Here’s what’s in Westport’s $11.7M Post Road improvement project
WESTPORT — Post Road certainly has its traffic troubles, some of which were highlighted at a recent public forum focusing on downtown.
Some much-needed help is on the way though, in the form of an $11.7 million project that will improve various intersections along the busy corridor. The project was celebrated Monday by several officials, including First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, state Sen. Will Haskell and state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg.
“Anyone who travels on this road knows that bumper-to-bumper traffic is a daily occurrence, and accidents are all too common,” Haskell said. “Much of that traffic and many of those accidents can be avoided with a little bit of investment, including traffic signals that can sense how many cars are coming and are responsive to the flow of traffic.”
The project aims to make the road — which averages about 24,000 cars a day — safer and more efficient, which in turn will help local businesses and make them more accessible, according to Haskell’s office.
The work includes adding left turn lanes at three intersections along the Post Road, also known as Route 1. The areas include the Fresh Market and Village Center intersection, the Roseville and Hillspoint Roads intersection and the Bulkley Road North and South.
“I’ve been driving on Roseville Road since I got my driver’s license. I can tell you having a turn lane there will have a significant difference for people right here in Westport,” Steinberg said. “It’s a project that’s practical, long-needed and why infrastructure investment is so important in every community, just like this one.”
A two-way left turn lane will also be added from the Village Center driveways to Roseville and Hillspoint roads allowing people to turn left into commercial driveways.
It will also align the offset Buckley Avenue intersection and add new traffic signals that better meet current traffic conditions.
“These are very critical improvements for the town of Westport,” said state Department of Transportation Senior Advisor Carlo Leone. “The roadway is very busy and these intersections are very difficult to cross. The improvements from this signalization are going to be key to making those improvements for the safety of the people of Westport.”
The project also adds bus shelters, curb work, sidewalks and crosswalks to make it safer for the pedestrians who frequently cross the Post Road and those who ride the bus.
“This road is home to one of Connecticut’s mostutilized bus services, the Coastal Link,” Haskell said. “Unfortunately, too often the folks waiting for these buses are left braving the rain or cold.”
Josh Morgan, a DOT spokesman, said the safety project has been in planning and design for several years.
The State Bond Commission approved the $11.7 million for the project on March 30. Of that amount, 80 percent will be covered by federal funding and 20 percent will be covered by the state.
Morgan said it’s expected to go out to bid this summer and awarded in the fall. Work will continue in three phases, to be completed in 2025.
“In order to keep traffic flowing and allow continuous access to businesses, the work will be done over three construction seasons,” Morgan said.
The first part will be from Westport Plaza down to the Fresh Market. The second phase is the Roseville and Hillspoint intersection, ending with the Buckley Avenue intersection.
Tooker said it’s an excellent project and thanked the state officials for their work on it.
“Anything we can do to improve this corridor from a traffic and pedestrian safety standpoint is thrilling.” Tooker said.