Stonington — The town is seeking permission from the Inland Wetlands Commission for a permit to replace the small Lantern Hill Road bridge in conjunction with the Town of Ledyard.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with the Town of Groton, it is also proceeding with some preliminary design work and permitting for the replacement of the closed North Stonington Road bridge in Old Mystic even though the Town of Groton has not approved its share of the funding for construction. The small bridge, just west of the Old Mystic fire department, spans the two towns.

The Lantern Hill Road bridge, which was built in 1950, is listed in fair condition, according to the town’s application for the permit. The state has agreed to fund about half of the $1.2 million project while Stonington and Ledyard will split the remaining $600,000.

The application states that rehabilitating the bridge is not viable due to its condition, concerns about scouring of the bridge and its narrow 17-foot width, which does not permit two-way traffic. The new span will be 26 feet wide.

Plans call for the bridge to be closed from April through November of 2018 for the work.

Town Engineer Scot Deledda said that the two towns are scheduled to meet with state transportation and environmental protection officials this week to discuss the final state permitting process.

The North Stonington Road bridge has been closed since the March flood of 2010. The replacement cost also is estimated at $1.2 million, with the state paying half, leaving Stonington and Groton to contribute $300,000 each. Stonington has appropriated its share but Groton, which is struggling with a massive decrease in proposed state aid and increased taxes, has not.

But Deledda and Town of Groton Public Works Director Gary Schneider said the two towns together have $90,000 in funds to go forward with completing the preliminary design and apply for the permits, which are valid for five years.

“We don’t want it to come to a screeching halt,” Deledda said. “It’s better to have the approved permits. That way, when the money is available, we can proceed.”

Deledda said that when people ask him about the delay in replacing the bridge, he points out that Stonington has supported the project.

Schneider said he had included the bridge funding in his proposed capital improvement budget for 2017-18 but with the proposed cut in state aid, the Town Council and Representative Town Meeting did not fund the work.

He said that if the still-to-be-approved state budget does not reduce Groton's aid as much as expected, there is a chance the bridge funding could be placed back in the budget with council and RTM approval. He pointed out that even if it is not, the situation is not bad because the actual construction work would not have occurred this season. He said he plans to include funding for the bridge in the 2018-19 capital budget request. If that is approved, the money would become available as of July 1, 2018.

With the bridge closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, it cuts off one of the access roads to Old Mystic Fire Department Station No. 1. Fire Chief Ken Richards has said that his trucks must use a detour that poses a safety hazard to his firefighters and other motorists.

j.wojtas@theday.com