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Drew Phillips of Darien disagrees with First Selectman David Campbell, who called the Old Tokeneke Bridge "an eyesore." Phillips believes the bridge has historical significance and should not be torn down. However, the Board of Finance voted Tuesday to approve its demolition.
"It's a piece of history," said Phillips, who works at the nearby White Bridge Wines. "It should be protected, not torn down."
The Old Tokeneke Bridge is a stone arch structure that was built in 1912. It has been closed off for the last 10 years and is now covered with weeds. Signs posted around it prohibit people from passing over it or under it. "It's something that had to be done," Campbell said of the demolition. "The bridge was beyond repair at a reasonable cost."
Plans to demolish the bridge date as far back as 1986, with Darien and Norwalk disagreeing many times over which municipality should pay for the project. "This has been going on for years," said Campbell. "Nobody wanted to pay the money."
The cost of tearing down the bridge will be split between Norwalk and Darien. Darien will pay $65,430, which will come out of the town's $90,000 sidewalk budget. The Board of Finance also discussed plans to build a new bridge, although it agreed that project was a year or two away. The cost of a new bridge would be $25,000 to $40,000.
"I think they could have used the money to restore it," said Phillips. "Norwalk and Darien didn't want to work together."
The Darien Selectmen voted 5-0 in favor of the demolition. The finance board approved it in a unanimous 7-0 vote.
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