State set to approve long-awaited funding for Pawcatuck sidewalks
The Day, July 14. 2020 9:30PM | Updated July 15. 2020 7:27PM
By Joe Wojtas Day staff writer
Stonington — Sidewalks may finally be coming to Route 1 in Pawcatuck.
For more than two decades, town officials have talked about completing a stretch of sidewalk so people can safely walk from Stonington High School to downtown Pawcatuck. The town, though, was unable to secure state funding or appropriate money in its annual budget for the work.
The town has now learned that on July 21, the state Bond Commission will vote on an item that would appropriate $600,000 to help fund the long-awaited project.
First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough, who said the bonding came as a shock to her, said the estimated cost of the work is $778,000. That does not include survey, design and permitting costs, as well as the possible cost of acquiring right of way from private property owners along the road.
Several stretches of sidewalk exist along the road, but other parts have no sidewalks.
Chesebrough said $600,000 would get the town close to completing the work, adding that the project could be broken up into segments. She said she hopes the town can install the sidewalks by next summer.
“It’s been a long time,” Chesebrough said, crediting state Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, and state Rep. Kate Rotella, D-Mystic, with pushing for funding on the state level. In 2019 they co-sponsored legislation to bond the project, while Somers also sponsored a similar bill in 2018.
“Persistence in trying to make this key section along Route 1 safer is paying off,” Somers said Tuesday in announcing the bonding. “As someone who has been pushing for this funding for years through the legislative process, I just want to say how grateful and appreciative I am to see this project move forward. Replacing these sidewalks along Route 1 will make this area safer for Pawcatuck pedestrians and those traveling on motorized scooters. We want to prevent future tragedies in this area, and I thank the governor for recognizing this need and the value of this investment.”
Rotella said she was thrilled to receive the news of the funding and share it with her constituents.
"We have talked about pedestrian connectivity, safety and easier access to the businesses along this corridor and this funding will effectively address these concerns," she said, adding she was grateful to everyone who played a key part in helping to secure the funding.