The Army Corps of Engineers has given finally its imprimatur to the town’s plan to construct a temporary bridge on Smith Road. Approval has been sought since last summer.
“Now it is up to DEEP to approve it,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska. “I have been on the phone with our engineer, and I sent an email to DEEP to let them know we are prepared to move forward.”
Still, he was uncertain when he might get a green light from the state. “The point that I push with all these people is that the permanent replacement for the bridge won’t be done for two years. I just want to build this temporary bridge so the people on Smith and Old Goshen Roads can have some comfort.”
The Old Goshen and Smith Road bridges were swept away by a flash flood in July 2023.