Chick-fil-A offers temporary fix for congestion issues
NORWALK — For months, Chick-fil-A’s enduring popularity during the pandemic has led to long lines that have backed up onto Connecticut Avenue, ensnaring dozens of drivers.
But now the owners of the popular fastfood restaurant believe they have developed a short-term fix that will help ease the traffic problems that have plagued the busy roadway.
“We wanted to come up with something on a short-term basis that would not require a lot of substantial site improvement, but give us at least another 20 cars to come off the road and circulate through to ameliorate the situation,” Elizabeth Suchy, the owner’s lawyer, told the Zoning Commission on Thursday.
The plan, which was developed by traffic
engineers hired by the franchise owners, would increase the number of cars that could fit in the building’s parking lot from 92 to 121. The increased capacity would be accomplished by expanding the drive-thru line, installing a second pickup location and modifying an existing location to pick up mobile orders.
“The more efficiently they can order and deliver food, then the quicker cars can come through and the less queuing that's going to occur,” said Ethan Schukoske, a traffic engineer with Atlantic Traffic & Design Engineering.
Suchy called the plan a temporary fix and said the franchise owners are negotiating with their landlord to develop a more permanent solution to the congestion issues.
Chick-fil-A’s drive-thru was built to handle about a dozen cars. But after the pandemic forced the restaurant to close its 120-person capacity dining room last year, customers could only receive their meals through the drivethru or at a mobile order pickup site.
Last spring, franchise owners rerouted the drive-thru line to snake through the entire parking lot. They also hired off-duty police officers to control the influx of cars. The traffic issues, however, persisted as customers continued to flock to the restaurant.
According to Chairman Louis Schulman, the drive-thru line grew so long on one Saturday that Norwalk police closed Rampart Road, effectively shutting down a nearby business.
Schulman, who credited the traffic problems to “the success of Chickfil-A,” suggested franchise owners work with police to find alternative routes in the future so neighboring businesses can continue to operate.
The proposed plan still needs to be reviewed by the Norwalk Transportation, Mobility and Parking Department and the Department of Public Works, according to Planning and Zoning Director Steve Kleppin.
Once the city gives approval to the project, the work to expand the parking lot is expected to take about a week to complete, Suchy said.
“I’d like to move it forward as quickly as we can so we can of course address your concerns and concerns that the neighbors and the residents have raised,” she said.