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WILTON — Plans to replace the Canal Street Bridge continue as town officials met last week with state Department of Transportation representatives to take measurements and review plans for a sewer line running adjacent to the bridge, Town Manager Rhonda Irish told Selectmen Tuesday.

A sidewalk for the bridge was initially planned for the town side of the bridge connecting Main and Canal streets near the boat landing.  Moving the sidewalk to the lakeside of the new bridge will provide better support for the sewer line, she said.

Any costs for planned supports for the sewer line need to be picked up by the town, she said. State funds cannot be spent on supports for the line or replacement.

The state had planned to remove the bridge at the foot of Wilson Lake but after town officials brought the state bridge committee here to review what would be a narrow single access behind the Bass building to the boat launch area, they changed their minds and opted to foot the cost to replace the bridge. The move saved the town approximately $100,000 to replace the bridge.

The design continues to change, she said.  Measurements and surveying done last week temporarily closed the bridge to traffic.

The work is planned to begin in the spring and be finished before the town’s Blueberry Festival held the first weekend of August. If they are not done, they will move equipment for the festival, she said.

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Selectman Tom Saviello questioned whether the festival’s fireworks display would go on if the bridge was still closed and there wasn’t a second access to the area where the fireworks are launched.

The town and state representatives plan to meet again 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, to continue working on plans for the bridge.

In other business, Irish told the board that Beeline Cable has received necessary permits to run cable and Internet lines on the Munson Road and Black Road area of Wilton, she said.

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