The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced a total of $16.8 million in grants for reconstruction of local bridges.

By Ronni Newton

A bridge in a West Hartford neighborhood is slated for reconstruction and will be funded through the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) State Local Bridge Program, Gov. Ned Lamont and Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto announced Wednesday.

A total of $16.8 million in grants was announced through the program, to support the reconstruction of 13 bridges in 11 towns and cities throughout the state – including an investment of $978,075 to reconstruct the bridge carrying Old Brook Road over Mountain Farms Brook.

Town Manager Rick Ledwith said Mountain Farms Brook, which passes under Old Brook in a quiet residential neighborhood just off Mountain Road and Albany Avenue, is really more of a culvert. The fact that the roadway includes a bridge wasn’t obvious until the concrete abutment on one side recently failed.

The town installed metal guardrails for safety, and Ledwith said he was hopeful that the grant would be approved for the reconstruction work.

Because the grant was just announced, there is not yet a timeframe established for the project, Ledwith said.

“The safety of our local infrastructure is vital for our communities, but its cost can be challenging for municipalities to meet, making this state support hugely beneficial,” state Sen. Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), said in a statement. “I’m grateful to Governor Lamont and state leaders for their commitment to our state and our communities.”

The State Local Bridge Program, established in 1984, supports town and cities with the costs of upgrading and maintaining 4,200 bridges and culverts statewide. The state has made a total of approximately $180 million in grant investments in the past decade to supporting the reconstruction of bridges through this program. According to an announcement from the governor’s office, the program is a cost-matching grant, providing 50% of the project costs. Design and construction is managed by the cities or towns, with CTDOT overseeing project milestones and providing guidance.

“Whether it’s kids going to school, people heading to work, or traveling to visit friends and family, every community depends on bridges that are safe and built to last,” Lamont said in a statement. “This grant program provides significant relief to our towns and cities, helping them tackle costly infrastructure projects they couldn’t take on alone.”

“By partnering with our cities and towns, we are helping move these projects from planning to construction while making travel safer and more reliable for everyone,” said Eucalitto. “Thank you to Governor Lamont and General Assembly for continuing to provide funding for this important state grant program.”

The complete list of grants announced in the latest round of the State Local Bridge Program are:

• Burlington: Replace Bridge #020003, Alto Road over unnamed brook ($636,750)
• Fairfield: Replace Bridge #050020, Old Field Road over Pine Creek ($2,985,089)
• Harwinton: Replace Bridge #065005, Gale Road over unnamed stream ($600,750)
• Harwinton: Replace Bridge #065011, Birch Hill Road over Pickett Brook ($600,750)
• New Canaan: Replace Bridge #089025, Lakeview Avenue over unnamed stream ($1,142,750)
• New Milford: Rehabilitate Bridge #05312, Boardman Road over Housatonic River ($2,656,875)
• Southbury: Replace Bridge #130010, New Road over Spruce Brook ($535,000)
• Stamford: Rehabilitate Bridge #04065, West Broad Street over Rippowam River ($3,731,250)
• Stonington: Replace Bridge #137009, Collins Road over Cattle Path ($770,000)
• Suffield: Replace Bridge #139006, Hickory Road over Fourmile Brook ($778,179)
• Suffield: Replace Bridge #139009, Copper Hill Road over unnamed stream ($841,929)
• West Hartford: Replace Bridge #155014, Old Brook Road over Mountain Farms Brook ($978,075)
• Winchester: Replace Bridge #162008, Newfield Road over Fox Brook ($612,500)

Fern Street Bridge. April 2026. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

Many West Hartford residents are still awaiting the reconstruction of the Fern Street Bridge, now expected to get underway this fall. The design work for that bridge has been completed and a bid was awarded, but the most recent delay is due to the need for the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) to replace a 42-inch water main – a project for which the MDC has now received funding.

That main also can’t be taken out of service during the summer – June, July, and August – which has delayed the overall project.

The Fern Street Bridge work is being funded through a different program, a Capital Region Council of Government’s LOTCIP grant.

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