Fairfield to Get Back $1.2 Million for Harbor Road Bridge Construction

As Selectman Cristin McCarthy Vahey said, "It's been a long time coming," but the Harbor Road Bridge construction project will finally come to a close.

Construction of the bridge over Mill River was completed about seven years ago, but $1.2 million in building cost refunds remained tied up by the state's Department of Transportation until last week. The Board of Selectmen agreed in a 3-0 vote Wednesday to authorize First Selectman Michael Tetreau to enter into a supplemental agreement to release the reimbursements.

The supplemental agreement includes additional construction and inspection costs as well as eliminates a 15 percent cap ratio for inspection costs as they relate to construction.

"The town fought for these provisions over several years and the state has finally agreed," Town Engineer Bill Hurley told the board.

The grant-funded project's costs totaled just over $3.6 million, for which the town has already been partially refunded. Once the final $1.2 million in reimbursements is released, the town will have been paid back for all but $26,413 in costs that were ineligible for refund, Hurley said.

Those ineligible costs -- which include the use of stainless steel hardware for the timber guiderail and winter access to businesses on the "island" adjacent to the bridge -- were covered in previous Department of Public Works budget, he added.

The remaining $1.2 million in reimbursement had been tied up for a few reasons, including a dispute with a contractor, which has been settled, Hurley said.

To date, all contractors have been paid in full and there are no additional costs or payments associated with this project.

The refund does not impact the general budget, according to Tetreau, and will go into the town's general fund upon receipt.