Cribari Bridge: 833 public comments—and a November 12 update meeting

Dear supporters,

CTDOT has announced a Cribari Bridge project update meeting for Thursday, November 12, from 7 to 8 p.m., in the Westport Town Hall auditorium.

According to the announcement from CTDOT’s Barrows, 833 comments were submitted during the environmental review’s public comment period. That level of participation underscores how much this bridge and its future matter to our community. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate.

CTDOT says the meeting will provide an update on responses to those comments, progress in the environmental review, and upcoming steps and anticipated timelines.

Our petition’s request for meaningful federal oversight remains important. The next measure of progress is how clearly and thoroughly substantive concerns are answered.

Among the questions requiring documented answers are:

• Whether a replacement bridge would attract additional heavy-truck traffic through Saugatuck—and what that would mean for pedestrian safety, noise, vibration, and air quality.

• How the review will account for effects on the Bridge Street Historic District and nearby residents, including those at The Saugatuck senior cooperative.

• How preservation and rehabilitation alternatives have been evaluated, and what documentation establishes ownership of the existing bridge.

• What opportunities remain for public and consulting-party participation before decisions advance.

I welcome CTDOT’s commitment to providing an update. This meeting is an opportunity to learn what has been resolved, what remains under review, and how the public’s concerns will inform the decisions ahead.

Please consider attending on November 12. Our shared goal remains a thorough, transparent review that protects public safety, our historic resources, and the neighborhood’s quality of life.

Thank you for your continued interest and support.

Werner Liepolt