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Pedestrian Safety Projects

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Weston Pedestrian Safety Projects

Related Materials:

Sidewalk Map as of 2025-05

The Town of Weston is in the process of moving forward with four projects intended to improve traffic flow, increase pedestrian safety, and promote walking in and around the Town Center. The projects are as follows:  1) The Town Center Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons Project; 2) The Community Connectivity Sidewalk Project; 3) The Weston Town Center Pedestrian Improvements Project; and 4) The Town Center Intersection and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project. 


Each project was identified within the Town’s most recently updated  Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).  A visual of these projects, which exists on pages 19-20 of the POCD, is available for download here.

 

Below is a written description of each of the four projects along with status updates. We are constantly updating the information, so please continue to revisit this web page for updates.

 

 

 

 

1) The Town Center Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons Project - Completed

This project was completed in the summer of 2022.  Work was completed by the State of Connecticut and consisted of the installation of two Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons on Weston Road across from the Shopping Center. The flashing beacons enhance pedestrian conspicuity and increase driver awareness at the uncontrolled, marked crosswalks on Weston Road.  The project was funded entirely by the State and completed in the summer of 2022.

2) The Community Connectivity Sidewalk Project - Completed

The majority of this project was completed in the summer and fall of 2023 with the only work remaining consisting of signal modifications at the intersection of Weston Rd and Norfield Rd. This project included the construction of approximately 5,500 linear feet of new sidewalk, varying in material type including concrete, bituminous concrete, and stone dust within the Town Center and along School Road.  Completion of the project has improved walkability on both the school and municipal campuses, as well as provided students with a safer pathway to and from the Weston Shopping Center.  The Town was awarded $884,200 under the State’s Community Connectivity Program Grant Program to cover 100% of the construction cost

3) The Weston Town Center Pedestrian Improvements Project

This estimated $2.2 million project has been selected to receive federal grant funding under the Transportation Alternatives Program for 80% of both the design and construction cost of the project.  The project is currently in the design phase and includes proposed new sidewalks in the following locations:

  • Immediately east of the Norfield Congregational Church on the north side of Norfield Road extending approximately 2,300 linear feet east to the intersection of Norfield Road and Old Hyde Road.  

  • Northerly along the west side of Old Hyde Road a distance of approximately one mile to the intersection of Lords Highway and Old Hyde Road.  

Approximately 1,200 linear feet of 12’ wide multi-use trail between Old Hyde Road and the high school to provide additional pedestrian, bicycle and emergency access.  

This project has been authorized by CT DOT to proceed to the 90% design phase.  Questions about the project should be directed to Bridget Moriarty of VN Engineers.  Her email address is bmoriarty@vnengineers.com 

GOAL OF PROJECT
To increase pedestrian safety and promote walking in and around the Town Center with better access to
Town and School properties.

PROJECT STATUS
Sidewalks planned for Norfield Road and Old Hyde Road are still in the early design stages – currently at
30% development. The Town anticipates that actual construction would not occur until Summer 2026.

TREES
Trees in the project area are still under evaluation. An initial assessment was performed by Bartlett Tree
Experts which evaluated every tree in the project area. The Tree Warden also needs to evaluate the
trees as the sidewalk design is more fully developed to determine which trees will be impacted. No final
determination has been reached at this point in terms of identifying the actual trees that will be
impacted. The level of design at this point does not support that level of decision making. Planting new
trees is an available option in the project area as the design is further developed.
In summary the Bartlett report identified the condition of the trees in the project area are as follows:

Category
 Number Percentage
 Good   15 17.2% 
 Fair   46  52.9%
 Poor   16  18.4%
 Dead   2  2.3%
 Unknown  8  9.1%

 

A copy of the Bartlett Report can be found here. Bartlett Tree Report

STONE WALLS
The project will be exclusively built in the public right-of-way and not built on private property. The
design does not call for impacts to private stone walls. Easements will not be required to build the
sidewalk. Individual property owners may want to grant a temporary easement to adjust the grade of
their driveway at the apron, however this will be voluntary.

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL
It is the Town’s intention to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks. The Town will be maintaining
new sidewalks in abutting areas that have already been built with equipment that will be purchased.
Liability for slips and falls or for maintenance will be the responsibility of the Town of Weston per
Statute.

FUTURE MAINTENANCE OF SIDEWALKS
Future maintenance of the sidewalk will be the responsibility of the Town of Weston. The Town has
already assumed the responsibility for sidewalks built to-date in the Town Center area.

Items Completed:

  • The project was included in the current Town Plan of Conservation and Development.

  • Received a Project Authorization Letter from the CT DOT for preliminary design work.

  • Funding for design secured via the adopted budgets for Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23.  

  • Hired VN Engineers to do preliminary design and to eventually present it to the public. 

  • Notice of surveying sent via Town Hall Happenings and by mail to select households.

  • Local funding secured.

  • Surveying of properties.

  • Preliminary Design.

  • Examination of the condition of existing trees impacted by project.

  • Archeological Survey and preparation of Report on Findings.

  • State Historic Preservation Office concurrence on no impact to archaeological or historical resources received.

  • Public outreach meeting held on August 1, 2023.

 

Work in progress:

  • Wetlands delineation

  • 90% design 

 

Future Work:

  • Wetlands permitting.

  • Local Historic District Commission review.

  • Board of Selectmen (BOS) sets a public hearing date and advertises the public hearing.

  • Public Hearing educates the public about preliminary design and seeks public feedback. 

  • Potential edits to the preliminary design based on feedback.

  • BOS submits the project to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a report.  As part of that process, the Commission will hold a public hearing. 

  • BOS submits the project to the Conservation Commission (if necessary).

  • Final Design submitted to CT DOT for approval.

  • Development & Distribution of Bid Documents.

  • Bid awarded.

  • Construction. 

Projected completion time:  Fall of 2026 

 

4) The Town Center Intersection and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project

This project, with an estimated construction cost of $1.85 million, will provide a safe and inviting pedestrian environment in and around the Weston Town Center, including Town Schools, Municipal Buildings, the Town Library and other destinations. The State awarded the Town a Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program Grant in the amount of $1.85 million for construction costs. The Town is responsible for designing the project, including all costs associated with design.

This project would see improvements made to Weston in three areas near the Town Center:

  1. Intersection of Weston Road (Route 57) and School Road: The construction of an exclusive northbound right turn lane, a southbound bypass area and improved traffic signal operations.

  2. Lords Highway from the playing field next to School Road to Old Hyde Road: The addition of approximately 2,000 linear feet of 5' wide sidewalks in this area will provide students who currently walk on the grass shoulder or edge of the narrow road with a safer pedestrian experience.

  3. Norfield Road from Town Hall Complex to Norfield Church: The addition of approximately 600 linear feet of 5' wide concrete sidewalks along the northern side of Norfield Road will provide sidewalk connections from the Town Hall Complex and Library to the adjacent Norfield Church.

 

Items Completed:

  • Project was included in the updated 2020 Town Plan of Conservation and Development.

  • Commitment to Fund Letter received from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT).  

  • Funding for project design phase secured via the Boards of Selectmen & Finance in December of 2019

  • SLR Consulting selected to completed project design and eventually put it out to bid.

  • Notice of land surveying sent via Town Hall Happenings.

  • Surveying of properties.

  • Initial utility coordination.

  • Archeological Survey and preparation of Report on Findings.

  • State Historic Preservation Office concurrence on no impact to archaeological or historical resources received.

  • Public outreach meeting held on May 9, 2023.

  • Town Planning & Zoning recommendation for approval of improvements and granting of right-of-way to CT DOT for highway purposes in accordance with CGS 8-24 received.

  • Weston Tree Assessment report from Bartlett Tree Experts, the updated tree list, and Roll Plans (click here to view documents)

 

Work in progress:

  • 90% Design plans.

  • Regulatory permitting.

 

Future Work:

  • Local Historic District Commission review.

  • Granting of right-of-way on Town-property abutting Weston Rd to CT DOT for highway purposes to accommodate new turning lanes.

  • Final Design submitted to CT DOT for approval.

  • Development & Distribution of Bid Documents.

  • Bid awarded.

  • Construction. 

 

Projected completion time:  Fall of 2026 (estimate)