Cathy Osten

Sen. Osten Applauds State Investment In Local Bridges And Other Statewide Transportation

HARTFORD – State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) said today she is pleased to announce that among the $190 million in Connecticut transportation infrastructure improvements slated to be approved by the State Bond Commission next week is money for bridge repairs in three small towns in eastern Connecticut.

The projects and their repair costs are:
Lebanon, Goshen Hill Road bridge over the Exeter Brook, $412,300
Ledyard, Stoneybrook Road bridge over Billings Avery Brook, $141,140
Lisbon, School House Road bridge over an unnamed brook, $166,916

“The safety of the public traveling over these bridges in these small towns cannot be overstated. The work has to be done, and a lot of towns don’t have the resources to do this work on their own. That’s where the state steps in to help local taxpayers and town officials” Sen. Osten said.

“By the same token,” she added, “Connecticut is investing nearly a fifth of a billion dollars next week in transportation upgrades all across the state. This money helps keep our existing infrastructure in workable condition, but at some point we’re going to have to move beyond that to secure a larger and more reliable revenue stream to make larger, long-term improvements.”

On Tuesday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, the State Bond Commission is poised to approve:

• $69 million to resurface 442 lane-miles of roadway this summer
• $48.9 million for “Fix-it-First,” interstate highway, and state bridge improvements projects
• $30 million in town aid road (TAR) grants to cities and towns for local road projects
• $21.8 million for various local bridge repairs in 19 different cities and towns
• $20 million to upgrade the Cos Cob Bridge in Greenwich, which carries the Metro North Railroad over the Mianus River
• $55 million in grants to cities and towns for various municipal projects
• $20 million for the Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund
• $2.6 million for police body cameras and media storage
• $800,000 for improvements to the state Veterans Cemetery in Middletown