What’s Next for Westport CT’s Cribari Bridge and Its Future

The following piece updates readers on the fate of the William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge in Westport, Connecticut. It covers the state Department of Transportation’s push to replace the aging span, the lack of relocation offers, and concerns raised by residents and local officials.

It also puts the Cribari Bridge decision in the bigger picture of historic preservation, state funding, and traffic planning along the Connecticut coastline.

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DOT’s plan and current status

The Connecticut Department of Transportation asked for proposals to move, reassemble, restore, and maintain the 142-year-old Cribari Memorial Bridge. This bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits near Route 136 in Westport.

The agency even said it would chip in funds equal to the bridge’s disposal cost if someone could reuse the structure for a transportation-related project. But, according to DOT spokesperson Eva Zymaris, nobody sent in a letter of interest by the deadline.

Without a bidder to relocate the bridge, DOT still prefers full replacement. The cost for a new span sits between $78 million and $86 million, which seems pretty steep but reflects the headaches of meeting modern standards and fixing the bridge’s issues.

If nobody steps up with a reuse plan, the department says it’ll have to remove the bridge to follow state and federal rules.

What happens next if replacement proceeds

If the project goes forward without a reuse option, the Cribari Bridge gets demolished. Federal rules say you have to offer historic bridges for reuse before tearing them down.

The state mentions other Connecticut bridges that found new life supporting recreation trails. Still, every project has its own set of obstacles, and it’s rarely simple.

Community concerns and local response

Westport residents have plenty of questions about what a heavier, longer bridge might mean for their town. Local officials are stuck trying to balance safety, traffic, and the desire to save a historic structure.

First Selectman Kevin Christie set up a Cribari Bridge Advisory Committee to gather feedback from residents, business owners, and regional planners. This group looks at the social and economic impact of replacing the bridge, and tries to find any reuse options that might spare the town from extra congestion or weird detours.

The DOT admits that moving the bridge would need careful planning to meet all the rules and still keep its historic character. Preservation experts say hauling a 287-foot-long, 26-foot-wide bridge and keeping it intact is a huge challenge, maybe even a dealbreaker for some reuse ideas.

Historic preservation considerations and relocation feasibility

Federal guidelines say you have to offer historic bridges for reuse before demolition. The idea is to encourage creative repurposing, not just throw them away.

Connecticut has pulled off bridge relocations before, but it depends on engineering, funding, and whether the new site fits the bridge’s size and style. The Cribari Bridge really shows the tension between local history and the practical headaches of modern traffic and infrastructure.

Connecticut towns touched by the Cribari Bridge story

Westport
Norwalk
Stamford
Fairfield
Darien
Greenwich
New Canaan
Wilton
Bridgeport

People in these communities—regional planners, residents, and local officials—are watching the Cribari Bridge decision closely. They wonder how it might affect future bridge projects along the Connecticut coast.

The outcome will shape Route 136’s traffic and could shift how the state balances historic preservation with modern transportation needs. Cities like Norwalk, Stamford, and Bridgeport all have a stake in this, as do inland towns such as New Canaan and Wilton.

CT DOT moves forward, considering replacement, reuse, or maybe some mix of both. The Cribari Bridge story really highlights how Connecticut weighs its historic infrastructure against the need for safe, reliable routes for today’s drivers.

Local leaders keep pushing for transparency and real community input. They want practical choices as the state faces funding challenges, regulations, and the everyday reality of keeping a busy transportation network running for towns from Westport to Greenwich—and honestly, probably a few more.

Here is the source article for this story: Nobody wants this Connecticut bridge. What happens to it next?

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