Cribari Bridge Project In Westport Inches Along With CT DOT Amendment

Information from the Town of Westport:

WESTPORT, CT — The South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (SWRMPO) announced that it has placed an amendment to the FFY 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), as requested by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT), for the right of way and final design phase for the rehabilitation/replacement of the State-owned Bridge No. 01349, a/k/a William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge. The TIP is a dynamic list of all highway and public transit projects proposed to be undertaken utilizing Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration funding during federal fiscal years 2021-2024 within Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

The amendment to the TIP will be considered for endorsement at the SWRMPO meeting on February 15, 2024. The right of way and final design phase for the Cribari Bridge, totaling $4.1 million, is programmed for 2024 and there is no local match.

During the 2017 TIP period (August 2017), the MPO voted to delete the proposed Cribari Bridge rehabilitation/replacement funding for FY 2021/ FY 2022 at the request of then-First Selectman Marpe. At the time, the CTDOT had not begun an Environmental Impact, nor clearly defined how it intended to rehabilitate the bridge. The removal of the Funding approval was delayed until the CTDOT completed a more thorough assessment with consideration of community input and consideration of the Cribari Bridge’s impact on the history of the Saugatuck neighborhood, traffic concerns and design alternatives.

In 2018, CTDOT established a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) to assist the Department in its decision-making process for rehabilitation or replacement of the bridge. The project stakeholders provided perspectives on a variety of issues, including safety, mobility, environmental concerns, and historic considerations. The PAC reviewed several alternatives for rehabilitation, including a no-build option, and provided feedback.

The PAC completed its assignment on May 8, 2019. The CTDOT is continuing coordination with other state and federal agencies as well as various stakeholders to consider specific concerns, such as the various alternatives and impacts on historic properties. The CTDOT was expected to issue its preliminary Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Evaluation (EA/EIE) document in early 2020, but was delayed. Following its publication, which is anticipated to be this Spring, there will be a public hearing and comment period after which CT DOT will make a recommendation of a preferred design alternative. After all public comments have been addressed by CTDOT, the complete document, including public comments received and a record of the responses will be forwarded to the Federal Highway Administration and the State Office of Policy & Management for decision.

The project will explore options that accommodate safe vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian, and marine travel, are resilient to the changing shoreline climate and environmental conditions, and consider the historic nature of the bridge. We await a conclusion which responds to all public feedback provided to date and will be provided at upcoming public meetings through the EA/EIE process.

The public meetings associated with the next phase of the Project, presenting of the draft EA/EIE, and finalizing the draft, will be shared widely via press releases. There is no specific timeline available at this moment.

First Selectwoman Tooker stated, “We will provide commentary on the Cribari Bridge as a part of the TIP public involvement procedures. I will remind the WestCOG and the CT DOT that we anticipate a thorough draft EA/EIE with recommendations that address all of the concerns and positions shared by the key stakeholders who participated in the PAC meetings. My staff and I will follow the TIP closely and continue to stay abreast of the environmental findings for the Cribari Bridge rehabilitation or replacement options. I remain committed to keeping the residents and businesses of Westport informed in a timely manner about this very important project.”