Residents interested in the $2.23 million bridge replacement project on Carter Hill Road slated to begin next year can learn more about the project and anticipated road closures at a Monday, March 4 public meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Rose Room of the Town Hall.

According to the town website www.clintonct.org, the Carter Hill Road bridge that spans the Menunketesuck River was built in the 1930s. In recent years, the structure has dealt with repeated flooding over several years. An inspection report showed that the bridge needed to be replaced. The bridge is inspected every two years by the state Department of Transportation (DOT).

A DOT report from 2016 noted that the 23-foot-long bridge had a rating of overall rating indicting a “fair” condition. However, the same report also noted that the substructure of the bridge was rated as “poor” and that several cracks were present in the structure.

“The bridge was eligible for the Federal Bridge Grant program,” said First Selectman Christine Goupil. “After a lengthy application process, the town was awarded a federal grant to cover 80 percent of the cost to replace the bridge. By accepting the grant, the town agreed to a timeline that will result in a new bridge being constructed in the year 2020-’21.

“The town included monies in the last bonding program to cover the design and engineering costs for this project,” Goupil continued. “The monies for the construction will be included in a future bonding request to be presented to the town for consideration.”

According to the town website, “The town is permitted under the grant program to address design considerations to allow the town to make the bridge blend in with the surrounding area. This will include natural stone details to match as best we can the existing bridge”

At a similar public hearing held in September 2018 for upcoming work on the Kelseytown Road Bridge, attendees were given information including the history of the project, the estimated timeline for the project, and estimated road closures that will result due to construction.

Goupil said that during construction, Carter Hill Road would be closed to all traffic in order to facilitate the construction. Other changes necessitated by the change will be communicated to the public at a later time.

The project is currently budgeted at $2.23 million with the federal bridge grant paying an estimated $1,784,000 and the town’s portion an estimated $446,000.