Bone Mill Road Bridge Replacement Project

The Town of East Haddam is in the process of designing and rebuilding the bridge on Bone Mill Road. This bridge has been closed for some time while financing was put in place. Currently the State of Connecticut has pledged 47% of the expense with the balance to be supplied by the Town of East Haddam.

As neighbors of the bridge, the North School has been monitoring the progress of this project since the bridge closing. In that time we stayed in touch with the East Haddam’s Department of Public Works, who is responsible for this project.

On February 29, 2016 the Town held a hearing on this project. This was attended by our First Selectman, Mark Walter, Public Works Administrator Beth Lunt, a representative of the design firm WMC. In addition to these town representatives we had twenty-five or so good folks from the North School membership answer an appeal to attend and demonstrate to the town our concern that the bridge remain in keeping with the Historic District in which it resides.

It did not take long for the town to realize the depth of the passion in this group. The net result was that a second hearing was promised. At that time WMC would have additional designs to be presented to the town. The town further suggested that we come up with pictures of bridges that would be acceptable to us.

We have submitted pictures to the town/design firm which we hope will be taken into account into the final design of the replacement bridge.

We have also taken on the project of getting signatures on a petition, letting the town know that the basis of our concern goes beyond the North School membership. The proprietors of the following businesses have kindly agreed to our placing petitions in their businesses for the citizens of Hadlyme, East Haddam to sign. …….Hadlyme Country Store, Shagbark, Two Wrasslin’ Cats. We would appreciate your support in stopping by one of these businesses and offering your signature of support.

The date for a second hearing has been not been set as of yet, but should be announced shortly. Your support at that hearing will send a strong message to the town that the citizens of East Haddam are very interested in being part of setting the agenda for the replacement of this bridge. The more faces that we have attend this hearing, the more attention that town will give our effort.

Thank you for your attention and support.

Christopher Read

Hadlyme North School Board