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Traffic authority approves event closures, drainage work and signal changes; unanimous votes
Summary
Norwalk City Traffic Authority on Feb. 24 approved a set of event road closures, multiple drainage work detours, a school-zone speed letter and a new traffic signal plan. All motions carried unanimously.
The Norwalk City Traffic Authority voted unanimously on Feb. 24 to approve staggered road closures for two public events, multiple drainage and utility-related closures and improvements, a request to change a school-zone speed limit, and a traffic-signal plan for the Grumman/Newtown intersection.
The votes came after public-works staff and outside contractors walked the panel through traffic control and mitigation plans for each item. The authority approved: full closure for the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade; partial closures for the annual O’Neil’s 5K; temporary night and daytime closures on Fort Point Street for an Eversource Energy structure install; daytime and nighttime MPT (maintenance and protection of traffic) changes for a state drainage project on West Avenue; a daytime full closure on Flax Hill at Washington for a WPCA drainage tie-in; a phased closure for a drainage rehabilitation on Flax Hill Road between Scribner Avenue and Arbor Drive; an OSTA letter requesting a school-zone speed-limit change at Phillips Street/Kendall Elementary; and concurrence to seek state approval for a traffic-signal plan at Newtown Avenue and Grumman Avenue.
Why it matters: the set of approvals will affect weekday and nighttime travel on multiple Norwalk routes in March through May, including several projects that the authority said are tied to state work, long-running city utility requirements and planned sidewalk/paving follow-ups.
Key outcomes (motions approved by the Traffic Authority) - Item A — St. Patrick’s Day parade: approved (motion moved by Commissioner Fran Collier Clemens). Outcome: approved; vote: unanimous (4 yes at time of vote). Notes: full closure as in prior years; route reported to be unchanged. - Item B — O’Neil’s 5K special event (partial closures): approved (motion moved by Commissioner Sumter). Outcome: approved; vote: unanimous (5 yes). Notes: event June 1; organizers reported no full road closures and use of sidewalks/bike lanes. - Item C — Fort Point Street, Eversource structure install (alternating day lane closures; full night closures May 5–19, 7 p.m.–7 a.m.): approved (motion moved by Commissioner Palladino). Outcome: approved; vote: unanimous (5 yes). Notes: police presence required for detours and overnight full closures. - Item D — West Avenue drainage (state project; day and night closures requested due to unanticipated utility conflicts): approved (motion moved by Commissioner Lopez). Outcome: approved; vote: unanimous (5 yes). Notes: contractor estimated about one month of phased work; minimum one lane maintained each direction; weekends open. - Item E — Flax Hill at Washington (WPCA daylight full closure for combined storm/sanitary separation): approved (motion moved by Commissioner Collier Clemens). Outcome: approved; vote: unanimous (5 yes). Notes: estimated 2–3 days construction, mobilization within one to two weeks; local access maintained; staff to distribute resident notices prior to mobilization. - Item F — Flax Hill Road between Scribner and Arbor Drive (drainage rehabilitation; phased closures): approved (motion moved/amended for discussion by Commissioner Collier Clemens). Outcome: approved; vote: unanimous (5 yes). Notes: estimated duration about one to one-and-a-half months; target start April–May; phased detours proposed. - Item G — Letter to OSTA requesting school-zone speed limit change (Phillips Street/Kendall Elementary): approved (motion moved by Commissioner Sumter). Outcome: approved; vote: unanimous (5 yes). Notes: routine state referral letter. - Item H — Traffic signal plan at Grumman and Newtown Avenue (ADA ramp upgrades, pedestrian signals): approved (motion moved by Commissioner Lopez). Outcome: approved; vote: unanimous (5 yes). Notes: concurrence to send plan to state for approval and right-of-way permitting.
Staff and contractors agreed to carry out additional outreach and to coordinate sign placement, signal-timing changes and police detours as conditions require before work begins. Several items contain contingencies on state approvals or material procurements, and staff said they will provide more detailed schedules to affected residents and businesses before mobilization.
A closing note: minutes from the Jan. 27, 2025 meeting were accepted at the start of the session, and the Traffic Authority adjourned at 4:58 p.m.; members mentioned the next meeting date as March 17.
