State’s Assessment of Saugatuck Bridge Says “Replace the Bridge”; Full Report Forthcoming

Press Release

First Selectman Jim Marpe announced today that Connecticut Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Mark Rolfe has contacted the Selectman’s Office to advise that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is completing the Environmental Assessment (EA) of Bridge No. 01349, a/k/a William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge (Cribari Bridge) and will release the report in mid-March.

Deputy Commissioner Rolfe further indicated that the EA’s conclusion and the DOT’s recommendation is to replace the bridge with a new on-alignment structure which meets Federal Highway Administration standards rather than preserve the existing structure. This recommendation was one of five design alternatives that were developed by the DOT and the Cribari Bridge Project Advisory Committee in May 2019.

Mr. Marpe noted that in October 2020, at his request and given the uncertainty of the State’s plans, the funding for the DOT’s rehabilitation or replacement was removed from the Western Connecticut Council of Government’s (WestCOG) Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Consequently, the DOT’s recommendation will be subject to further review and approval. 

During the discussion, Commissioner Rolfe offered an alternative to replacing the bridge in the form of transferring its ownership from the State of Connecticut to the Town of Westport and re-routing Route 136. This approach would ultimately require the use of Town funds to operate, maintain and repair the bridge.

The Selectman’s Office will make another announcement as soon as the EA Report and Recommendation is finalized and available to the public.