First Selectman Updates Westport's Cribari Bridge Project

WESTPORT, CT — A resolution on the future of Westport's William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge project in Saugatuck remains unknown, according to First Selectman Jim Marpe, who updated the project following further discussions with Deputy Commissioner Mark Rolfe of the state Department of Transportation.

"Upon subsequent communications on February 9, Deputy Commissioner Rolfe indicated that the DOT has not reached any final decision on the five alternatives for the Cribari Bridge under consideration," according to Marpe. "[Rolfe] further indicated that the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) will not be released mid-March, but rather is, at best, a few months away from being released."

Additionally, Marpe and town officials also indicated that the report's conclusion and the DOT's recommendation would likely be to replace the bridge with a new on-alignment structure which meets Federal Highway Administration standards, rather than preserve the existing structure.

"To be clear, the EA for the Cribari Bridge is not complete, nor have any final decisions been made with regard to the recommended alternative," Rolfe said in a statement. "The DOT seeks to continue the dialogue with stakeholders regarding this project. One potential solution is for the DOT to restore the existing bridge to a state of good repair and then transfer ownership of the bridge and a segment of Route 136 to the Town of Westport."

The recommendation was one of five design alternatives that were developed by ConnDOT and the Cribari Bridge Project Advisory Committee in May 2019.

Local efforts to preserve the historic metal bridge have been ongoing for years. The possible alternative to replacing the bridge with a new span would involve the town taking over ownership and maintenance, and the state re-configuring Route 136.

This option remains a possibility, but the town would have to pay to operate, repair and maintain the bridge itself. Currently, state funding for preserving or replacing the bridge was removed from transportation improvement plans.

Marpe's office will continue to make public announcements regarding the Cribari Bridge EA and any subsequent DOT recommendations for the bridge, and he added that any DOT recommendation will be subject to further review and approval.