Downtown Center Project Phase I Complete in Madison
After over a decade of planning and a year of heavy construction, officials and residents gathered in downtown Madison on June 30 to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the Downtown Center Project.
Phase I of the project, which began in fall 2015, included renovations of the sidewalks and the center median downtown. Additionally, new light poles, tree grates, and bike racks were installed above new underground utilities and irrigation.
Economic Development Commission Chair Ryan Duques said he was very pleased to celebrate the completion of the first part of the project.
“As a lifelong resident of Madison, it is a pretty proud moment,” Duques said, citing the more than 14 years and thousands of volunteer hours that went into the design, along with the work of Town Engineer Mike Ott.
Phase I of the project was completed on time and within the $2 million budget allocated for the project. State Representative Noreen Kokoruda (R-101) thanked the state for all of the money it had put toward the project.
“The State of Connecticut has put in $1.85 million into this project and we are certainly here today to thank them, but also to thank them for sharing our vision and realizing what our EDC says is so important, that small downtowns are really the hub of our community,” she said. “It is important to do it for our community, but also for our small businesses and also jobs so it is a win-win for all of us. I hope we are back soon to discuss Phase II of this project.”
First Selectman Tom Banisch thanked all who had been involved in the project over the years.
“So many people were involved in this in designing it and helping to get the money for it and keeping the project alive,” he said. “I always say if it goes too long, it is never going to happen, but it happened and we are all thrilled.”
Banisch said the town appreciates the sacrifice businesses had to make downtown to get this project done.
“I’d like to thank the store keepers downtown and the businesses because as great as it looks, it has been a hard thing for some of these stores to go through so we appreciate their patience and we look forward to a very prosperous summer,” he said.
Phase II of the project, which does not have an official start date, incorporates enhancements to the Tuxis Walkway entrance and the walkway itself. The town received a $400,000 grant state’s Responsible Growth and Transit-Oriented Development Grant Program earlier this month.
Banisch previously stated he hopes to complete remediation to the walkway by the fall.