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08/04/2021 08:45 AMThe Board of Selectmen (BOS) approved a contract for inspection services Route 77 sidewalk project, which will extend pedestrian access from Adams Middle School up north past I-95 to Hubbard Road, hoping to begin the bidding process for construction later this month.
A long-discussed initiative meant to safely allow schoolchildren and other residents to move through that area to access the Guilford Racquet & Swim Club, the Guilford Art Center, and the Police Department, the project is being funded by federal dollars and at least partially by a grant that was originally intended for the abandoned Nut Plains Pathway project, according to First Selectman Matt Hoey.
“There are a significant number of adults and middle school students who frequently use this passageway,” Hoey said. “This would provide significant safety enhancements for that area.”
The largest part of the project is the new sidewalks and curbs, but the project also includes new signage and a new crosswalk near the school. The federal government is paying for 80 percent of the total $1.3 million estimated cost, with Guilford responsible for the other 20 percent.
One of the biggest concerns has been the crossing of the I-95 onramps, with Guilford petitioning the state to add a stoplight at the southbound exit ramp. That intersection has been the source of a number of resident complaints, and has been identified as a “dangerous” crossing by the Guilford Police Department according to Hoey.
“The state, in its infinite wisdom, has determined it is not as warranted as we think it might be. We will continue to plug away at that over time,” Hoey said.
Because of the funding source, there are significant hurdles and additional oversight required for the project, according to Town Engineer Janice Plaziak, including full time construction administration and inspection services.