Rebuilding the bridge in Old Mystic doesn't make economic or practical sense. The added distance to travel down Main Street to Route 27 (on a two-lane highway) rather than North Stonington Road (a narrow secondary road) is one-quarter mile. At 30 mph that adds 30 seconds travel time. Spending $1.2 million to save 30 seconds doesn't make sense. Even though the state is paying half the cost, it is our tax dollars that fund state government.

The concern for fire protection is unfounded. In 10 years, there have been no accidents involving fire apparatus at the intersection of Main Street and Route 27. If access to a fire hydrant is a concern, it would cost less to install another hydrant on the other side of the river than to build a bridge. And, although I am not a lawyer, there is precedent for not reconnecting North Stonington Road. Whenever a limited access highway is built there are many secondary roads that are not reconnected.

I support Stonington First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough's decision not to fund this project.

David Atwater

Mystic