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Cribari Bridge: Please Show Up November 12—Before Decisions Harden
CTDOT’s next public meeting on the Cribari Bridge project is Thursday, November 12, from 7–8 p.m., at the Westport Town Hall auditorium.
Please attend. Your presence matters—even if you do not speak.
There is reason for concern. CTDOT describes this as a “project update” meeting, with time for questions at the end, rather than extensive public input. Meanwhile, consulting parties are being asked to propose measures to mitigate the harm from replacing the historic bridge.
Preservation Connecticut has relayed a November 13 deadline for mitigation suggestions—the day after the public meeting. CTDOT has also indicated that a separate Section 106 stakeholder meeting is planned for mid-December. Residents deserve a clear explanation of how these deadlines fit together and what decisions remain open.
Mitigation means addressing the harm a project would cause. It does not answer the prior question: Has CTDOT adequately demonstrated that replacing this historic bridge is necessary, and that rehabilitation cannot reasonably meet the community’s needs?
Our petition asks for meaningful federal oversight. That remains essential. Before decisions harden, we need clear answers:
• What changes in heavy-truck traffic could result, and how would they affect safety, noise, vibration, and air quality?
• How would each alternative protect pedestrians, cyclists, and the Bridge Street Historic District?
• Which design requirements are mandatory, which allow exceptions, and which reflect CTDOT’s preferences?
• What documentation establishes ownership of the bridge, and how does ownership affect the project?
• How have the 833 public comments influenced the alternatives—and what can public participation still change?
Offering mitigation ideas does not mean accepting replacement. Residents can insist on measures to protect their neighborhood while continuing to question whether the proposed harm should occur at all.
This bridge is part of a living community. Its future deserves more than an update on a course already chosen.
Please join us November 12. Come prepared to demonstrate that Westport expects its concerns to shape the outcome.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
7–8 p.m.
Westport Town Hall auditorium
ALSO-Late breaking! While First Selectman Christie still has not formed the committee he promised in April, Westport’s RTM has decided to act… Agenda: To discuss the establishment of a working group or subcommittee to review the proposed Cribari Bridge project, identify key areas of concern, including traffic, public safety, and community impacts, and discuss the RTM’s potential role, organizational structure, and next steps.
Instructions to attend:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84478400542?pwd=V6I1IUteH6ob7rA1VnD2X7eIQsql1O.1
Phone: +13092053325,,84478400542# US
Meeting ID: 844 7840 0542
Passcode: 803334
Please share this update with others who care about the bridge and Saugatuck’s future.