RTM Passes Valley Road Bridge Rehab Agreement

The RTM moved Monday to take the first step in rehabilitating the Valley Road Bridge over Horse Tavern Brook -- bridge that has been rated by the state as "poor."

The bridge has been identified as a priority by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and has been included in the Federal Local Bridge Program, meaning the costs of the project are eligible to be reimbursed at 80 percent by the state.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $1.6 million. After Fairfield is reimbursed, the local share of the cost will be around $368,000, according to Public Works Director Rich White.

Presented to the RTM was an agreement between Fairfield and the state for the first phase of the project, which covers the development of engineering plans and will cost about $185,000.

RTM member Ellen Jacob, R-9, voiced concern over the number of bridges that have appeared before the RTM recently.

"This is the third bridge we've seen this year. It's a lot of bridges," she said, referring funding requests for the Merritt Street and Harbor Road bridges.

She reminded the rest of the town body that "we will pay the bills...until we get reimbursed" and pointed out a phrase she found "troubling" in the agreement -- that the state can terminate the agreement at any time without breaching the contract.

"That doesn't sound like a good deal for us," Jacob said.

White said that these types of agreements always favor the grantor -- in this case, the state -- and that the Department of Transportation has not reneged on a contract in his experience working with them on bridge projects.

"If we don't sign, we don't get reimbursed," White said.

He urged the RTM to act on the agreement Monday, considering that the bridge was downgraded to "poor" condition in 2009 and has recently become a priority of the state, making it eligible for reimbursement.

"From my experience and knowledge, once they reach 'poor,' we need to move on designs to replace it...I do want to convey that when it gets to this point, there is a sense of urgency."

He added that noted detiorations of the bridge -- problems with the deck, scouring -- were causes of concern for both the state and Fairfield's public works department.

"It's money we're going to have to spend one way or the other," First Selectman Michael Tetreau said. "We don't want anyone getting killed if it were to come down."

Nick Mirabile, R-9, agreed.

"If the state came in and graded the bridge as poor, and is going to pay 80 percent of the tab, we need to move on it.  I'm concerned with the safety issues."

The RTM passed the agreement; Jacobs and Gaylord Meyer, R-1, opposed.

Two more agreements will have to come before the RTM before completion of the rehabilitation project, including a construction agreement.