WESTPORT – The small bridge over Deadman Brook on Cross Highway will be replaced in time for the start of the 2026 school year thanks to $2.75 million in local and state funds, according to Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.
In addition to replacing the nearly 100-year-old bridge, the project calls for creating a shoulder and building sidewalks on both sides of Cross Highway. The bridge is in a busy pedestrian and vehicle traffic area with schools and Wakeman Farm Park nearby.
Besides the $1 million state grant from the State Town Economic Assistance Program, or STEAP, and $619,846 from the Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP), the Town of Westport is kicking in $1,130,154 in funds for the bridge project.
The STEAP grant is part of a $30 million tranche going to 46 municipalities this year as part of a plan led by Gov. Ned Lamont and Bysiewicz.
“Partnerships between the State of Connecticut and its municipalities have the power to transform communities throughout Connecticut,” Bysiewicz said during a press conference Thursday in front of the bridge. Gov. Lamont and I know that when we invest in our communities, we invest in better outcomes for everyone.”
Overall, the money given to the municipalities will be leveraged to include a total of $43 million in funding because all the towns have to do a match for the funding they get.
“The funding will make this bridge safer,” said Bysiewicz. “It is coming to the end of its useful life. You need another bridge. And there is no sidewalk right now. When this done there will be a sidewalk.”
Peter Ratiewich, director of public works for the town, explained how the bridge project has been years in the making.
“Four years ago, we envisioned a major project on this corridor because as you can see there is a lot of traffic on Cross Highway,” he said. “It is a connection point for four schools. And a lot of students are pedestrians through this corridor.
“The overall project goes from North Avenue to Mayberry Lane on Cross Highway. This bridge is the bottleneck. You can do sidewalks on either side but it’s not big enough to put a sidewalk (crosswalk) across.”
Ratkiewich emphasized the importance of having a shoulder over the bridge.
“Currently, the bridge has no shoulder at all and no room for a sidewalk,” he said. “When the bridge is done, there will be a should with adequate space for a 5-foot sidewalk. We’re widening by about 7 or 8 feet to accommodate that.”
Also, the stone wall on the bridge will go away, but the stones will be saved and put it back on the new bridge using concept-sensitive design, Ratkiewich said.
The town expects to complete the project in eight weeks after the end of the current school year.
“In short, we’re going to have a company make us really big Lego blocks made of pre-cast concrete and try to excavate out the old bridge, put in the new pieces, and have a road put on,” said town Engineer Keith Wilberg.
The Town of Westport was also represented by Selectwoman Andrea Moore.
