Residents of Heritage Hill Road can anticipate safer pedestrian routes because of the Department of Public Works’ decision to move forward with installing new concrete curb ramps at crosswalks there.
Those living on Heritage Hill Road—a popular cut-through to Route 123—asked for the crosswalks, and the project has since been given the green light by the Police Commission, according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann.
“We had a residential request for mid-block crosswalks on Heritage Hill Road,” Mann said during Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting. “The intention is to address safety concerns, especially during school bus pickup times and facilitate easier crossing for residents.”
The comments came as Mann presented a contract with a New Canaan-based company to do the work.
Selectmen Kathleen Corbet and Nick Williams, and First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, voted 3-0 to approve the $19,925 contract with Peter Lanni, Inc. The figure includes $10,000 for police to oversee motor vehicle traffic during the ramp construction. Corbet noted that “it’s really two separate contracts.”
The town is installing three crosswalks on Heritage Hill Road and each crossing will include ramps on both sides, as per the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act or “ADA.”
The project is expected to be completed within three to four days after it starts, Mann said.
It is anticipated that the work will primarily require flaggers rather than police officers, resulting in cost savings, Mann said.
Williams asked whether the project is ADA compliant. Mann said it will be. He said the town wanted to paint the crosswalk into the roadway first, and then create the curb cuts for the accessible ramps so that the project went smoothly.
“We have a crosswalk request, we wanted to ‘stripe’ to make sure it’s laid out correctly, and then build a ramp,” he said.
He added that there are “some areas where ramps are deficient” that the town is “working on as well.”
Williams said, “We don’t want to go down the ADA rabbit hole.”
One crosswalk that’s been ‘chalked-in’ but not painted yet is too close to the curve and the hill. It’s dangerous to cross there. That one needs to be further away from the curve.