By Ken Valenti

WESTPORT–Community members interested in serving on First Selectman Kevin Christie’s Cribari Bridge Advisory Committee are invited to apply by contacting his office.

Christie announced last week that he would form the committee to support the town’s position as the Connecticut Department of Transportation decides whether to replace or rehabilitate the 142-year-old span over the Saugatuck River. In response to an inquiry from the Westport Journal, the first selectman said those interested in serving on the committee could reach out.

Reach the First Selectman’s office at (203) 341-1111 or through the contact page here. Applicants may share any expertise that would be useful in the discussions plus a resume if it includes applicable experience.

“The goal is to bring together a group with relevant expertise and perspectives so that the Town’s input is fact-based, well-informed and reflective of community priorities,” Christie said in an email.

The committee will make recommendations to Christie and “will be a focused group, with the exact size still being finalized,” he said. He did not have a timeline for forming the panel, but said “additional details will be shared as they become available.”

The DOT considers the historic bridge to be functionally and structurally deficient.

Many in town want the bridge to be preserved. While others object less to a new bridge carrying Connecticut Route 136 – Bridge Street – over the Saugatuck River, community discussions have shown a strong preference for keeping tractor-trailer trucks off the span.

The DOT continues to take public input on the project through Friday.

Comments can be submitted online at the DOT comment portal, by email to James.Barrows@ct.gov, or by mail to ATTN: James Barrows, P.O. Box 317546, Newington CT 06131-7546. Reference Project No. 0158-0214.

The Cribari Bridge Advisory Committee will make recommendations to Christie, helping to hone the town’s input in the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s plans to either rehabilitate or replace the 142-year-old bridge.

“The Advisory Committee will bring together technical expertise and community perspectives to help keep Westport’s input grounded in facts and reflective of community priorities,” Christie said in a release. “It will evaluate options for the bridge, including structural and design considerations, in the context of community impact, funding implications, and long-term maintenance responsibilities.”

Ken Valenti

^{_{A career journalist and lifelong resident of the New York City region, Ken Valenti has enjoyed decades of reporting local, regional and national news in New York and Connecticut. Topics of special interest are development, the environment, Long Island Sound and transportation. When not reporting, he’s always on the lookout for the perfect coffee shop or used book sale.}}