MDOT outlines Oceanville bridge replacement options; engineers say granite facing could cost the town about $100,000

State Department of Transportation engineers briefed Stonington selectmen on the Oceanville bridge replacement at a July meeting, describing structural constraints and options for preserving the bridge’s historic granite aesthetic.

MDOT engineers told the Selectboard that the northern piling is compromised and sits on glacial till rather than on bedrock, which complicates simple replacement of the metal span. The engineers said the condition makes a like‑for‑like repair impractical and raised the likelihood of more extensive work. Residents asked whether cement could be used to augment pile strength; MDOT said bedrock absence makes that solution problematic.

Engineers described a granite-facing option for the bridge’s approaches and abutments and said the agency could offer a municipal agreement to help fund it; MDOT’s estimate presented to the board included a municipal share of roughly 50% of the facing cost — an example figure cited in the meeting was a town share of about $100,000. The board discussed one‑lane alternatives with traffic signals and said it would seek community feedback and consider engineering advice and possible second opinions.

Selectmen thanked MDOT for presenting and indicated they would solicit community views before deciding how to proceed. The transcript records MDOT’s technical explanation of compromised northerly piling, the potential aesthetic options, and the municipal‑agreement funding structure; no final town commitment to a municipal agreement was recorded in the meetings in the transcript.

What’s next: MDOT planned follow‑up meetings with abutters and the Selectboard, and Selectmen signaled interest in more public input and potential local funding decisions if the town pursues granite facing.