Stonington to seek bids on long awaited Pawcatuck sidewalk project on Friday

Joe Wojtas, The Day, New London, Conn.
·2 min read

Dec. 7—STONINGTON — The town is slated to seek bids Friday for the construction of a long-awaited sidewalk along Route 1 that would link the high school with downtown Pawcatuck, with construction to begin in the spring.

The sidewalk will be almost complete from the area of Spellman Drive to Mayflower Avenue on the south side of the road, and, portions of the sidewalks will be filled in between the police department driveway and the Pawcatuck Shopping Center.

Negotiations with property owners for easements went smoothly according to Susan Cullen, the town's director of Economic and Community Development.

"For the most part people were thrilled with the sidewalk, and desperately wanted the sidewalk, and were willing to go to great lengths to be helpful, and accommodate, and do whatever they needed to do to make the sidewalk happen," she said.

Of the 28 properties along the planned route, only one property owner refused to grant the town an easement allowing use of the property.

"This is a voluntary thing," Cullen said, adding, "we said we weren't going to pay for them, and we also said we weren't going to just take them."

Cullen explained that the town had three options to gain use of the properties. She said the town was adamantly opposed to using eminent domain, and paying for easements would not have left enough money for the installation of the sidewalks. In the end, the town simply asked for the easements, and promised to do things like replace rare ornamental shrubbery and replace trees.

The town developed a basic plan for the sidewalks and has additional designs that can be added based on the costs of construction and other factors, which Cullen likened to buying a base model car and then adding on options based on the price.

The town estimates construction costs to be between $675,000 and $825,000 depending on labor, material and other associated costs, and the town will add in the optional pieces if the budget allows. The town's budget for all costs associated with the project, including planning, design, administration and construction is $1,376,500. The cost will be partially offset by a $600,000 state grant.

On Friday, interested bidders can find more information on the town's website at www.stonington-ct.gov or on the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services contracting portal.