By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — Call it a spandemic?

Another local bridge project has been delayed by an array of issues, some of which might be caused by supply-chain and workforce issues.

The span carrying Cavalry Road over the west branch of the Saugatuck River between Westport and Weston — barricaded with detour signs in place — is now unlikely to reopen before early spring, according to Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich.

On Dec. 10, Westport officials posted a notice warning people of the construction delays. 

It’s another recent instance when a local bridge replacement became bogged down. 

The Kings Highway North bridge replacement, between Canal and Main streets, took 13 months, far longer than the one-season schedule originally envisioned. 

While Cavalry Road is in a more remote area of town, the Kings Highway crossing closure was a lot more noticeable to anyone heading to or from the north end of the downtown/Main Street area.

But both spans have one thing in common, Ratkiewich said — numerous utility conduits that need to be redirected, which is outside the control of any municipality. They usually include telecommunications, sewer pipes and water lines.

Ratkiewich said many people assume delays with contractors are caused by currently widespread workforce and supply issues, which do play a role. 

But, he added, the real difficulty is coordinating without outside bureaucracies, mainly utilities. 

Because the Cavalry Road span is a border bridge, the state had to designate one municipality to run the project. In this case it chose Weston, Ratkiewich said. 

The federal government will cover up to 80 percent of the $2.5 million cost. But even though Westport isn’t running the project, it’s footing 74 percent of local expenses, compared to Weston’s 26 percent, because of Westport’s heftier grand list and the state’s funding formula.

“We were a silent partner, but we’re not so silent anymore,” Ratkiewich said of the delays. 

“We’re just a bystander, but we’ve made it very clear to Weston we want to be involved and assist,” he said of informational meetings on the project and the like.

“It does cost us money and, more importantly, inconvenience to our residents,” Ratkiewich said.

Weston Public Works Director John Conte did not respond to a request for comment.

This time of year, Mother Nature will be calling the shots.

“It’s a big variable,” he said of winter conditions. “If we have a nice warm January, we can we can get a lot of concrete done.

But “a winter blast? No concrete.”