The Coalition for Westport, a political party focused on planning and zoning issues, today criticized First Selectman Jim Marpe’s decision to turn down $40 million in state money for the William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge.
Marpe said on July 11 that he rejected the state Department of Transportation (CDOT) money because he did not want “to establish funding for a project where we might not be able to influence the outcome” of the 1884-built swing bridge currently on the National Register of Historic Places. (See WestportNow July 11, 2017)
Calling his decision “the right thing to do,” he stressed the bridge’s historical, cultural and environmental significance to Westport could be at risk of being lost to major renovations, even replacement. CDOT is deciding whether to replace or rehabilitate the bridge, the oldest surviving movable bridge in Connecticut.
The South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (SWRMPO) is scheduled to vote on the matter at its Thursday, Aug. 17 meeting in Ridgefield.