Yesterday, “06880” posted news from Representative Town Meeting member Matthew Mandell about the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s release of a bid document for the Cribari Bridge.
In response, DOT communications director Josh Morgan says: “CTDOT has made no decision whether to perform a major rehabilitation or full replacement of the Cribari Bridge.
“Given the complexities of performing work on this historic structure, it was important to have firms lined up for either potential option to ensure construction schedules are met.
“As noted numerous times in the Request for Letters-of-Interest, CTDOT was seeking prequalified firms for both major rehabilitation and replacement options of the bridge.
“If design firms were solicitated after the public hearing and after a formal decision was made, there would have been a significant impact to the construction schedule,” he explains.
Cribari Bridge (Photo/Nancy Lally)
In related news, the state DOT will hold a public hearing on March 19 (6 p.m., Town Hall), on “Rehabilitation/Replacement of the Cribari Memorial Bridge.”
The session will “provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the proposed project, and allow a place to provide feedback concerning the proposed improvements.”
The project involves “a resilient structure that addresses the structural and functional deficiencies of the the existing Cribari Memorial Bridge, which carries Route 136 over the Saugatuck River, while accommodating safe vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian and marine traffic,” the announcement adds.
DOT spokesman Morgan notes that the flyer includes both potential options: rehabilitation and replacement.
Morgan says, “We know there is interest in this project, which is why we created that Save the Date flyer so people could mark their calendars before legal notices ran in the local papers. These public notices will be published over the next several weeks inviting the public to attend the March 19 hearing. We encourage residents, businesses, and those interested in the future of the Cribari Bridge to attend the public hearing, ask questions, and give feedback.”
That’s nice. But the friendly DOT spokesman somehow forgot to mention his agency – last May at an unnoticed, invitation only meeting – announced that it has already determined its “preferred alternative” for the nation’s oldest bridge of its type. It wants what it has always wanted: a giant new span which will allow for the establishment of an alternate I95 truck route through Saugatuck. This is the sixth time DOT has come for the bridge. Ain’t nobody stupid.
What a beautiful photo! One I witnessed many evenings in my childhood. What a beautiful bridge that may be a distant memory. I rode my bike over that bridge many days a week hearing the clickety clack sound of wheels over the wooden slats of the walking bridge section. I hope Westport stays safe and maybe can preserve this iconic Westport piece of history. Westport is special always, and I hope you all are able to preserve some historic landmarks as time progresses.