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The What

The What: Latest Walk Bridge News; Traffic Safety Camera Updates; Manresa Wilds’ Hearing Continues; and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of August 17.

The What: Latest Walk Bridge News; Traffic Safety Camera Updates; Manresa Wilds’ Hearing Continues; and more
Happy "last week" of summer to the many teachers and students heading back to school next week. We cannot believe it's already near the end of August. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, August 17

Happy Monday! We are soaking up the last days of summer here and hope you all are too. Things are starting to get busy again around the region, so let’s see what’s happening around the region. 

Highlights 

This section gives a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.

A look at the Walk Bridge in Norwalk (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

As construction moves ahead on the approximately $1 billion Walk Bridge project, Connecticut officials are giving riders a heads up on major schedule changes. On multiple weekends, starting on September 12, there will be massive service reductions particularly between Stamford and New Haven. 

Officials said that this will allow the removal of “critical” infrastructure along the Walk Bridge. Riders should “plan for significant weekend service adjustments as construction continues” on the project. 

“The Walk Bridge Replacement Program continues to make progress, with work this fall marking a major milestone for a new, modern, resilient bridge along the Northeast Corridor. The Northeast Corridor is vital to Connecticut and the region, and this project delivers much needed, long-term improvements,” Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said in a statement. 

On five weekends between September 12-13 and November 13, MetroNorth will operate on a modified weekend schedule to allow for work on the project. 

“The Walk Bridge replacement is a generational investment in the New Haven Line and the customers that rely on it,” Justin Vonashek, president of Metro-North Railroad said in a statement. “The major improvement projects on the New Haven Line will reduce travel times, increase reliability, and improve our customers’ experience. We’re proud to partner with the State of Connecticut on upgrades that will strengthen the region and support a modern, resilient railroad for the future.”

Explore what this means for riders and a little more about the project itself.

You can also dive into the history of the project and watch our video featuring the start of the main construction work in 2023. 

Take a look back at the start of construction on the main Walk Bridge project in 2023.

This Week at a Glance

This section includes a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.

Bridgeport

Featured Meeting: The Board of Education will meet on Monday, August 17 at 6 p.m. and continue to discuss and potentially take action on increasing the salary for Interim Superintendent Royce Avery.

Stamford

Featured Meetings: The Water Pollution Control Authority will meet on Monday, August 17 at 5:30 p.m. and discuss and vote on additional $122,000 toward the Perna Lane sewer project. Explore the history of this project and what it means to the area. In addition, the Land Use/Urban Redevelopment Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 19 at 7 p.m. and hold a public hearing on establishing a Conservation Commission.

Norwalk

Featured Meeting: The Planning and Zoning Commission has a full agenda at its meeting on Wednesday, August 19 at 6 p.m. The commission will vote on allowing a 207-unit multifamily development at 21 Isaacs Street. (Learn more about all the work taking place in the Wall Street area of Norwalk.) In addition, the commission will continue the public hearing on the proposed special district for Manresa Wilds, a planned public park and gathering space at the site of a decommissioned power plant.  

Fairfield

Featured Meeting: The Representative Town Meeting is reviewing and potentially voting on an ordinance to reaffirm the speed cameras in the town at its meeting on Monday, August 17 at 7:30 p.m.  

Greenwich

Featured Meeting: The Board of Education will meet on Monday, August 17 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss and vote on a procedure to fill two open seats on the Board. Board members, Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony and Wendy Vizzo Walsh issued resignation letters stating that they were resigning effective immediately.

Darien

Featured Meeting: No featured meeting this week.

  • Tuesday, August 18: Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, August 19: HHR Building Committee at 6 p.m. 

Westport

Featured Meeting: The Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a preapplication discussion of a proposed project at 606 Riverside Avenue on Monday, August 17 at 6 p.m. The proposal, which is at the site of the former failed Hamlet project, calls for a residential housing project at the site, with some mixed use. In addition, public hearings on lighting on some athletics fields in town will continue. 

Stay in touch!

As we continue to grow and evolve, please join us! You can do that by:

Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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