MDOT warns Oceanville bridge has compromised piling; granite facing may cost town about $100,000

State Department of Transportation engineers briefed the Stonington Selectmen on options for the Oceanville bridge, telling the board the northern piling sits on glacial till rather than bedrock and is therefore structurally compromised, which limits simple resurfacing options.

MDOT engineer Andrew Lathe told the board that several replacement options exist but that the granite facing that preserves the historic look would add significant cost. According to materials shared with the board, MDOT’s estimate for redoing the granite facing is roughly $200,000; under a municipal agreement the town would be responsible for about half of that cost (approximately $100,000). The engineers also discussed an alternative single‑lane configuration with traffic signaling as a lower‑impact option.

Why it matters: The Oceanville crossing is a local access point to coastal properties and fisheries infrastructure. Selectmen said they will solicit community feedback on aesthetics, cost sharing and traffic impacts before committing the town to any municipal agreement.

What happened next: MDOT offered to continue abutter meetings and to meet on site; the Selectmen agreed to review community input and the engineering materials and explore options before any formal municipal commitment.

Speakers and attribution in this article come from MDOT presenters and town meeting minutes in the record.