Council approves application for $4.11 million federal grant to rehabilitate East Albert Street Bridge
June 29, 2026 | Torrington, Northwest Hills County, Connecticut
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Torrington — At a special meeting on June 29, 2026, the Torrington City Council voted to approve Resolution 143-303, authorizing the mayor to apply for a Fiscal Year 2026 Bridge Investment Program planning and bridge projects grant of $4,111,200 and to commit a 20% local match in the city’s capital budget for FY28.
City staff told the council the East Albert Street Bridge is the city’s worst bridge in its inventory and that consultants BHB warned the city is "in a race against time" to rehabilitate it before deferred deterioration makes the work far more expensive. "This bridge is our worst bridge in our inventory," Jason said, explaining the capital improvement plan currently includes $1.8 million allocated for rehabilitation in 2027 and that a minimal self‑funded rehabilitation would still be roughly $3.5 million.
William Wallock clarified the grant timeline, noting the FY26 federal award likely would not be allocated until around March 2027 and that, if awarded, the city would budget for the capital project in FY28. He said several months typically pass between award and federal contract execution.
The grant requires a 20% local match (approximately $1,027,800). Jason said staff were pursuing state Department of Transportation funding to help cover the match and that the city’s goal is to avoid using city funds for the full local share, though he emphasized that was not guaranteed.
When asked whether the bridge could remain safe in the interim, staff said shoring work done in 2023 and 2025 has kept the bridge in service but warned of a potential "point of no return" — staff estimated that if the project is delayed much longer it could evolve into a substantially larger project by about 2030.
The mayor called the question; Councilwoman Rouette, participating by Zoom, confirmed her affirmative vote and the mayor stated no one opposed the resolution. The transcript records the resolution as approved without further recorded opposition.
Next steps: staff will pursue the federal application and continue discussions with Connecticut Department of Transportation about potential state match funding; the city will include the 20% local match in the FY28 capital budget if the grant is awarded.
City staff told the council the East Albert Street Bridge is the city’s worst bridge in its inventory and that consultants BHB warned the city is "in a race against time" to rehabilitate it before deferred deterioration makes the work far more expensive. "This bridge is our worst bridge in our inventory," Jason said, explaining the capital improvement plan currently includes $1.8 million allocated for rehabilitation in 2027 and that a minimal self‑funded rehabilitation would still be roughly $3.5 million.
William Wallock clarified the grant timeline, noting the FY26 federal award likely would not be allocated until around March 2027 and that, if awarded, the city would budget for the capital project in FY28. He said several months typically pass between award and federal contract execution.
The grant requires a 20% local match (approximately $1,027,800). Jason said staff were pursuing state Department of Transportation funding to help cover the match and that the city’s goal is to avoid using city funds for the full local share, though he emphasized that was not guaranteed.
When asked whether the bridge could remain safe in the interim, staff said shoring work done in 2023 and 2025 has kept the bridge in service but warned of a potential "point of no return" — staff estimated that if the project is delayed much longer it could evolve into a substantially larger project by about 2030.
The mayor called the question; Councilwoman Rouette, participating by Zoom, confirmed her affirmative vote and the mayor stated no one opposed the resolution. The transcript records the resolution as approved without further recorded opposition.
Next steps: staff will pursue the federal application and continue discussions with Connecticut Department of Transportation about potential state match funding; the city will include the 20% local match in the FY28 capital budget if the grant is awarded.
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