MDOT outlines Oceanville bridge replacement; town faces potential $100,000 share for granite facing

State Department of Transportation engineers told Stonington Selectmen that the Oceanville bridge requires replacement work and that aesthetic granite facing for the approach could cost roughly $200,000, with MDOT offering a municipal agreement that would make the town responsible for about 50 percent of that facing.

MDOT project representatives Andrew Lathe and engineer Jaime French detailed structural concerns including a compromised northern piling and the difficulty of anchoring to bedrock; they said the abutment conditions and glacial till complicate simple replacement. Residents asked whether the metal bridge could be replaced without altering granite facing; MDOT responded that the northern piling condition and soil conditions limit options and that granite facing repair or replacement is feasible but expensive.

MDOT presented options including granite facing that would raise the aesthetic cost and a one-lane bridge with traffic signals as a lower‑impact alternative. The municipal agreement option would allow the town to pay for the granite facing so the state can include it in the construction package.

Why it matters: The Oceanville causeway and bridge are locally visible infrastructure; decisions about materials and municipal participation affect town budgets and shoreline character. The potential town share of granite facing (approximately $100,000 if MDOT's $200,000 estimate is accurate and the municipal agreement requires a 50% match) would likely require a formal appropriation or a specific municipal agreement signed by the board.

What happened next: Selectmen accepted the presentation and agreed to gather community feedback. MDOT planned further engagement with abutters and a follow-up meeting with the Selectmen to refine options and cost-sharing arrangements.

Next steps: The town will evaluate community input and budget implications, consider whether to accept the municipal agreement, and determine whether to seek engineering second opinions as requested by the board.