WESTPORT — An online public hearing to detail the state’s plans to rehabilitate the railroad bridge over the Saugatuck River is scheduled Oct. 21.
The hearing, hosted by the state Department of Transportation, will take place virtually at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21.
To register to watch, and comment, on the project, click here. The hearing also will be live-streamed on the DOT’s YouTube channel.
The $5 million project, financed entirely by the state, will include replacing several structural parts of the span, such as the access ladders, upper platforms and guy wires on the two catenary towers, according to the DOT’s announcement.
Construction is expected to start in 2025.
Comments and questions from the public also can be submitted during a two-week period following the meeting, ending Monday, Nov. 4, to D.Jay.Young@ct.gov or 860-594-2881.
For those interested in this big state project, it may be important to note (1) its impact on development in the area—in particular the fate of The Hamlet, (2) if the bridge is raised, whether the elevation will allow more and bigger vehicles passing from Norwalk to Westport and vice versa on Rt 136, (3)the town’s pursuit of three $4,000,000 brownfields clean-up grant applications, (4) what short and long-term effects there will be on local car and truck traffic.
This the train bridge
Yes… some tentative plans contained the suggestion that rather than continue the hydraulic lift, the entire bridge could be raised… if that is the case (and I can find no schematics or even statements on the project) then the RT 136 underpass near the RR station could effectively be raised as well accommodating taller trucks.
Also in the DEEP’s response, postponing a decision on the town’s brownfields’ grant requests. a notation was made that what happens to The Hamlet and when it happens is dependent on the railroad bridge replacement.
If you think what happens to the RR bridge doesn’t affect Saugatuck in general and CTDOT’s plans for alleviating the I-95 traffic crush, please rethink it.