News release from Mayor Bill Finch:
On Monday, April 15 crews will begin preliminary work on John Street, North Frontage Road, and Lafayette Boulevard in preparation for the upcoming Downtown Road Improvement project. This preliminary work is not expected to impact car or pedestrian traffic.
“Downtown is growing with new businesses and hundreds of residents, and our sports and entertainment venues attract thousands of visitors to the area,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “This road work is critical to improve the streets and sidewalks for the many motorists and pedestrians who use them every day.”
The pavement reconstruction project will entail milling of existing surface and repaving the entire roadway from curb to curb. Milling and paving is expected to begin by the end of the April. Construction work may occur during the evening hours to accommodate downtown traffic flow.
The $1.4 million projected cost will be paid partially (80%) through Federal funds from the STP Urban Program. The City’s share of the project is 20%.
The City has recently reconstructed the pavement of both State Street and Main Street in Downtown. In the coming months, the City will embark on an Urban Enhancement Initiative in downtown, which includes streetscape improvements including sidewalks, landscaping and water features near the train station.
Residents, business owners and employees who work in Downtown are encouraged to check the City’s website, www.bridgeportct.gov and follow the City of Bridgeport on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CityofBptCT) and Facebook (www .facebook.com/pages/City-of-Bridgeport-CT-Government/348103748292) for road closure updates.
How can anyone not be ecstatic about any project that would enhance our downtown? I am happy this project will include enhanced streetscapes. These physical improvements will totally improve perception of our downtown and hopefully continue with the groundbreaking of Steelepointe. Oh yes let me again give KUDOS to all individuals responsible for bringing the money to Bridgeport and spending it wisely. I will assume it was the FINCH administration. I am certain readers of this blog will credit Satan and condemn me for giving credit where credit is due.
Steve,
I like you and acknowledge your love for Bridgeport. If I did not share some of your emotions, I might have left years ago. (Just as I have written in the past to leadership in the Diocese of Bridgeport about issues of OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT governance and failure because “It is my Church too,” I write to OIB in similar fashion: It is my City too … it is sick, and poor practices and human leeches are not helping it heal.)
How about some financial honesty, Steve? I know you love the City and Bill Finch is our elected leader, but how do you feel about numerous Charter violations and his “undemocratic” attempt to control every decision made in the City? Is that a formula for success? Does that encourage people of ability and talent to stay or leave, to buy a home or move, to start a business or invest, or seek another community? Let’s discuss this on OIB so the Mayor, his advisers and elected Council persons can see what a dialogues looks like. You and I may differ in opinion or viewpoint but talking and listening just might get us to develop respect for talents and ability unknown to us previously.
What say you? Time will tell.
JML, I agree with you. I also do not believe anyone in the FINCH administration reads this. They will when there is an election so they can keep a pulse on what’s going on in this city. Most people on this blog are anti-Finch. Almost like Obama on Fox news. He can do no good. We all add our own flavor to the blog. Many on the blog have a personal vendetta against Finch. I do not benefit by showing support or critiquing Bill Finch. I do enjoy being a devil’s advocate. It is difficult listening to anti-Finch rants incessantly. The only remnant of Republican left in my system is fiscal responsibility. That is where the whistleblowers like you and Andy Fardy contribute to this blog. When I am really angry and need to be heard I take my agenda to a larger audience via my neighbors and the Post. Make one thing perfectly clear. There is no love between myself and the administration. There is love for the City and the people who live here.
Steve, most OIB readers are not anti-Finch. He has many supporters who do not post comments. There’s a big difference between those who post comments and those who read. And yes, many in the Finch administration do read OIB.
I knew that, Lennie. It is surprising so few care to come to his defense. Maybe they just think he sucks. I hope you did not take a personal affront to my comment. You know I enjoy OIB. Thank you for offering a platform to those who enjoy getting on a soapbox and those who enjoy the sidelines and playful badinage.
They are not repairing the mechanicals under Main Street. Therein lies a future problem if not taken care of soon. No amount of surface repair will prevent a further collapse of sewer, electrical or gas lines under Main Street from the Sheehan Center all the way down to I-95.
So true, the streets will be repaved … yay! … but in no time they will have to be dug up to fix the collapse of the antiquated sewer system and waterlines. Years and years ago this problem was brought up at the Zoning meetings when projects were considered for downtown, the engineers stated they were in disrepair and problems will occur. Nothing was done and now they are going to cover it all up with new asphalt. What a Waste … spending what we do not have.
Bob & Pat echo my sentiments exactly. Unfortunately it is not uncommon to have a street paved and then shortly after dug up for utility work. My gripe is the poor repair work that is done when the work is finished. It should be brought back to as-new condition. Where is the Clerk of the Works on this?
All city paving of streets, roadways etc. are supposed to be coordinated with all utilities, water, sewer, electric before paving begins. How many times have we seen a road paved then some utility company comes and rips it up? They have a schedule and our City should check with them before they do any major paving.
Wait and see when the streets downtown are done and then in a few weeks they will be ripped up.
*** Once again a waste of time, labor snd money by not coordinating with local utilities to do the job right the first time! Maybe just a patch job would hold out ’til the city and the utility companies set a date to work together, no? Just more political P/R that amounts to zero in the end. Who’s going to take credit for this one in the downtown district I wonder? Not to worry though taxpayers, future raised mil rate and taxes should cover it nicely! ***