Save it at all costs! Renovate it for safety and river navigation! Don’t allow trucks! Don’t worry, they can’t get through Saugatuck anyway!
As the March 19 community meeting (6 p.m., Town Hall) with the state Department of Transportation looms, the jury remains out on what Westport — residents, and town officials — really want for the span’s future.
A decade after discussions began on a renovation or replacement of the 143-year-old bridge, no one seems to have an idea of what to say to DOT.
That might be because no one has clearly asked.
Today, “06880” does just that.
We’ve created an 8-question survey. It’s not scientific — we’re not Gallup or Quinnipiac — but it could give some sense of residents’ feelings. Results will be posted on Friday.
The survey is below. NOTE: This is for current Westport residents only. Thanks!
Cribari Bridge (Photo courtesy of Library of Congress)
If Westport decides what we want to do with the Cribari Bridge, the state Department of Transportation will listen — and work with us.
If not, they won’t.
That’s the assessment of a civil engineer — not a Westporter — who is very familiar with state bridges and the DOT, and has followed our town’s saga for years.
His view — gleaned from news reports, and watching the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Zoom session last week — is that most people here agree something must be done to the 143-year-old span.
But after all this time, there is no consensus on what that should be.
No consensus yet on the Cribari Bridge’s future. (Drone photo/John Videler, for Videler Photography)
There are issues with historic integrity (the bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places), structural integrity (it was built when Grover Cleveland was president), traffic, semi-trailers, navigability of the Saugatuck River, and more.
“I get the sense that Westport is not unified in what it wants,” the engineer says. “But it seems like everyone is using DOT as a punching bag.”
In his experience, DOT officials work with municipalities that want to work with it.
Kicking the can down the road won’t work. The bridge won’t last forever.
And if there is a major incident with it, then where would Westport — and the state — be?
The Cribari Bridge is sometimes stuck in the open position. (Photo/Mark Mathias)
One option has been little discussed, he notes: the town purchasing the bridge. In that case, Westport taxpayers would have complete control over its design and traffic.
We’d also be responsible for buying it, and maintaining it — without state and federal funds.
Without going that route, the engineer says, the state must be involved. Westport can’t ignore ConnDOT. Their goal, he says, is a “safe, reliable transit network.”
The engineer is also trying to figure out Westporters’ views on the historical nature of the Cribari Bridge.
If people value it for its history, he says, are they amenable to relocating it to another site, perhaps as a pedestrian span? If not, why not?
“If Westport could wave a magic wand, what would you want?” he asks.
“Probably no one knows. But without Westport being aligned on what they want, it seems very difficult to see this project proceeding. Is that what people want? And what happens then, if something bad happens to the bridge?”
The bottom line, the engineer says, is this: “DOT is coming to the table on March 19.” (That’s the date for a 6 p.m. meeting with residents, at Town Hall.)
“Westport should have a uniform idea of what they want then.” If that happens — and the meeting does not devolve into conflicting ideas and accusations — “DOT would certainly work with the town.”
The engineer knows that complete consensus is probably impossible. But if town officials come up with “a couple” of options” — and tell DOT, “we need this, and it’s okay to compromise a little on that,” a plan can be made.
“If you took DOT out of the room, it doesn’t look like right now Westport knows what it wants,” he reiterates.
“And if the town doesn’t know, how can DOT respond?”
Meanwhile, based on news reports and last week’s RTM meeting, the engineer offers his objective summary of the situation.
The 1884 bridge stands at the center of a 2026 traffic management discussion.
The only reason not meeting current design standards is even being considered is the National Historic Preservation Act. It is a legal protection that allows a community to argue that the history of the bridge and the protection of the neighborhood are more important than the DOT’s book of standards.
Without the bridge’s National Register status, there would be little to debate; the bridge would have been replaced with a standard concrete span decades ago. The “gravitas” of the 1884 date is the only reason the “substandard” height remains an option on the table.
The Engineering Reality: After 140+ years of service, the bridge faces a critical intersection of structural decay and functional obsolescence. Routine inspections have identified severe corrosion and collision damage. Current vehicular weight limits are restricted to 20 tons — half the modern standard — affecting the routing of school buses and emergency apparatus. The bridge’s 19.5-foot width and 12′ 10″ vertical clearance fall significantly below modern safety standards, leading to frequent sideswipe accidents and truss strikes.
The Crux of the Dilemma: To the state DOT, these metrics represent a failure of its mission to provide a safe, efficient, and resilient transportation network. From a management perspective, full replacement would likely seem the most defensible path. It secures a 75-year design life, meets federal safety standards, and eliminates the state’s liability for maintaining a “substandard” structure.
To the community, however, the bridge’s deficiencies are viewed as its most vital features. The low vertical clearance acts as a physical obstacle that prevents large tractor-trailers from using Route 136 as a bypass for I-95. Residents fear that a modern bridge, built to standard heights, will fundamentally transform a residential village.
Traffic is a concern on the Cribari Bridge.
Alternatives
Full Replacement (likely DOT-preferred): A new bridge, likely designed as a “High-Fidelity Replica” to satisfy historic preservation needs. It would meet all modern height, weight, and flood-resiliency standards.
Adaptive Rehabilitation (resident-preferred):Would involve “splitting and widening” the original trusses. This would improve roadway safety and add bike lanes, while intentionally preserving the 12′ 10″ height to continue blocking heavy truck traffic.
The Adaptive Rehabilitation proposal is a paradox: It seeks to meet modern standards for width, while refusing them for height. For DOT, accepting this requires a “Design Exception” that shifts long-term liability and maintenance risks to the state for a structure that remains intentionally restricted.
Progress depends on uncoupling the bridge design from traffic enforcement.
In addition, the Saugatuck River is a navigable waterway. Under federal law, the bridge owner is legally mandated to open the bridge for marine traffic.
From an objective engineering standpoint: There is no technical justification for an intentional height restriction on a state-maintained route.
However, the “inevitability” hits a legal wall called Section 4(f). Because the bridge is a National Historic Resource, federal law says the DOT cannot replace it simply because it’s “the most sensible use of funds.” They must prove that every other alternative is “not prudent.”
This may become a battle over whether “Historic Preservation” and “Community Character” are legally allowed to override “Design Standards.” Some in Westport may be betting that the answer is yes.
First: Representative Town Meeting members from Districts 1, 4 and 9 will hold a public discussion about the bridge next Tuesday (February 24, 7 p.m.; click here for Zoom link).
The session was organized by District 1 rep Matthew Mandell. He says: “Since the original Project Advisory Committee — a formal group of residents and town staff that worked directly with the state Department of Transportation — essentially disbanded years ago, there has been no venue for organized resident thought. or for discussion and collaboration with the DOT. The goal is to find a mutual path forward and solution that works for the residents, town and state.”
Members from other districts are welcome too. (Districts 1, 4 and 9 are closest to the span. Don’t know which district you’re in? Click here for a map.)
Second: The state DOT has opened a 60-day public comment period about the bridge, including its potential renovation or replacement.
PS: Don’t forget the DOT’s March 19 public hearing (6 p.m., Town Hall).
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.”
Werner Liepolt’s painting of the Cribari Bridge.
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One glimmer of spring: Registration is open for the Minute Man Race.
The 47th annual Women’s League of Westport event — including a 10K run, 5K4un/walk, and Kids’ Fun Run (1/2K and 1K dash) — is April 26, at Compo Beach. It’s one of the biggest community events of the year.
All proceeds benefit the League’s grants program, supporting non-profits across Fairfield County.
And just in time for Love Your Pet Day (tomorrow!):
Sweet P Bakery and Team Woofgang & Co. — 2 local non-profits that empower adults with disabilities through job training and employment — are partnering on a “People + Pups Colossal Cookie Box.”
The limited-edition includes 6 great Sweet P Colossal Cookies, plus a bag of Woofgang’s Pupper Nutter Dog Treats.
The result: delicious joy for people and pups, while supporting the shared mission of creating meaningful jobs for adults with disabilities.
But wait! There’s more!
$5 from every People + Pups Box sold will be donated to Westport Animal Shelter Advocates (WASA), another wonderful Westport non-profit.
Wakeman Town Farm’s special Neurodiverse Farmer program begins next month.
Designed for all abilities, it offers a hands-on, sensory-rich experience that encourages exploration, creativity, and learning in a natural setting.
WTF provides a safe, welcoming environment where youngsters connect with animals, garden, and explore the outdoors at their own pace.
The staff is trained to support neurodiverse learners. Activities accommodate a variety of sensory, social and communication styles, encouraging inclusion and self-confidence for children who enjoy feeding animals, planting seeds or observing nature.
There’s much more happening at Wakeman Town Farm too, of course.
For a full list of activities, for all ages — including spring cooking for homeschool kids, summer camps, a spring floral workshop, a Mediterranean family-style dinner, and lamb “cuddle sessions” — click here.
Every Connecticut town is allotted a limited number of “package store” — aka liquor store — licenses.
The number is determined by a town’s population in the last federal census.
Balducci’s package store was attached to the grocery store. But they’re leaving the space occupied by both. They’re selling their package store license.
A new owner needs to find commercially zoned property in Westport to relocate the license to.
A package store occupies around 3,500 square feet. There are a number of vacant commercial properties of that size along the Post Road and downtown. The license must be relocated in Westport; it cannot be moved to another town.
Interested in buying Balducci’s package store license? Contact attorney Jerry Farrell, Jr., by phone (203-774-5002) or email jerry@ctliquorlaw.com.
Want to buy a liquor store license?
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April is Autism Awareness Month.
So be aware: On April 29 (6 p.m., Westport Library), NeuroMind hosts a screening of “Go On” — the award-winning movie by autistic filmmaker, golfer and actor Landon Ashworth.
Afterward, he’ll join NeuroMind co-founders Chelsea Elkind and Lauren Rosenblum for a talkback.
Norwalk-based YL Trapped youth organization — it stands for Young Ladies Taking Responsibility and Portraying Proper Educational Decisions — mentors girls ages 11 to 18.
Participants (referred through school and court systems) build strength, knowledge and self confidence, while forming strong connections within the community.
Founder and CEO Dr. Julia Moore described the program Tuesday’s Westport Rotary Club meeting. Members were impressed — particularly at the news that 90% of the young women go on to college.
TAP Strength founder Dr. EJ Zebro and Dr. Bena Kallick, founder of the Institute for Habits of Mind, have been working together, “integrating a holistic approach to a moving mind.”
Now they’ve contributed a chapter — “Enhancing Mind-Body Awareness” — to the new book Leading with Efficacy. In it, they explain their theoretical framework, and offer examples of how it is “efficacious — in fact, effortless — effort.
The other was a 36-year-old man, charged with operating a motor vehicle under suspension, failure to obey a stop sign, and 2 counts of failure to appear. He was arrested when an office conducted stop sign enforcement on Kings Highway North, at Ludlow Road. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Texting while driving: 12 citations
Traveling unreasonably fast: 5
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 3
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 2
Failure to renew registration: 2
Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 2
Speeding: 1
Distracted driving: 1
Failure to display lights: 1
Failure to obey stop sign: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without tint inspection: 1
Improper use of markers: 1
If it’s dark, put your lights on!
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Speaking of the Westport Police Department: They and the Rowan Center make a great team. They collaborate often.
This week, the Stamford-based sexual assault resource agency presented local officers with an appreciation basket.
All of us in Westport appreciate both institutions!
Representative from the Westport Police and Rowan Center — with an appreciation basket.
And finally … in honor of the upcoming sale of Balducci’s package store license (story above):
(You know what drives us to drink? People who read “06880” every day, yet don’t contribute a dime. Serving up 4-6 stories a day is hard work! Please click here to support our efforts. Thank you all!)
Last year’s first-ever Jackie Robinson Essay Contest drew a less-than-sold-out-stadium number of entries.
This year, the sponsors — the Westport Library, Westport Center for Senior Activities, BookTrib and Meryl Moss Media — hope for many more.
Organizers say: “Jackie Robinson didn’t just break baseball’s color barrier. He broke barriers in hearts and minds, paving the way for generations to dream bigger, stand taller, and speak louder. Now, you can honor his legacy.”
This year, the contest asks community members to write — or co-write — “a heartfelt letter addressed to Jackie Robinson. Reflect on how his courage, dignity and perseverance have impacted your lives and your relationship with each other.”
Submissions are “highly encouraged” in teams of 2. Ideally, that’s one senior (60 and up) and one younger person (ages 6–21).
Individual responses, or teams of 2 of any age, are also accepted. “This is more than a writing contest — it’s a chance to build connection across generations, celebrate social progress, and share powerful stories,” organizers say.
If you haven’t already bought a gift — heck, even if you have — here’s a heart-warming idea.
For just $5.50, you can send a 1-minute digital “Singing Gram” — a heartfelt musical message celebrating love, friendship or (sorry, babe) “moving on” — to your partner (or soon-to-be-ex).
They’re courtesy of Staples Orphenians, who will sing — and deliver — your personalized message tomorrow.
Click here to order, and for more information. That’s amore!
Staples’ Orphenians performed at the Holiday Stroll. Now they’ll “perform” at the next holiday: Valentine’s Day. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Speaking of Staples: Seniors Zander Bauer and Elijah Falkenstein — founders of the first Connecticut chapter of the national non-profit Make Our Schools Safe –were in Washington on Thursday.
They advocated for the passage of Alyssa’s Act, which would set national standards for emergency response systems.
Zander and Elijah participated in a press conference, gave interviews, and met with Congressmen, including Connecticut’s Jim Himes and Jahana Hayes.
Zander Bauer and Elijah Falkenstein, with Congressman Jim Himes.
Speaking still of Staples: On Monday, STORMAC — the school’s co-op boys hockey team (with Norwalk and Brien McMahon Highs) — hosted “Hockey Fights Cancer Night.”
Players honored family and friends who are currently battling the disease, who fought and survived, or who are remembered and missed.
Each player took the ice holding a sign with the name of someone special, followed by a moment of silence.
The evening was as a fundraiser. 100% of the proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.
For 25 years, Read To Grow has provided books to new mothers, in hospitals and through a Bookmobile.
By promoting language skills and or children from the day they’re born, the non-profit gives an early boost to families that may not be able to afford books.
Read To Grow is partnering with the Westport Rotary Club and Westport Library, in an outreach program.
On Tuesday Suzannah Holsenbeck — Read to Grow’s executive director — spoke to Rotarians.
Suzannah Holsenbeck, Executive Director of Read To Grow, a not-for-profit group based in Branford, addressed the Westport Rotary Club at its Feb 10 luncheon via Zoom.
She described the importance of having books in a home, and of parents reading daily to young children.
Suzannah Holsenbeck addresses the Rotary Club, via Zoom. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)
The small mostly-takeout Mexican restaurant on Post Road East — sandwiched between ASF and the Shell station — posted a sign in the window saying “Sorry.”
But it adds “Hey Taco! Coming soon.”
We assume that means another Mexican spot.
It would be the third on that site. Border Grill replaced “Tacos or What,” owned by the legendary Dodie Perez.
The “We’re closed” sign, next to the front door. (Hat tip and photo/Jennifer Kobetitsch)
It’s been well over 2 weeks since a snowstorm deposited a foot of snow here.
Since then — with the temperature well below freezing — the beautifully plowed piles have congealed, frozen over, and proved almost impossible to remove.
The result: treacherous going on sidewalks. And, where are forced off of them, dangerous conditions on the road.
Yesterday’s temperature — a tropical 43 — may begin the melting process. (Though when the temperature dips at night, it re-freezes.)
The high today will be 36. Who knows what that will do?
Here are some scenes from Post Road East, on Tuesday. Be careful out there!
In front of Webster Bank, at Colonial Green.
Mobil gas station, across from Playhouse Square …
… and next door, the Mobil station.
M&T bank, at Compo Road North. The manager says this is an issue for the state Department of Transportation. (Photos/Molly Alger)
Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between February 4 and 10.
A 38-year-old Wilton man was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, failure to drive in the proper lane, operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, and improper use of marker plates, following a single vehicle accident on Riverside Avenue, at 12:25 a.m. Sunday.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Texting while driving: 9 citations
Failure to stop at a stop sign: 7
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
Failure to renew registration: 3
Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 2
Operating a motor vehicle without tint inspection: 2
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
Improper use of markers: 2
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
Speeding in a school zone (2nd offense): 1
Speeding: 1
Distracted driving: 1
Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
Driving with an obstructed windshield: 1
Failure to reinstate license within 60 days: 1
Unreadable license plate: 1
It is illegal to drive with an unreadable license plate.
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Andrew Ippolito died peacefully at his Westport home, surrounded by family, on Monday. He was 95.
The Korean War veteran graduated from Georgetown University in international affairs, and earned a master’s in library sciences from Pratt University. He spent most of his career at Newsday, where he led the research and library department, and later founded Library Directory Associates.
Andrew was very involved in politics, and attended the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
His wife Constance died 2020. He is survived by his children Jenette, Paul (Lisa) and Michael (Caroline); grandchildren Vanessa (Steve), Andraya (Keenan), Andrew, Dimitra, Michael, Sofia, Paul, Christofer and Lucas, and great-granchildren continues through his great-grandchildren Cosette, Charlotte, Daniel, Keenan, Jaxon and Josephine.
A wake will be held at Harding Funeral Home this Sunday (February 15, 2 to 6 p.m.). The funeral service takes place Monday (February 16, 10 a.m., St. Luke Church).
Condolences may be left online at www.hardingfuneral.com. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Westporters woke up yesterday to fresh ice. It covered driveways, sidewalks, trees — and this holly bush. Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from Burritts Landing, near Saugatuck Shores.
And finally … on this date in 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born. Happy 217th, to our 16th president!
(People often wonder how to celebrate Lincoln’s birthday. We always recommending clicking here to donate to “06880” — your hyper-local blog that celebrates all things Westport, and America!)
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.”
The question is: How can the DOT go to bid if the Environmental Study is not complete, as well as the Section 106 Federal Historic Study also being incomplete?
Maybe they can, but it seems out of order. It certainly catches us all by surprise. (For a previous”06880″story on Section 106, click here.)
There is also a DOT meeting set for Westport on March 19. I surely had not heard about this one either, but there it was on the site. Click here to see the flyer.
Here is the whole DOT site to read about all aspects of the bridge and project.
This is a bit befuddling for sure.
Timing is everything. In the last few days, hearing from concerned residents regarding the bridge, RTM Districts 1, 4 and 9, as the closest districts to the bridge, were planning to have a public meeting to discuss the bridge.
We wanted to also hear from the public as well. in a different venue than that of a DOT meeting. There has not be something close to a resident discussion since the PAC in 2018.
While there are different views on what should be done, the idea of large trucks seems to be a common thread. We are working on a date toward the end of the month. It will be via Zoom.
(Other RTM districts, hold tight. I spoke with the moderator. Let’s get this one going and have it not be a meeting of the body. Attend if you want of course, and it can expand if needed as we move forward.)
I always say we need to remain vigilant. Thanks to a diligent ally who went to the site to simply take a look at what might be up.
An alert and traffic-conscious “06880” reader emailed us the other day.
He included links to stories about “adaptive traffic signals” — lights that detect real-time traffic conditions and use a fiber-optic network to adjust timing — that have been adopted in Norwalk and Greenwich.
He wondered: Why not in Westport?
Why not indeed?
“06880” reached out to 1st Selectman Kevin Christie. He says:
“Norwalk and Greenwich have implemented adaptive traffic signal technology on signals that they own and operate.
“In Westport, we only have 2 traffic signals that we own and operate: Main Street and Myrtle Avenue, and Main Street and Avery Place. All other signals are under Connecticut Department of Transportation jurisdiction.
“Based on current traffic volumes, those two town-owned signals would not be candidates for this technology at this time.
“The signals that would most likely benefit from this type of technology are along the Route 1 corridor. CTDOT is developing plans to replace traffic signal controllers and install cellular modems at select state-owned traffic signals across several Connecticut towns and cities.
“However, Westport is not included in this initial rollout, as CTDOT is still piloting the technology and evaluating its effectiveness under different state highway conditions before pursuing broader implementation.
“That said, we will continue to advocate for Westport by maintaining strong relationships and ongoing communication with CTDOT.”
Main Street and Myrtle Avenue: 1 of only 2 traffic lights owned and operated by the town.
The commendation cited Emmah for displaying “exceptional situational awareness and keen observation skills (and) swift and decisive action …. (She) acted selflessly and without hesitation. Her calm, courageous response exemplified the highest standards of maritime safety and civic responsibility.”
From left: 1st Selectman Kevin Christie, Police Chief Dave Farrell, Emmah Tait, and her parents Denise and Chris Tait.
Remarkably, this was not the first commendation given to a Tait family member, for a marine rescue.
In November 1970 Doug Tait — Chris’ older brother, and a Long Lots Junior High School 9th grader — rescued 2 men from a boat that caught fire, 2 miles off shore.
A photo of his ceremony mirrors that of Emmah’s, 56 years later.
From left: 1st Selectman John Kemish, Lieutenant Joseph McAleenan, Doug Tait, Doug’s parents Doug Sr. and Elizabeth Tait.
The Staples High School senior has just been named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar.
If that’s not familiar — well, it used to be called the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. It’s one of the most prestigious student awards in the nation.
Nolan — who has worked at Yale University’s Choate Lab, researching a rare skin condition called ichthyosis that can lead to fatal heart disease, and raised funds for research with a long-distance swim last summer — is the first Staples student to earn the honor from Staples’ new science research program.
Nolan is one of the top 300 competitors in the Regeneron program. He was selected from 2,612 students — the largest and most competitive pool since the 1960s.
Staples will receive $2,000, for use toward STEM-related activities.
Forty finalists will be announced January 21. Each receives $25,000, and be eligible for a first-place prize of $250,000.
If Nolan wins, he would be Staples’ second honoree. In 2001, Mariangela Lisanti won what was then called the Siemens Westinghouse Science & Technology Competition (then worth $100,000). She also won the Intel Science Talent Search, earning another $100,000 scholarship.
PS: A bit more about Nolan. He is on Staples’ STEM Journal editorial board, and is vice president of the Science National Honors Society. He’s an AP Scholar with Distinction, founded the current iteration of Staples’ National English Honor Society, has volunteered at Norwalk Hospital’s Catheterization Lab, and was a counselor at Camp Discovery, for children unable to attend mainstream sleepaway camps due to medical conditions.
Nolan also plays violin in the Symphonic Orchestra. He was the first-ever junior captain of the boys swim team. He received the inaugural Junior Leadership Award at the Scholar-Athlete banquet. And he’s been involved with the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Special Olympics swim program since 2018.
Nolan Francis
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A new year begins, and a new chapter unfolds for Sorelle Gallery.
Reacting to shifting trends in the art world — with clients going online more, for support and purchases — the gallery moves on January 27 from Bedford Square to a smaller, by-appointment space at 25 Sylvan Road South.
Charlie Capalbo — a Fairfield Ludlowe High School graduate and ice hockey player whose battle with 4 separate cancers inspired friends, neighbors, the sports world and countless strangers — died 3 years ago. He was 1 month shy of his 24th birthday.
Charlie’s Westport ties were long and deep. His grandmother is the writer/poet/storyteller Ina Chadwick. Her husband, Richard Epstein (Charlie’s grandfather) is a Westport native; his parents moved here in 1958. Charlie’s mother, Jennifer Wilde Capalbo (Ina’s youngest daughter) is a Staples graduate.
The young athlete’s memory lives on. Next Wednesday (January 14, 5:15 p.m., Sacred Heart University), the Staples-Norwalk-Brien McMahon coop hockey team plays the Fairfield Ludlowe-Warde coop squad.
Fairfield has organized it as “Charlie Capalbo Night,” raising awareness of the National Marrow Donor Program, and raising funds for research.
Fairfield’s head coach is a pediatric leukemia survivor. Parents of current players supported Charlie, when he first got sick. Several years later, they continue to step up, as a community and friends.
Charlie Capalbo (Photo/Dave Gunn)
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Neighbors and Newcomers of Westport is gearing up for an exciting year.
Since 1963, the organization has brought together new arrivals and longtime residents for social events.
On the calendar this month: Couples’ Night Out; a sound bath experience at Hummingbird Healing Center, and book and cooking groups. Click here for more information.
And finally … on this date in 1788, Connecticut became the 5th state to ratify the US constitution.
But that’s not why we are officially “The Constitution State.” That refers to the Fundamental Orders, adopted by the Connecticut Colony in 1639. It is considered by some to be the first written constitution in Western history.
So let’s hear it for us, with our official state song:
(“06880” is where Westport — and Connecticut — meet the world. If you enjoy our hyper-local coverage, connecting our town to our state and beyond, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
Longtime Bridge Street resident Werner Liepolt keeps a close eye on the Cribari Bridge project. Today he describes 3 meetings, over the past 2 years.
February 15, 2024
At a meeting of the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, former 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker released Statewide Transportation Improvement Program funds of $4.1 million previously withheld by former 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, to the Connecticut Department of Transportation to start the Cribari Bridge Project.
May 15, 2025
At an “invitational” meeting in the Town Hall Auditorium, CTDOT, with Tooker in attendance, announced they were replacing the bridge with “a preferred option,” one that can accommodate all vehicles.
Invitations were based on the inactive-since-2018 Planning Advisory Committee list of stakeholders. This meeting was neither publicly noticed by Westport’s town clerk nor on the CTDOT Project page for the William F. Cribari Bridge. The few Westporters who learned of it had to request an invitation.
Cribari Bridge (Painting by Werner Liepolt)
December 18, 2025
At another “invitational” meeting held at 6 p.m. in Room 201 of Town Hall, Mandy Ranslow, supervisor, Cultural Resources CTDOT, confirmed their “preferred option” is to demolish the William F. Cribari Bridge. As CTDOT had determined this was an “adverse effect,” they offered to move it wherever the town wanted.
CTDOT officials said that tractor-trailer trucks would not be restricted by structural limits on the preferred option replacement bridge, and that it was up to Westport to deal with it.
Invitations to this meeting were sent to only a few consultants; several did not receive them. Attendance by elected officials depended on forwarded emails and word of mouth.
Curious as to how all this happened without any attempt to inform the public —you — and elicit your views, which is required on federally funded projects that involve nationally registered historic properties (there are 24 on the east bank of the Saugatuck, and more across the river), I researched whether the “invitational” meetings were publicly noticed.
The 1877 Hotchkiss-Wheeler House on Bridge Street is on the National Register …
Questions and answers
Regarding the May 15 meeting, the town clerk replied: “This was not an official meeting of the Town, which is why it does not appear on the Town calendar. It appears that the State simply used the Auditorium to host the event. Any questions regarding the publication or notice of this event should be directed to the State DOT.”
I directed my question to James Barrows, the project manager. and got an answer: “Thank you for your inquiry and for your interest in the State Project 0158-0214.
“To ensure your request is handled efficiently and in compliance with the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), we kindly ask that you submit a formal FOI request through the CTDOT website. This process helps us track, process, and respond to all FOIA requests in a consistent and timely manner.”
Under federal law (Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act), the public must be informed and meaningfully involved before historic resources are evaluated, impacts determined, and alternatives narrowed.
In this case, those steps occurred out of public view. The community is now being presented with an offer of mitigation — a stage that only follows a formal finding of adverse effect — without having had the required opportunity to help identify historic resources, evaluate impacts, or advocate for avoidance and minimization.
… as is the 1932 Anna E. Dolan House. It’s the first one on the right, after crossing the river on the Cribari Bridge from Saugatuck.
Your right to be heard
I have posted a petition, which I will forward to the Federal Highway Administration, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and our Congressional representatives, asking for oversight to ensure that our rights to be heard are honored. Please sign it.
I have also filed the Freedom of Information request as suggested by the CTDOT project manager, asking for all records pertaining to the William F. Cribari Bridge Project.
Next steps
What you should do: Submit written comments to the Federal Highway Administration, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation requesting the complete Section 106 and NEPA administrative records.
Ask how and when the public was consulted prior to the adverse effect finding, and formally request that alternatives and avoidance options be reopened for transparent public review.
Contact all our local elected representatives and the Select Board, with your need to have your voice be heard.
(“06880″‘s Opinion pages are open to all. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com)
Many hoped for a similar response today. Forty years later, the future of the Cribari Bridge is still in doubt.
Larry Weisman is not sure that’s the right reaction.
The longtime attorney and town observer writes:
I think that the enthusiasm for saving the Cribari Bridge — which reached its peak in 1985 — is outdated.
It should be replaced by an effort to improve the safety and efficiency of the bridge, preventing its use by oversized vehicles, and preserving what some value as its aesthetic properties.
That is exactly what the state – which owns the bridge – is trying to do.
Below is a chart that outlines 6 carefully considered alternatives, as well as DOT’s preference among them.
As can be seen, the options in the two righthand columns headed “Replacement”, (one with “Alignment” — the preferred alternative — and the other without), check all the boxes for the thoughtful criteria in the left-hand column.
Click on, hover over or pinch to expand.
If the bridge is replaced in accordance with the preferred alternative, the results would include:
Increased horizontal and vertical clearance, with electrical equipment located above 100 year flood elevation
Safe bicycle and ADA compliant pedestrian passage
Safe guardrails and roadway barriers
Increased clearance when closed, reducing frequency of openings
Compliance with historic criteria
Right and left turn lanes at the Saugatuck end of the bridge.
It seems to me that ConnDOT has done a conscientious job of establishing reasonable and realistic criteria; assessing available alternatives, and the need for structural and operational improvements, and has listened to and taken into account public concerns expressed in earlier forums.
This is not to say that there are not traffic issues on the roads leading to and from the bridge.
But those problems must be addressed separately, and apart from any decision about the bridge itself. The bridge is not the only problem.
The town controls all of the roads that affect bridge traffic, except for Compo Road South (Route 136). The town is in a position to prevent or limit truck traffic on Imperial Avenue and Greens Farms Road. Along with height and weight warnings and alarms, that would go a long way toward effectively addressing the concern about 18-wheelers.
We only have 3 ways to drive across the river. It is imperative that each of them operates safely and efficiently for cars, bicycles and pedestrians.
I believe that the “preferred alternative” shown below in the second column from the right is the best solution. It should be widely supported — even though it would be difficult to synthesize on a t-shirt.
Weston resident Bill Dedman is a Pulitzer- and Peabody Award-winning investigative journalist, and author of the bestselling biography ‘Empty Mansions.” He writes:
Have you or your visitors been confused by the new exit numbers on the Merritt Parkway? Have you noticed the haphazard way that the small “OLD EXIT” number signs vary in placement, from one exit to the next?
As you drive north from the New York line, the first sign for Greenwich at the new Exit 3 (3 miles from the state line), has no smaller sign saying “OLD EXIT 28.”
Exit 4 does have the “OLD EXIT” number on its first sign.
Exit 5 does not.
And so it goes, with “OLD EXIT” markers for a little more than half the first signs for exits between the New York line and Westport.
Exit 42 — er, 21 — does have an “Old Exit” sign 1/2 mile away.
Confusing drivers further, many of the exits have no “OLD EXIT” number at the most important new exit sign: the one where you have to make a go-or-no-go decision to move into the turn lane to make the exit. (Perhaps astonishing other drivers by first putting on your turn signal.)
Yet nearly all the exits do have an “OLD EXIT” number placed right after it’s too late the make the turn — after the exit lane has already split completely from the parkway.
But that sign is often not visible. It’s blocked by the back of the “WRONG WAY” sign placed right next to it, to warn wrong-way drivers.
This sign comes after drivers have already had to make a decision. (Photos/Adrian Mueller)
Most GPS systems have caught up to the new exit numbers. Other systems have not.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation publicized an email address for questions and comments about the new signs: DOT.TrafficEngineering@ct.gov.
So I asked, why not put the small “OLD EXIT” numbers on every new sign? And why do some exits have the “OLD EXIT” on the first sign, when others do not?
I received a kind reply from Tyler Clark, a transportation engineer. He copied senior engineer James Massini and supervising engineer Barry Schilling.
Clark said drivers want fewer signs.
“For the ‘OLD EXIT’ signs, it has been our practice to put one sign at an advance guide sign (1/2 mile or 1 mile type sign) and one sign at the gore (sign at the location where the ramp has split from the mainline),” Clark wrote.
“From our experience, less tends to be more. We have received more complaints about having too many signs, than not enough.”
The “gore” he refers to is an old word for the point at the crotch between the two legs of road and exit ramp. In other words: too late.
The DOT did not say why the signs vary from exit to exit as to whether the first sign has an “OLD EXIT” number.
Nor why the most important sign — the one at the point where drivers have to make a decision — usually does not have that “OLD EXIT” number.
Nor why the only sign that always has the “OLD EXIT” number is the one when it’s already too late to make the turn.
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“Westport should have a uniform idea of what they want then.” If that happens — and the meeting does not devolve into conflicting ideas and accusations — “DOT would certainly work with the town.”
Timing is everything. In the last few days, hearing from concerned residents regarding the bridge, RTM Districts 1, 4 and 9, as the closest districts to the bridge, were planning to have a public meeting to discuss the bridge.
“For the ‘OLD EXIT’ signs, it has been our practice to put one sign at an advance guide sign (1/2 mile or 1 mile type sign) and one sign at the gore (sign at the location where the ramp has split from the mainline),” Clark wrote.