Lawmakers announce plans for $1M pedestrian bridge along Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk
Officials say a pedestrian bridge is needed and would provide a dedicated, safe pathway for pedestrians along Connecticut Avenue.
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At some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian. They're the most vulnerable road users. There's a stretch of road that puts pedestrians in danger along Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk.
Community members have raised concerns regarding a missing sidewalk connection over a bridge, opposite Rampart Road. For about 175 feet, there is no sidewalk.
On Thursday, Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling gathered near that portion of Connecticut Avenue with other lawmakers and officials to announce grant funding to create a pedestrian bridge. It would provide a dedicated, safe pathway for pedestrians along Connecticut Avenue.
"I can also attest to the fact that I just walked down that sidewalk, and the cars were frighteningly close to me as I was walking," said Rilling.
During the Route 1 Corridor Study public meetings, the city received feedback about pedestrian safety. The study was the culmination of over 19 months of work to understand the challenges and opportunities of an almost 3-mile stretch of Route 1, including Connecticut and Van Buren avenues.
"We hear all the time from people across the city of Norwalk who really feel that it's just completely dangerous, which it is, to walk in this area. It puts families in harm's way. It puts individuals in harm's way because the bus does stop right over here," said Senator Bob Duff.
Jim Travers, the director of Norwalk's Transportation, Mobility, and Parking Department, said they personally interviewed 70% of the businesses along the Route 1 Corridor.
"This is exactly what studies are supposed to do. They're supposed to translate the work that we work with the community on into actual projects," Travers said.
The city will allocate $1 million for the design, construction and installation of a pedestrian bridge over the waterway.
Travers says the plan is to fast-track the model to be able to walk on the bridge next year.
The study is available to view on the WestCOG website.
