Officials from the state's Department of Transportation were in Stratford Wednesday to get feedback from residents on plans to replace the 50-year-old Moses Wheeler Bridge.

The bridge, which connects Stratford and Milford along I-95, is set to be rebuilt. Part of the DOT?s $117 million plan involves digging two ponds for storm runoff.

The DOT is six months away from bidding the project out and many at the meeting voiced their objections, specifically about the ponds. They say they don?t want them near their homes and want to hear an alternate plan.

Stratford Action for the Environment, a local environmental group, has successfully petitioned for the state?s Department of Environmental Protection to hold a public hearing to air their concerns in the future.

DOT officials say a public hearing will delay the project, but State Sen. Dan Debicella (R-Stratford) disagrees. He says DOT should be able to adjust its plans, and still be able to start the bidding process in the winter, so that construction can begin next summer.

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