Let me review to make sure I read the headline correctly. Some residents in the Town of New Milford DO NOT want a one-lane bridge built in the 1930s on Cherniske Road to be improved and reconstructed into a two-lane bridge.

Get our free mobile app

Why are nearly three dozen New Milford residents upset about replacing this outdated ramshackle excuse for a bridge? After talking with New Milford Mayor Pete Bass, I got my answer.

By the way, the Cherniske Road bridge has been closed since January 15, 2021 due to safety reasons. Mayor Pete told me that most residents who oppose the bridge construction live on Cherniske Road. They say constructing a new two-lane bridge will make it more dangerous because cars will go faster if the bridge is repaired.

Cherniske Road Bridge - New Milford
Cherniske Road Bridge - New Milford
loading...

The second reason residents oppose the rebuilding of the bridge is New Milford's "Scenic Road Preservation" under General Statutes Section 7-149a, which reads, "The scenic and rural roads of New Milford are cherished and irreplaceable resources essential to the preservation of New Milford's rural heritage," not to mention the money issue.

Mike Zarba, New Milford's Director of Public Works, claims that converting the bridge from a one-lane to a two-lane bridge will make the bridge safer. How about the cost? The Mayor told me that a bridge double box culvert would cost approximately $600,000 while a single box culvert would make the bridge longer and wider and run $1.2 million.

According to Mayor Pete Bass, on Monday, March 28, New Milford's Town Council will meet with the Department of Public Works to hear about the current options of rebuilding the Cherniske Road bridge and how much it will cost. Enjoy the following YouTube video of drone footage of New Milford's larger bridges..

Greater Danbury Bobcat Sightings, Too Close for Comfort

This morning (4/28/21) on the Ethan and Lou Show we were discussing a viral video from North Carolina. In it, a couple was brutally attacked by a rabid bobcat but according to USA Today, they are going to be OK. 

This sent me off on a tirade about bobcats because this happens to be one of my pet peeves. In the Greater-Danbury area, wildlife sightings are frequent and when one animal gets photographed, everyone piles on and says, yeah me too You saw a bear? I saw a bear! 

I made the case that too many people are claiming to have seen bobcats recently, and with no proof. I said, look I know they are prevalent but they can't be around in the numbers that people will have you believe. Every Frank and Fran in the area says they saw one yesterday. 

I said, if you saw a bobcat, prove it. It looks like I may have been underestimating the bobcats and the Ethan and Lou listeners because they did prove it and in a hurry. These are the Greater-Danbury Bobcat Sightings That are Too Close for Comfort. 

What is the Most Interesting Town in the Greater Danbury Area?

More From WRKI and WINE