MDOT briefs Stonington officials on Oceanville bridge options; town faces cost choice on granite facing

MDOT representatives visited Stonington to present engineering findings and options for the Oceanville bridge replacement, telling the Selectmen that one abutment sits on glacial till rather than bedrock and that the northern piling is compromised.

At the July 11 meeting, Andrew Lathe and engineering partner Jaime French explained why a simple metal-in-place replacement would not address foundation concerns and why granite-facing aesthetics and slope issues add complexity and cost. The minutes record engineers estimating roughly $200,000 for granite facing and offering the option of a municipal agreement under which the town could pay 50 percent (about $100,000) to preserve granite aesthetics.

Members of the public asked if concrete solutions or one-lane bridge options with signals could reduce costs; MDOT explained trade-offs and structural constraints tied to the pile and soil conditions. Selectmen thanked MDOT and said they would solicit community feedback and consider engineering alternatives, including additional independent advice if warranted.

The minutes show the board requested MDOT coordinate abutter meetings and indicated they might review municipal agreement terms should the cost-sharing option be offered.

No financial commitment or contract was recorded in the minutes; the discussion was recorded as an informational presentation and planning step.

The board noted the need to balance preservation of the historic granite facing with fiscal constraints and the realities of current geotechnical conditions.