Residents accept State Grant for Town Bridge

Residents voted at a Special Town Meeting Wednesday to accept a $200,000 state grant to help pay for the "reconstruction" of Town Bridge.

The state Department of Transportation is paying $5.3 million, or 80 percent of the total expected $6.7 million cost of the project, which voters approved at a November 2010 referendum.

Accepting the $200,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant this week brings the town's expected share of the project from approximately $1.3 million down to roughly $1.1 million.

"We're voting tonight to use these monies to defer that local share," First Selectman Richard Barlow said Wednesday.

Residents had similar thoughts on the proposal as they did for accepting a $156,000 STEAP grant for a traffic light at Bridge and Main streets in Collinsville.  

Larry Minichiello was for the project but opposed to accepting the money, stating the town should pay for it.

"I disagree with the funding," he said. "It's going to do nothing but bankrupt future generations."

Lowell Humphrey asked if the project could be in jeopardy due to the slashing of funding for such projects at the federal level.

Chief Administrative Office Robert Skinner said the project is already approved and should be fine.

David Leff spoke to the historical character and charm of the bridge.

"Town Bridge is an icon of this community," the Collinsville resident said. "I think it's essential we do what we can to preserve this bridge."

The bridge dates back to 1895 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

The town will first hire an engineering consultant to do a type study. While the current plan is rehabilitation, the engineers will study the safety, economics and other factors to make sure such a plan is feasible or if replacement may be necessary. If it can be reconstructed, the firm who has the winning bid would also look at whether the bridge can be fixed on site and what precautions may be needed. One concern is the lead paint the structure contains.