — the existing bridge (which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places).
A long-ago trolley travels over the Cribari Bridge.
There is no new information on the state DOT website. The latest “news” was posted in 2019.
“06880” asked State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, who sits on the Transportation Committee, for a status update. He says:
It goes without saying, with each passing day, it deteriorates further. I don’t know the current status of the supporting piers, but I’d hope that DOT is monitoring and would let us know if it was approaching dangerous condition. And it’s fair to wonder why Westporters tolerate a structure so decrepit looking. Hardly a Westport icon!
In my last casual conversation with my contact at DOT, some months ago, she more or less confirmed their strategy of waiting for the town to respond to the options they put on the table now years ago. DOT sees little benefit in pushing hard for resolution without any partner in town government — at least as long as the bridge remains safe.
Cribari Bridge, looking west. (Photo/Fred Cantor)
In my opinion, our de facto plan to ignore the problem and avoid controversy is yielding to a vocal minority and risking a genuine traffic crisis should that bridge go out of commission for an extended period. Isn’t crossing the river in Westport challenging enough without losing a crossing point?
I believe we can talk through our concerns — such as keeping 18-wheelers from using the bridge — and come up with a satisfactory plan which preserves the bridge’s character while making it safe — actually safer (wider) — for the long hall. Remember: even if we had a plan today, it will take years to implement the fixes, perhaps including a temporary bridge.
So I can’t illuminate current status for you. Ultimately, the first selectwoman bears responsibility for communicating with DOT the town’s preferences and seeking resolution.
I just hope we don’t see a headline to your column reading: “Cribari Bridge closed indefinitely; Westport traffic grinds to a halt.”
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker says: “The issue still sits with the state. I’m asking for an update from them. I’ll with you when I hear from them.”
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Yes let’s just wait till we hear from each other. No Selectwoman that doesn’t sound like a sound plan!
Should our town just wait sitting on our hands until the bridge becomes unsafe and shut down. You fail to plan .. you plan to fail!
I may be wrong. I thought no republicans voted for the Biden Infrastructure Plan. My point is republicans like Tooker are following the decisions made by the National party leader. Do nothing republicans. Several Republican house leaders said in public they have nothing to run on. Wgat are the Republican accomplishments ? I wouldn’t expect anything different from Tooker.
Town of Westport must legally control D.O.T, otherwise havoc! Look at the Exit 41 RT 15 area. Fairfield prohibited a wider and higher MetroNorth underpass at North Benson Rd.
Would a new covered style height restricted bridge be a solution?
Not a good plan, waiting is not going to solve the problem, Repairs along the way would have put this bridge in a better place so, while we’re at it lets also look at Riverside Avenue to Wilton Road, post road intersection. A disgraceful mess every day and yet no one does anything to solve the problem. Saugatuck cannot handle large trucks the area is already congested enough. What happened to the deemed historical on the Cribari Bridge??? The town needs to step up and make repairs to keep the Bridge in place, maybe the repairs wouldn’t have been so extensive if more was done along the way.
Rep. Steinberg knows perfectly well that this state owned span is regularly inspected by CDOT. But, for some reason, he decided to get a jump on Fearmongering Friday. Keep up the good work, Jonathan. You’re doing a great job.
Question for those with more information:
has the feasibility of keeping it indefinitely by way of continued high quality maintenance been evaluated by DOT?
Why is everyone assuming there must be a replacement?
It has a safe pedestrian walk lane. The narrow lanes are big enough for local traffic – the cars fit – and narrow enough to encourage slow speeds, caution and safety. I drive over it a couple times every day. I walk over it a couple times a week.
I don’t see the problem that needs solving, so long as regular proactive maintenance keeps it in good shape. That seems like question number 1.
Challenge to any politician: show how replacing the Cribari Bridge (a National Historic Structure in the National Historic District) will lessen the crushing, dangerous commercial traffic through our residential neighborhoods.
Rep. Steinberg brought the troubling, misfiring Transit Oriented District study to Westport. Is he now spearheading an attempt to incorporate Greens Farms Road and Saugatuck into an I95 feeder road system?
The CT DOT has proposed several plans since the 1970’s to bring I-95 18 wheeler traffic through the still vital Saugatuck village. They have never acceded to resident requests to limit truck traffic.
Good morning, please don’t panic. What you see as “structure so decrepit looking” are original trusses that do not carry the bridge. When we replaced the bridge a little over 30 years ago, these trusses were reinstalled for appearance only to meet the requirement of a “historic” look. To know condition of the actual structure, it would have to be inspected from underneath. Without such inspection, I can’t be sure, but generally speaking a 30-year-old bridge that doesn’t get heavy truck traffic thanks to the aforementioned trusses, should be in OK shape.
a few years ago the underneath looked very scary, tons of rust, and crumbling. i think since then some repairs were made. i havent stopped to look underneath recently.
Thank you Morley, John Shuggs, and Helen Garten for your work in making this bridge, part of a “scenic road.” Yes Morley, I am thanking you! Great work!
Jonathan, to my parents (mom a Gilbertie) and many immigrant Italian Americans who settled in Saugatuck, the Cribari Bridge is very important to their Westport roots.
When I-95 came to fruition in the 1950’s, “little Italy” of Westport was no longer the heart and soul of Saugatuck.
For my mother and her sisters Sunrise Road was home, and still mostly Italian (right side of street all Gilberties going up Sunrise!).
My grandmother, along with other parents would walk their kids to the bridge and the kids would walk the rest of the way to Saugatuck School. On the way home, reverse walking commute to bridge.
I am disappointed a Senior member of the Democratic controlled Legislature is trying to “spin” the condition of the Cribari Bridge on our First Selectwoman Jen Tooker. Really? Where did this one come from?
The Cribari Bridge does indeed fall under state jurisdiction right? The Democrats have controlled the Legislature for what 30 plus years?
I think it would be wise to look towards your colleagues in Hartford, who control the dough and donuts, to get their act together on a plan to either fix the Cribari Bridge as is, or move the structure to create a walking bridge.
A new structure will have to work for the residents of Westport, not the interests of the state pushing a bigger bridge to relieve I-95 traffic.
Going forward Jonathan, please be cognitive of the symbolic historic value this bridge brings to not only old and new Saugatuck residents, but our town as well.
The blame Jen Tooker theme from Parker Harding, to building a new Long Lots school, to now the Cribari Bridge is getting old my friend….let’s work on solving and not stalling projects that benefit our whole community.
In a single comment, let me provide everyone with something to which they can disagree. (*it’s “long HAUL,” btw)
I thought I was the only one willing to openly say, “what an eyesore.” It looks like an Erector Set toy that spent fifty years in a basement that annually floods. (I’ve often thought that the “historic” argument was about traffic, because the traffic argument wouldn’t fly in some parts.) I thought Jon didn’t speak out on LLS because he didn’t want to alienate constituents but now he is dissing the “beloved” bridge? I’m shocked! Shocked, I say!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erector_Set#/media/File:Erector_Set_Ad_1922.JPG
Alas, Francis Ward 100% nails the problem with his comment. Greens Farms Road, more and more, has become an inappropriate thruway – any changes to the bridge should not include an increasing of capacity of the thing (a demand that likely induces eye-rolling in Hartford, where increasing capacity seems like a preferred reason for replacing the bridge). As an aside, thank goodness for the new stop sign by Greens Farms Station!
Can’t we all just hold hands, be honest, and say, “we hate the bridge, that looks like it is about to fall down, but we appreciate it’s role as a traffic flow limiter”? Then we can reach a consensus in five minutes.
Of course, it is no surprise that the FS has done nothing. There is no photo op involved. Whether restored or rebuilt, she will be the first to show up for the ribbon cutting, but don’t expect anything before then.
Finally, I’ll happily vote for the person who pledges to refer to our local structures by recognizable names. (Think about how confusing it is to newcomers!) We have two bridges across the river – the Saugatuck Bridge and the Post Road Bridge. Can’t we just keep it simple?
I am very disheartened by this post. I can’t disagree more with my friend Jonathan who I have debated in my living room on this topic many times. We simply don’t see it the same way.
This is on the State, not the Town. Jim Marpe formed a committee, that I was on, which worked with the state on the future of the bridge. THEY, the state, were to come back with their appraisal. THEY have not. We await their assessment and will then react. The state wants the bridge gone and they are dragging their feet purposefully to ensure its replacement.
The bridge is important and needs to be preserved and rehabilitated plain and simple. It both serves as a historic center piece of Saugatuck and is a gatekeeper preventing trucks off our already congested residential roads. The bridge does not cause traffic, volume and the T intersection does.
As an RTM member from Saugatuck and one who believes in the preservation of the bridge I once again stand ready to defend it.
Matthew, well said. It is very complex issue, and I thank you for your involvement, along with other District 1 Representatives to continue to work towards a solution that is a win – win for Saugatuck, our residents, town and state.
Keep up the good work in D1!
I distinctly remember serving on PAC bridge committee, voting for restoration after a few plans were given to us by the state because it’s a STATE ROAD.
The historic bridge is one of few in the country, it was dawned on our town seal, even employee patches.
The height limits 18 wheelers from crossing and for the last 4 years, a weight limit of 20 tons.
The state, has forcibly through dragging out the process and pushing their plan to install a newer bridge that would increase height and width for…18 wheelers and I95 traffic.
It is a scenic route. Designated by caring Westport residents who want to continue honoring our history for newcomers and visitors for decades to come.
Deteriorating everyday? Fear mongering. It is inspected frequently and it just so happens one of my good friends growing up is part of the inspections from the CDOT. But, as time goes on everyday the bridge is crossed by thousands daily, there is wear on it (like everything) just so the state can push the envelope on time, to say the bridge is beyond repairable and install from what I remember that was displayed, an unsightly oversized grotesque “Mini I95,” bridge.
You replace the bridge, an 18 wheeler on average has a 53’ foot box trailer attached, the width of the road at the T of where Rizzutos, Peters Bridge and Mansion Clamhouse, would not be able to make that turn, UNLESS taking up both lanes to cross drag to turn WITHOUT hopping the sidewalk and eventually, damaging it.
Restore the bridge. The undermining of our entire selectwomen is getting old. Calling names, pointing the finger and the blame without doing their research or rewriting the narrative to control it, it’s getting old.
On the Bridge: Jonathan Steinberg is a voice of reason! He’s also right that sitting on our hands about the bridge is not going to end well. Ross Burkhardt, RTM representing district 3.
It’s easy to buy into this trumped up narrative if you believe in an urbanist agenda. One that would take us on a road to be more like New Rochelle than the small New England town where people come to live. I surely don’t want to see 18 wheelers on Greens Farms road.
Sitting on our hands? Not the case, but it seems some would rather throw up their hands and let the state dictate terms when it is our town that is the subject. No, we told that state we want to keep the bridge, so repair it. They are the ones sitting on their hands and not following through.
The Cribari Bridge is a vital and celebrated historic resource, a fact that has been reaffirmed repeatedly by our community, including its painstaking restoration 30 years ago. Further and more recently, The Saugatuck Transit Oriented Design Steering Committee, on which I served with more than 20 other individuals appointed by then First Selectman Jim Marpe, and with broad public input, cited the importance of preserving the Cribari Bridge’s structure and function, including doing so as one of the 8 guiding design principles for the future of Saugatuck.
As noted by Mr. Aronson, who had a pivotal role in overseeing the bridge’s restoration, the structure is sturdy and safe. And, like all things, requires maintenance.
The state of CT has long been eager to spend tax payer money on replacing the bridge, ignoring its layered and significant value to the community.
This is an important historic resource that serves our community well, and that is deserving of preservation as an important river crossing point for travelers.
https://www.westportct.gov/government/appointed-boards-a-z/saugatuck-tod-master-plan-steering-committee
Thanks for nothing Jonathan.Typical.. BTW Mr. Grimm, I and many other love that bridge.
Hear, hear!! To saw that it is not an icon in Westport is absolutely untrue!! Restore the bridge!!!
Love the bridge. Be ideal to keep it and reinforce it if financially prudent. The bridge is a STATE issue. Our rep is on the state’s transportation committee so he should be as well informed as anyone on decisions & progress. Apparently he has little to report and/or political capital to get it done which is SAD. Guessing this bridge is a small mater relative to other CT needs – and priorities are a mix infrastructure, financial, political dynamics. Tooker & town have zero authority here despite some who suggest otherwise and/or laughably link this somehow to national party politics! Sadly, it will likely take an incident or severe inspection report to generate action. Then the bridge will be closed until it’s fixed/replaced which means years of no crossing there. Hope I’m wrong but if I know our state legislature, highly probable outcome.
I must disagree with State Representative Jonathan Steinberg on his characterization of the Cribari Bridge as “decrepit” and not being a Westport icon. The bridge is probably in the top 3 of iconic symbols of the town along with The Minuteman and Compo Beach cannons. As Dave Eason observes, many of us love the Cribari Bridge.
I strongly agree with my RTM colleagues Jimmy, Matthew, Andrew and more. The bridge is an icon of Westport and needs to be cared for, maintained, restored, but not turned into another off-ramp for huge trucks trying to escape traffic on i95.
I’m neutral on replacing the bridge but let’s be clear – you could not keep 18-wheelers from using a replacement bridge, as Jonathan Steinberg claims. Truck drivers use Waze, and Waze directs them onto inappropriate routes. That’s why I saw an 18-wheeler with its roof sheared off by a bridge on the Merritt a couple of weeks ago, and why there are consistently accidents under train overpasses. So forget that.
The issue with traffic is much more about the overall conditions at that intersection than the bridge itself, but if the bridge is replaced, Cribari should be turned into a pedestrian/bike bridge.
Someone needs to go down there and take a look…asap. Its not Steinbergs job. Ill go
It’s our bridge, so we should take responsibility for it.
The blog discussion of this subject goes back to at least 2016:
Read these and let’s see if we can add something new and actionable to the subject:
https://06880danwoog.com/2016/06/16/not-water-under-the-bridge-looking-back-at-the-last-repair/
https://06880danwoog.com/2021/02/09/state-to-town-you-want-the-cribari-bridge-pay-for-it/
May want to start taking down the Xmas lights when the holidays are over. Leaving them up all year round doesn’t help its appearance
Do you have any idea how hard it would be to re-string them every year?
Sorry Dan, was just making an observation and yes, I do have an idea. In the old days they were put up before the holidays and taken down just afterwards. No discussions and hard to deny that leaving them up all year is not somewhat of an eyesore.
I agree with YOU Ms. Silton. What’s the point of putting them up for the holidays if you’re not going to take them down after the holidays? It’s all about DEVOTION!!! Giving of yourself unselfishly. Doing the right thing. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard. I get your point. I only wish more people did.
That’s not going to happen. Al’s Angels along with Kevin Ancker who volunteers his bucket truck with WPD shutdown the bridge after 10pm and do not get done until 4-5am.
Occasionally some light strings have to be replaced but the way everything is right now it takes much shorter time.
They barely are visible during the day. Who knows, maybe we will replace them with LED color changing bulbs for different holidays.
Jonathan, if you were testing out a possible campaign theme for First Selectman, it’s fair to say that you received some useful feedback today: the bridge is a beloved and valued part of what makes our community special. As you know, Westport leaders from both sides of the aisle have long stood up to DOT’s corrosive, overwrought plans to replace it. I would only add this: please consider discontinuing the “vocal minority” line of attack. We are all neighbors. Attempting to marginalize or stigmatize residents as you just did isn’t productive in my view.