By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The Board of Finance on Wednesday approved money to design a new bridge to carry Cross Highway over Deadman Brook.

The existing stone structure just west of Wakeman Farm Drive is in bad shape, Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich told the board. The $121,000 appropriation, which passed unanimously, will pay for final design and construction plans.

“Upon doing the structural inspection of the bridge, we found severe deficiencies in the bridge,” he said. “It’s due to what we call scour. That is when you have a storm like we have now and there is a lot of water coming down the stream, and it’s more water than can be passed underneath the bridge in the current opening.”

“Water starts to go up and overtop the bridge, which creates more pressure for the water going through, and when there’s no bottom on the structure, it starts to dig out the soil underneath the structure,” Ratkiewich said. “That also goes under the abutments and starts to undermine the abutments. Because these abutments were done back the 1900s, they were not dug into the streambed deep enough to prevent scour.”

He said a second major problem is the stone parapets.

“The walls that come up from the side of the bridge have been hit so many times that they’re actually disconnected from the bridge …,” he said. “Even though they look stable, if a car hit them right now there’s a possibility the whole parapet would fall over and the car would go off the bridge.”

He said a hydraulic study of the bridge found it to be inadequate. The new design would carry more water under the road by adding a new cell.

“During high storm events, the water will not overtop the bridge, during a hundred-year flood,” he said.

Ratkiewich said a separate pedestrian bridge had been considered, but won’t happen. The new span will be designed for cars and people. That means the new span will be about 6 feet wider and will have other safety improvements.

Member Jeff Hammer asked about the other stream crossings around town. Ratkiewich provided a rundown, acknowledging there are efforts to look at preserving some of the old spans.

As for Cross Highway, he said public safety would trump preservation.

“The ones that will be coming before you in due time, I’m not going to say shortly, will be Greens Farms, Long Lots and then probably Jesup Road going up to the police station,” Ratkiewich said.

Member Danielle Dobin asked about the design for the Cross Highway span, noting that hundred-year storms seem to happen much more frequently.

“I just wanted to ensure that the design will take into account that there’s just a lot more water all the time,” she said. “That we don’t end up with a similar scour issue in the future. I’d rather over-correct for a future involving a lot more water.”

Dobin also asked about the construction timing, and how the project fit into the overall look at traffic issues in that corridor.

Ratkiewich gave a summary of plans so far. He said replacing the bridge is set for June to September 2025 because Cross Highway will have to be closed and traffic detoured. That can’t happen during the school year.

Elevators into the abyss

The Board of Finance also approved another Department Public Works request for upgrades costing far more money, but not likely to be so visible to the public.

An appropriation of $440,000 passed unanimously to replace two maintenance elevators at the sewage pump stations on Greens Farms Road and Compo Road South.

The lifts are unenclosed and used by workers to go 20 feet up and down shafts at the pump stations, and to haul equipment.

“If you’re carrying something heavy, it can be very dangerous,” Ratkiewich said their utility.

“They’ve been there for 49 years, since 1975,” Ratkiewich said. “They’re very critical to the maintenance of the pump stations.”

The company that made the original lifts, Gillespie Corp. of Ware, Mass., remains in business and still manufactures an updated model of the version Westport still uses, with similar specifications.

That’s good news, Ratkiewich noted, because other products likely would have required re-engineering the pump stations, costing much more.

“It does speak a lot to the company and the product, that they lasted almost 50 years,” Ratkiewich noted. “And also, that they’re still in business.”

“I guess there’s probably not a lot of competition in the sewer elevator business,” he said, getting chuckles from those at the meeting.

The cost, Ratkiewich said, would funded through user fees, not the taxpayers at large.

“Very exciting,” board Chairman Lee Caney said. “Maybe it’s like when you go to Tiffany’s and they announce each floor that you go down?”

“We could give you a tour,” Ratkiewich offered.

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 36 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.