By John H. Palmer

WESTPORT — Two of the town’s older bridges are slated for replacement.

The projects, approved by the Representative Town Meeting last week, include new bridges on Cross Highway spanning Deadman Brook and at Old Road crossing Sasco Creek. Both resolutions passed unanimously by a vote of 33-0, with no public comments.

The Cross Highway bridge is part of the town’s reconstruction project of the accident-prone corridor. The area has been the site of more than 20 vehicle accidents between North Avenue and Bayberry Lane in the last three years, according to town officials. 

In addition, the existing span with stone parapets is only 25 feet wide and does not allow space for construction of sidewalks on the busy two-lane street. Pedestrians are forced to use the edge of travel lanes to cross. 

The bridge, built in 1930, has been rated as “substandard” by the state’s Department of Transportation, and has a remaining life span of only 15 years. 

Construction work, estimated to cost $2 million, will take place this summer on a semi-accelerated schedule that will allow it to be reopened before the new school year starts, as the bridge is located close to four schools and athletic fields.

The RTM also approved a $5.57 million appropriation for design and construction expenses to replace the ailing Old Road bridge over Sasco Creek on the town’s border with Fairfield.

The 60-year-old bridge was built in 1965 and its deck rehabilitated in 2002.

The state has called this bridge structurally deficient. In addition, water flow has scoured the abutments over time, undermining the concrete supports that hold the bridge in place.

Town Engineer Keith Wilberg told the RTM that construction is scheduled to begin this spring, and ultimately will cost the town nothing because of a program called “Designed Managed by State,” which under new guidelines reimburses municipalities 100 percent of approved project costs. Previously, the expense was split with 80 percent of overall costs financed by federal/state funds and towns paying the remaining 20 percent. In this case, Westport and Fairfield initially would have shared that remaining 20 percent, with Westport paying about 7 percent of the total and Fairfield 13 percent.

Since Westport is taking the lead role in planning the new span, the town’s $5.57 million appropriation will cover the project costs and, in turn, the town will be completely reimbursed, Wilberg said.

“The project authorization letter is pending and expected soon to be fully approved,” he said. “The state pays us back and we have no payment sharing with Fairfield.”

The existing bridge does not line up properly with the roads it supports, and the new design improves that configuration. Further, the new bridge will be 8 feet wider, 14 feet longer and 8 inches taller, which will help improve water flow during storms.

John Palmer, a Norwalk native, is a freelance writer who has covered community news in Fairfield County and Massachusetts for over 30 years.