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Planning Board OKs supplemental funding increases for two bridge projects
Summary
The Stamford Planning Board approved two separate supplemental capital appropriations on March 11: a $57,800 increase for design of Old Long Ridge Road Bridge and roughly $404,142.50 for construction of Wire Mill Road Bridge, both tied to state or federal grants and described as grant-driven bid adjustments.
The Stamford Planning Board on March 11 approved two supplemental capital appropriations to advance bridge work the city says is tied to competitive grants and updated bid results.
City engineer Lou Casillo told the board the Old Long Ridge Road Bridge design authorization initially set at $140,000 will increase by $57,800 to $197,800 after consultant RFPs returned higher prices. “It was 197,800,” Casillo said, and described the project as funded through a 50/50 state-local bridge grant; he said the city’s additional share for the increase is $28,900. Casillo said the state provided a conditional commitment and expects substantial design activity by July 2025 but that the municipality can request schedule extensions if needed.
On Wire Mill Road Bridge, Casillo said the construction-phase authorization must rise by about $404,142.50 above a prior $2,200,000 authorization because the low-bid amount exceeded the previous estimate. He told the board the project is supported by a federal grant (described in the meeting as 80% federal/20% state reimbursement) and that a pre-construction meeting and notice-to-proceed are imminent.
Board members asked procedural questions about grant amendments, schedule risk, and detour dependencies. Casillo said the state’s program typically allows amendments when bids exceed the grant-derived estimate and noted the Wire Mill work depends on completion of a nearby detour route (Cedar Heights Road). He also noted the city uses contractual protections such as liquidated damages when multiple contracts are interdependent.
Chet Sallet moved to approve the Old Long Ridge Road design increase; Jay Tepper seconded and the board approved the measure. The board likewise approved the Wire Mill Road construction increase after discussion.
The board did not record detailed vote tallies in the transcript beyond unanimous passage for both items. The engineering office indicated the Wire Mill increase will be reimbursed through the stated federal/state grant arrangement.
