Much of the debate about the William F. Cribari Bridge is binary: Replace the 139-year-old span, or renovate it.
Mary Gai has another idea. The longtime resident writes:
After reading a letter written to the state Department of Transportation by a Westporter, extolling the virtues of the temporary bridge that was constructed while the last repairs were made to the Cribari bridge about 30 years ago, a thought popped into my head.
The temporary bridge (left), built next to the Cribari Bridge. It came close to the Mansion Clam House (later Parker Mansion). The view is looking north, to Bridge Street. Bridge Square is on the right.
The bridge over the Saugatuck River is beloved, no doubt — but not all of us love the traffic congestion caused by its size and state of disrepair.
The letter proposed keeping the bridge, but leaving it in the open position to let boats through, while building another bridge like the wonderful temporary bridge that was so great for traffic and boats.
Keeping it open does not make a lot of sense to me. But what is keeping us from dedicating the Cribari bridge to pedestrian and bike traffic only? We can elevate it, with stairs on both ends and ramps for those who need them.
Then we can build a bridge like the temporary bridge we all loved 30-plus
years ago, for the cars and trucks.
Saugatuck is all grown up now, with many more residents than there were just a decade ago. Could this make everyone happy?
If this was previously presented as an idea and shot down, let’s revisit it. Our technology has to be better now. And we will be able keep the beautiful lights at holiday time … or all year long.
This rendering of a temporary replacement — while the current bridge would be worked on — was presented by the Cribari Bridge Project Advisory Committee in 2018. Could it be a permanent solution?
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Way too simple 🤣
right??
Nice idea Mary. Just keep in mind how many decades we have been talking about a deck over the Baldwin lot!
How does the bridge create congestion? There is still a two lane road on either side..Most of us have been navigating that bridge without incident for many many years..
Dave it would be a
great
pedestrian bridge…lots more foot traffic and support for businesses. we can have a Cribari bridge chili contest every year …ON Athena bridge!
Mary, just to clarify, the bridge does not “cause congestion” any more than the part of Bridge Street that ISN’T suspended over water (and is the exact same width) does. It’s mainly the Riverside/Saugatuck intersection that is the issue.
Oops, meant to write Riverside/Bridge Street intersection.
Morley we will still have the bridge for history’s sake. am I the ONLY one who had to get a new mirror for my truck after hitting the side of the bridge?
That’s a great picture of the temporary bridge but what you DON’T see there is how steep its was. Dangerously steep.
it will be a new one…less steep..better
except a fixed bridge that is less steep wouldnt allow boat traffic with boats with a higher air draft… so now are you also suggesting impeding the federal navigational channel?
we will make it steep enough.
The federal navigation regulations require quite a bit of clearance for a fixed bridge over our river: 65 feet.
The temporary bridge didn’t need to meet those requirements because it was temporary.
The state proposed a bridge similar to what your suggestion would require about sixty years ago…
“ In early 1968, press accounts indicate the town was shown preliminary drawings of what the State Highway Department called a fixed “high-level” bridge approximately 60 feet in elevation at its apex. As a consequence of the proposed bridge’s height, its approaches needed to be much longer than the present ones. The west approach, as proposed, would bypass Riverside Avenue altogether and go to Saugatuck Avenue instead. The four lane east approach was described as beginning at the intersection of Bridge Street and Compo Road South.” Westportpreservation.com
The solution for a steep approach is a longer one… taking residential property on the east bank and quite a few commercial buildings on the western bank.
There are two important considerations for improving or replacing the Cribari Bridge. It is on a state road, part of Route 136. I think that means state money would be available, but Hartford would tell Westport how it should be spent. Equally important to many is that “improving” the bridge could make it part of the route truck traffic could use to avoid 95. That would mean 18-wheelers and other heavy equipment traveling through residential neighborhoods, especially on Greens Farms Road. Turning the bridge into a charming “over the water park” might be fine, but we have to be careful with what replaces it.
Wow, I will always love my hometown of Westport and I think I tried to serve it well on various boards especially the Planning Board. And I do miss my beautiful historic house on Bridge Street . But now living about 350 miles away in the great state of Maine I am not missing much in Westport right now looking at decked Parking that we know Will cause traffic ills with the limited access and egress downtown, and looking at the potential replacement of the Cribari bridge Which result in taking property to expand Bridge Street and will result in the state utilizing the exit 17 to exit 18 traffic go around.
In both situations, I would hope to hear more discussion, not on the project itself, bridge or deck, but where the hell all the traffic’s gonna go. You only can put so much guano in a 5 pound paper bag and I believe both these plans are short sightedly planned. But then again, that’s just me watching from afar.
Mary – Great idea – I fully support it.
talk about it
I think a park-like pedestrian bridge is a great idea! It keeps the historic bridge and allows for a safe new bridge, where traffic can flow more easily. Living in Compo I pass over it often. Whoever thinks it doesn’t cause traffic doesn’t pass it during rush hour, or Sundays during the summer!
talk about it
Wonderful idea. I have another, although I have no idea if it is feasible or how others would view it. In Shelburne Falls, MA, they transformed an old bridge into the Bridge of Flowers where flowers bloom many months. Although it’s not the NYC High Line, it is beautiful and an attraction that, when we are in the area, always visit (and walk over.)
“06880” is on it! In February of 2021, I posted this story about it: https://06880danwoog.com/2021/02/11/the-cribari-bridge-of-flowers/
Hmmm….I think it is a suggestion that should be explored.
talk about it…can we formalize the idea and bring it somewhere
If executed properly it could replace 233 Hillspoint Road as the all-time worst Westport eyesore.
bridges can be beautiful and 233 hillspoint will be beautiful too!!
A lot of concrete and 13 ft high tractor trailer trucks on a twenty foot tall arch is not aesthetically attractive to me but, hey, I may be old school Westport.
Love this idea!
talk about it!
To me the best would be to take care of existing Cribari bridge, similar to Railroad bridge discussion with CT the other week: update the mechanicals so it works more quickly and reliably with fewer people needed to open. Expand the width of the pedestrian walk on the upriver side.
Maybe widen the lanes toward the upriver side by say 2′ total to help fire trucks pass, but not taller for 18 wheelers.
In short, make it more functional and efficient to operate for local needs, but preserve it’s historic nature and it should remain a constraint on large trucks driving through Westport.
Mary, terrific idea! I too thought it would be perfect to keep it for boots & bikes, a lane for each. But I figured it wasn’t feasible because of the issue with boats needing to get through. I never thought of the possibility of raising it; can it be done?
I’ve been driving or walking over that bridge all my life.
I understand the need for a viable bridge for the many reasons that have been stated, but it’s a historical landmark. I definitely hope that there may be a way to bring in the new, but keep that treasured old bridge.
well I think anything can be done.
I’m sure it would involve steel beams, jacks., pilings and cranes and making the surface a bit less porous. wide stairs.
I bet it would be so cool and the envy and a great example for saving old bridges.
A creative solution like this could be lovely but MUST NOT ALLOW 18 WHEELERS to cross the river at Bridge Street. We all know Google will route them that way when I95 is congested.
Also, I am not in favor of eminent domain to make it happen.
I agree with the NO 18 wheelers !
However, that comes down to a “local traffic only sign”
Ya might want to run that “seriously “ by the town dictators.
After all many are involved in the mc hamlet !
Also, might be time for everyone who was so interested in same hamlet happening, clearly must be, interested in the new bridge .
Please folks stop talking out of both sides of your mouths !
If you were in favor of the hamlet, you were absolutely in favour of the bridge getting replaced.