Town officials are planning to replace all sidewalks on East Avenue, starting downtown at Main Street and running east all the way to Route 123.
The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved a $34,500 contract with a Bridgeport-based company to survey and design the sidewalks.
The overall project itself is projected to cost about $1.1 million, according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann.
There are sidewalks on both sides of East Avenue running east from the downtown to Summer Street, and then it’s only on the north side to Route 123/New Norwalk Road, Mann said.
“We’re looking to design it in whole and then look to piece it out, the thought being that we’ll likely do from Cherry Street to Main Street since that’s the closest to the downtown, and then work our way out,” he said during the regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “And the thought is that at present we might look for a grant to take care of the stretch from Cherry to New Norwalk Road.”
Specifically, Mann said, the town would seek a “Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program” or “LOTCIP” grant. The town has obtained LOTCIP grants for sidewalk projects in the past, including on Richmond Hill Road.
The fact that the project at hand involves connecting sidewalks on one state road (Route 124/Main Street) to another one (Route 123/New Norwalk Road) will help with the grant application, Mann said.
First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract with Chris DeAngelis, PE LLC.
DeAngelis is familiar with the town and “has done all of our sidewalk design work,” Mann said.
“He did Main Street, Richmond Hill, the sidewalks on Old Stamford Road, Bristow Park,” Mann said. “He’s done all of Park Street, he’s doing our Lakeview Avenue … He’s done excellent work. And as part of our procurement contract or purchasing policy, professional services are not required to be bid, but his prices are very low. He’s a one-stop shop … He knows exactly how we like to see things in town.”
In all, the project will cover about a half-mile area, with 2,900 feet of sidewalk on the northern side and 1,600 on the other, Mann said.
Good morning! I wanted to mention something that I have called Public Works about a few times. There is a metal place on the sidewalk on East Ave in front of Mattress Firm that is rusted and rotted. There are holes in it. Someone is going to go through it someday if not addressed. PLEASE take a look. Thank you. I appreciate all that the Town does. I’m concerned someone will be injured.
It is wonderful that the Town will be upgrading and replacing the East Avenue sidewalks. They are a vital link to the commercial district. On the subject of sidewalks, does the Town have a plan for upgrading the South Avenue sidewalks. There are many sections that are badly cracked and where trees and gas pipe main work have led to subsidence and an uneven surface. The South Avenue sidewalks are used by many, many people.