Stonington — The Board of Selectmen signed an agreement with Westerly officials Wednesday night to evenly split the costs to repair the Stillman Avenue bridge.

The agreement, which Westerly has already signed, calls for the towns to split any costs that remain after reimbursement from state and federal agencies. The towns also agreed to split all cost for engineering and ongoing maintenance once the span is repaired.

The memorandum of understanding signed at Wednesday’s night’s selectmen’s meeting, states that the “towns have historically worked together regarding maintenance of the various bridges between them.”

First Selectman Rob Simmons reported at Wednesday’s meeting, which was attended by Westerly Town Council President James Silvestri and Town Manager Derrik Kennedy, that during a recent meeting with Connecticut Department of Transportation officials he learned the cost to make immediate repairs to shore up the bridge so its original weight limit could be restored would cost about $25,000, split between the two towns.

Kennedy called that “unbelievable news.”

Earlier this fall, state transportation officials informed the Town of Stonington that an inspection has revealed the span is in serious condition and needs to be rehabilitated or replaced. A 20-ton weight restriction was placed on the bridge which prohibits the Pawcatuck Fire Department ladder truck from crossing. Further deterioration could result in pumper trucks being prohibited, as well.

The immediate repairs would allow firetrucks to use the bridge. Meanwhile Connecticut's DOT told the town that it would manage a replacement project over the next five to 10 years.

Since the original announcement of the bridge’s condition, Simmons and other town officials have been meeting with officials from Westerly and the two states to address the problem.

Simmons said the memorandum of understanding and the quick action on repairs and replacement is a testament to the cooperation between both towns and their staffs.

The well-traveled Stillman Avenue bridge is one of three that span the Pawcatuck River between Stonington and Westerly.

According to the summary of the state’s inspection, the steel girders have severe rusting and other steel components have holes or have rusted away. The report also warns that during a 10-year river flow event, which has a 10 percent chance of occurring in a given year, it is possible the soil supporting the bridge will be eroded, undermining it and making it unsafe.

j.wojtas@theday.com