Work begins to make Cottrell Street one way
Police said new traffic pattern scheduled to take effect Monday
Mystic — The town has begun work on the controversial plan to turn Cottrell Street into a one-way street.
The street, which is located off
East Main Street (Route 1) is located just before the drawbridge and runs along Mystic River Park.
Crews began to mill and pace the street this week. Police said the new traffic pattern is scheduled to take effect Monday.
That’s when Stonington Department of Public Works crews will begin blocking off half the road to complete placing markings on the street. Marking work is slated to be completed May 13 or 14.
In addition, a section of Washington Street from Cottrell Street to Willow Street will also be made one way on Monday.
Despite some neighborhood opposition, the Stonington Board of Police Commissioners approved the one-way pattern in a southerly direction last December.
The plan is designed to create 13 additional parking spots on Cottrell and Washington streets and to improve traffic safety at the intersection of East Main and Cottrell streets.
The board made the change to partially address a longstanding parking shortage in the downtown, especially in the summer.
Opponents had urged the commissioners to wait to make any change until it could undertake a comprehensive parking and traffic study of Mystic in cooperation with the Town of Groton.
The police commissioners also agreed to make the change on a provisional basis and said changes could be made, if necessary.
While the plan originally called for marking the street, First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough said the road already had cracking and settlement due to underground utility repair trenching so the decision was made to mill and pave it to provide a smooth surface. The $36,000 work is designed to increase the life of the road for another 10 to 12 years.