A group of South Norfolk residents met with First Selectman Matt Riiska on Friday, July 19, and presented him with a petition requesting construction of a temporary bridge on either Smith Road or Old Goshen Road, while the town is waiting for the State of Connecticut to start construction of a permanent bridge. Construction is scheduled to begin no sooner than 2026.  The petition, with 30 signatures, outlines the inconvenience and safety issues caused by the lack of a bridge.  The culverts at the end of Old Goshen Road and also of Smith Road were both washed out in flooding that occurred in July of 2023.  

Riiska, acknowledging that there are safety issues involved, agreed to  look further into the question of a temporary bridge as raised in the petition. The group will meet again on Friday, Aug 2  at 10 a.m. at Town Hall.

On July 29, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced that it will hold a meeting to discuss the building of the permanent bridges. The CTDOT press release says  they will “conduct a virtual public information meeting concerning the replacement of Bridge No. 05971 carrying Smith Road over Hall Meadow Brook in Norfolk on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, at 7 p.m.

The virtual public information meeting is being held to provide the public and local community the opportunity to offer comments or ask questions regarding the proposed project. The meeting will take place on Zoom, and registration is required. A question and answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation, which will be recorded. For instructions on accessing the meeting and ways to provide comments and ask questions, please visit https://portal.ct.gov/DOTNorfolk97-102”

To read the entire CTDOT press release, go to https://tinyurl.com/msrp978z