The North Street Bridge project remains top of mind for homeowners in and near the “bottom of the bathtub,” as well as thousands of drivers who travel up and down North Street to and from pubic and private schools and destinations including the Merritt Parkway.
The bridge, located between Macpherson Drive and Cotswood Road, goes over West Brothers Brook. It was built in 1909 and rebuilt in 1950. A recent inspection completed in 2022 rated the bridge in Critical condition which prompted emergency repairs and posted a 4‐ton weight restriction.
Initially DPW’s total estimated timeline for the entire project was 18-24 months with heavy construction taking place over the summer, but residents started a petition protesting the timeline and expressed concerns about severe traffic.
In fact, they warned of a pending “catastrophe.” Petitioners noted there are 8 schools and 7,000 students within one mile of the “choke point” at Parsonage Rd and North Street.

The bridge, which is hardly noticeable from a car traveling over it, was originally built in 1909 and rebuilt in 1950. After the last inspection on March 7, 2022, the bridge was deemed in critical condition. This resulted in emergency repairs and the hiring of WMC Consulting Engineers to create a preliminary bridge design. About 7,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily, and many of the vehicles are heavy trucks exceeding the 4-ton weight limit on the bridge.
This is a $3 million project, mostly being funded by a state grant from the Local Capital Improvement Project (LoCIP) program. The Town pays for design and the state grant will pay for 100% of construction. The bridge will be raised about 2 feet from its existing profile. The new bridge structure will be precast concrete to last over 100 years. Utilities will be accommodated under the bridge.
A main concern among residents has related to impacts on drainage as the bridge is near a neighborhood with a history of severe flooding.
At a well-attended meeting in April 2024 residents suggested a more holistic approach. They said replacing the bridge was a lost opportunity if it did not include flood mitigation.
They warned the area was in FEMA flood zone, with impacts not just upstream, but also downstream to Greenwich High School and into Milbrook.
In response, the project was timeline was shortened. On Jan 9, DPW presented a plan for a 12-week road closure over the summer and a a detour.
At the Jan 17, 2025 BET budget committee meeting, chaired by Leslie Tarkington, there was an update on the project from DPW Jim Michel, the newly promoted commissioner of Greenwich Dept of Public Works.
Mr. Michel recalled that in November one of the conditions of release of funds for the bridge project was to conduct a study to determine a scope and cost estimate to prepare a project plan to upgrade infrastructure related to West Brothers Brook in the areas of Ridgebrook, Ridgeview and Hillside, through Long Island Sound.
“At the time we provided the scope and cost estimate of that. In addition we said we already had the consultant on board and they were working on that study – and that you were looking for an update on that study,” Mr. Michel said.
Half Dozen Projects Identified between Old Church Rd and L.I. Sound
While the study is being finalized and is not yet out for review, Mr. Michel said about half a dozen different projects had been identified between Old Church Road and Long Island Sound that would help lower the water surface elevation at North Street.
Two of those are entirely on private property, two are on the high GHS property, and two are either within town or state right-of-way.
“In order to complete these projects, there will be extensive negotiations with the various property owners jurisdictions,” Mr. Michel said.
Spillways in Milbrook
He said working north from Long Island Sound, there were 3 different spillways within Milbrook, a private residential community, that could be modified to allow a lower water surface elevation.
“There will need to be significant negotiations with Milbrook,” he noted, adding that in order to give that community a heads up that they would likely be mentioned in public meetings, initial conversations had taken place.
Milbrook is located downstream of GHS and the intersection of Route 1 and Hillside Rd where a state DOT bridge project is planned, and will limit traffic to one lane in either for at least 14 months.

Bridge under Route 1 at Hillside Rd, at the GHS campusl
“Moving upstream from that, there are culverts – not the bridge we’ve heard about near Hillside – but culverts between Hillside and Old Church Road that potentially would need to be increased in size to allow additional flow through them, downstream. That is the one that would be under the jurisdiction of the state.”
Projects on Greenwich High School Property
The two projects on the GHS property include the East Pond dam that would need to be removed.
“If we were to remove it, we would just redesign it in a way that it is more of a waterfall, and not truly a dam holding back ponded water.”
He said the other project at GHS would be to improve the channel that runs behind fields 3 and 4, and across the property, and improving the opening of the pedestrian bridges on that property.
“We know that with the soil condition issues there, to complete both of those would be very challenging,” Mr. Michel said.
Widening Channel on Private Property between Old Church and GHS property
Further, Mr. Michel said there was a small stretch of channel that could be widened on private property between Old Church and the GHS property.
Old Church Rd Bridge
And finally, he said, at the Old Church Road bridge that goes underneath the roadway could be upgraded to have a slightly larger opening.
Next steps
Mr. Michel said DPW had submitted a budget sheet to the First Selectman’s office for a long term plan to pay for these improvements. It will be labeled West Brothers Brook Drainage.
“When you see your budget in late January, that hopefully will still be in there,” he said.
Budget committee member David Weisbrod asked if there had been any surprises.
Mr. Michel said that while there was nothing unanticipated, one of the biggest price tags was for improvements at Rte 1.
“That has a hefty price tag on it. We’ll have to see what the true cost-benefit of that would be to determine whether or not it will make a significant change. In addition, once the DOT project that is going in next to that one – how that might have an impact on the same area.”

Photo of flooding at Hillside Rd and East Putnam Ave (Route 1) from the GHS Compass yearbook 1977.
Mr. Michel said while a possible Town project and the CT Dept of Transportation project were on opposite sides of the signalized intersection, and would require significant coordination, it would not necessarily save time to merge the two projects to “get the pain over with at once,” as Ms Tarkington suggested.
“I think it would make the project more like a four year project than a two year project,” he said.
BET chair and Budget Committee member, Harry Fisher pressed Mr. Michel
“There are flooding issues all over town. Other than the North Street bridge, perhaps sparking this study, how did DPW come about to prioritize this over other parts of town?” he asked.
“The prioritization for this study was completed because of the needs for the North Street bridge,” Mr. Michel replied. “What would need to be done in order to allow additional water to flow through that bridge to potentially allow the overall water surface elevation in the area upstream of that bridge – and even downstream of that bridge – to potentially be lowered overall.”
Leslie Moriarty asked if all the projects would have to be done in any particular order.
“Ideally, yes,” Mr. Michel said. “However, there is a possibility there can be a slight shuffling of that. We just have to make sure we coordinate it downstream without having a negative impact.”
“We can talk about it more during budget season, but we do work with the Flood and Erosion Control Board. They have created a prioritization list we’ve worked off,” he continued adding that when DPW does projects to address failing infrastructure, they find, “projects of opportunity.”
“Like if there is a benefit to doing something else at the same time. We’re always exploring projects.”
The Budget Committee requested that Mr. Michel link the FECB’s documents with the DPW project timeline.
Mr. Michel said the WMC Engineers consultants report for the North Street Bridge project was yet ready to post.
“That document is not something we can post until we have the bridge documents ready to bid and we’re still waiting on a couple comments from the state,” he said.
Ms Circosta-Cohee said the state was doing an in depth review of the entire project plan set. “We’re just waiting for the authorization to bid,” she said.
He said as soon as the state gets back to DPW – “hopefully any day now,” DPW was still targeting the original schedule with authorization to seek bids in March.
Commissioner Michel said the state review would include whether the design would have impacts on both the upstream and downstream.
Ms Tarkington noted the upcoming budget meeting day for all departments.
“We’ll be seeing you on Feb 11,” she said.
See also:
Selectmen Consider DPW North Street Bridge Project Detour Route and Road Closure
Jan 10, 2025
Residents Share Strong Concerns about Traffic during North St Bridge Replacement
April 10, 2024
“Catastrophe about to Happen” – Neighbors Demand a New Plan for North St Bridge Project
Sept 12, 2024