Newfield Street sidewalk work danger to pedestrians

The recently dangerously implemented sidewalk repair project on Newfield Street’s railroad overpass reminds Middletown residents that concerns raised about the safety of Route 3 have been ignored.

Regular pedestrians along Newfield Street, who include residents walking to work or shops, as well as school children of all ages, rely on the sidewalk and guardrail on the west (southbound) side of Newfield Street (Route 3) to ensure their safety.

On Jan. 17 and 18, the Connecticut Department of Transportation undertook a repair project in the middle of the Newfield Street railroad overpass. In order to complete repairs, the DOT completely blocked off the protected sidewalk, with no regard for the high danger to which pedestrians were exposed as a result.

No effort was made by workers to direct pedestrians, from either direction, to a suitable detour (such as the pedestrian walkway that leads down and under the highway with an outlet to Berlin Court).

No signs alerted southbound pedestrians to such an alternative route. Those not aware of one might (as the work crew advised me to do) jump the guardrail and enter traffic. Alternatively, I witnessed other pedestrians scampering across the highway to reach the wide shoulder on the northbound side of the street.

Northbound pedestrians, entering the protected sidewalk from the intersection of Washington (Route 66) and Newfield streets, were likewise given no warning that they would find their journey completely blocked midway.

The complete lack of regard for pedestrian safety exhibited here by the DOT is, on its own, egregious enough to raise significant concern about how our government plans repairs.

But Middletown residents will remember that just months ago, only 100 yards from the spot of these repairs, on the evening of Sept. 8, William Fetter lost his life trying to make a left turn off Newfield Street onto Fisher Road. The petition created in the wake of that tragedy, which demanded that our city and state governments address the well-known fact that Newfield Street remains a dangerous site for commuters by car and by foot, has clearly resulted in no change in awareness, let alone tangible action.

At the time of the September accident, Mayor Dan Drew urged citizens to “not jump to conclusions” but “see if there are patterns to improve.” One pattern improvement would be to ensure that, from now on, important repair projects do not come at the cost of inciting citizens to risk their lives just to get to work and school. — Jesse Torgerson, Middletown