WESTPORT — At 140 years old, the William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge is still making headlines.

The historic swing bridge — carrying state Route 136, also known as Bridge Street, across the Saugatuck River  — will be closed for at least one night next week for maintenance by the state Department of Transportation.

The span, which the DOT in 2015 classified as “severely deficient” and in need of extensive repairs or perhaps complete replacement, will be off limits to traffic from 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, to 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, according to the DOT.

“Mechanical repairs” is the reason for the bridge closure, the DOT said, advising that the repair schedule might be extended because of weather conditions or the scope of work may require more time than anticipated.

In the longer term, regional planners recently asked the DOT to add $4.1 million for the final phase of design work to replace or rehabilitate the bridge to the agency’s statewide 2025-28 transportation improvement plan.

After regional planners’ hearings on the Cribari bridge proposal and other projects in southwestern Connecticut earlier this week, the DOT’s draft statewide transportation plan will be available for a 30-day public comment period from May 1-31. 

Public comments must be received by May 31, and can be emailed to DOT.STIPComments@ct.gov, or mailed to Maribeth Wojenski, Bureau of Policy and Planning, Connecticut Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT 06131-7546.