The Jesup Road bridge, near downtown and the Westport Library, was severely damaged in the Sept. 13 storm that dropped about seven inches of rain on Westport. Replacing it will take 12 to 18 months, the Westport Journal reported on Sept. 23, and the town is seeking $172,500 for design and permitting.
“The bridge is so compromised … we’re thinking of removing it in advance,” Public Works Director Larry Roberts said.
The wider damage
The storm flooded streets in the Norwalk Avenue and Compo area and parts of downtown. Pump stations flooded, and inflow to the town’s treatment plant reached about 12 million gallons a day, according to 06880’s coverage, against a usual flow of about 1.75 million. The town asked residents to file damage reports with the state, which help determine eligibility for federal disaster aid and Small Business Administration loans.
The town’s Parks and Recreation Department scheduled an Oct. 1 forum on a $14.1 million to $54.5 million plan to restore five town beaches.
For drivers and owners downtown
The bridge sits near the library and downtown, so a closure that lasts into 2027 would reroute traffic for anyone who lives or works nearby. Owners near the Saugatuck River and its tributaries should also watch for FEMA’s revised flood maps for the watershed, which the town expects to be adopted this fall.
Sources
- Westport Journal, Replacing Jesup Road bridge is expedited, but, Sept. 23, 2026
- Westport Journal, Westporters report flood damage, Sept. 14, 2026
- 06880, Coverage of the Sept. 13, 2026 flood, September 2026
