- Connecticut DOT is exploring options for the historic Cribari Bridge in Westport — including giving it away for free if someone can relocate and reuse it.
- The bridge has significant structural issues, and the state is weighing rehabilitation versus full replacement.
- Preservation groups want the bridge to stay put, while officials prepare to collect feedback before making a final decision.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is taking an unconventional approach as it considers the future of Westport’s well‑known William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge: if the state chooses to replace it, the 19th‑century swing bridge could be yours. That’s right: it’s a rare moment when the state says, “We literally have a bridge to sell you — and we’re throwing in a 100% discount!”.
The bridge, at the intersection of Riverside Avenue & Bridge Street (which becomes Greens Farms Road) carries Route 136 over the Saugatuck River and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has long struggled with structural and mechanical problems. CTDOT’s newly released draft environmental assessment lays out the challenges, including limited clearance for vehicles, weight restrictions that keep heavier trucks and buses away, and aging equipment that has caused the bridge to get stuck open more than once.
Why Give the Bridge Away?
According to CTDOT, offering historic bridges to new stewards isn’t unusual. Towns and nonprofits have relocated Connecticut bridges in the past, usually for pedestrian or trail use. If the Cribari Bridge must be replaced, the state would invite interested groups to formally propose how they’d dismantle, transport, and rebuild it — and CTDOT would even help cover moving costs up to what it would have spent on disposal.
Priority would go to proposals that reuse the bridge for transportation purposes, but any qualified group can express interest.
Mixed Reactions in Westport
Not everyone loves the idea of sending the span elsewhere.
Some preservation advocates argue that the bridge’s value is tied to its location and that moving it would strip away key elements of its history. They’ve pushed for ongoing maintenance rather than removal, and express concern that a larger replacement bridge could unintentionally attract more truck traffic through Westport’s streets.
Others acknowledge the state’s challenges and note that if the bridge must be replaced, finding it a new home might be preferable to dismantling it entirely — though they also wonder who would realistically take on such a large and complex project.
Repair or Replace? CTDOT’s Options
The state’s assessment outlines two main choices:
- Rehabilitate the existing bridge
- Estimated cost: $50–55 million
- Extends the bridge’s life by 25–40 years
- Improves clearances, guardrails, and mechanical systems
- Construct a brand‑new bridge in the same location
- Estimated cost: $78–86 million
- Expected lifespan: 75–100 years
- Includes wider travel lanes, better pedestrian and bicycle access, and improved navigation for boats
Building an additional bridge north or south of the current one was dismissed due to extensive property impacts and the fact that the existing bridge would still need repairs. In other words: no matter how you try to “bridge” the gap, the old one still needs attention.
What’s Next
CTDOT is hosting a public hearing on March 19 at Westport Town Hall and is accepting online comments until April 17. State and local leaders say they’re optimistic about finding a solution that enhances safety while respecting the community’s concerns.
As for the possibility of giving the Cribari Bridge away — that remains on the table, but only if the state ultimately opts for a full replacement. Until then, CTDOT is waiting to see whether individuals, towns, or organizations step forward with creative ideas for giving the historic span a new life.
Who knows — perhaps someone will “span” the possibilities and figure out the next steps for the Cribari Bridge.
