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Streetscape Improvements Coming to Wethersfield Avenue

By Andy Hart

August 30, 2012

Following multiple years of advocacy, State Senator John Fonfara (D-Hartford), Governor Dannel P. Malloy, and the South End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone announced today that streetscape improvements will soon be made along Hartford’s Wethersfield Avenue, between Eaton Street and Victoria Road.

“This Wethersfield Avenue project will support many construction jobs, while making the neighborhood more attractive and appealing for residents, merchants and customers, and the traffic corridor safer for cars and pedestrians,” said Senator Fonfara.

“Improvements to the streetscape of Wethersfield Avenue will not only make the neighborhood more appealing to residents, it will also help the neighborhood’s small businesses by bringing in more customers who will support local merchants,” Governor Malloy said. “With the right investments like this, we can ensure that the revitalization of neighborhoods will also lead to economic growth and job creation.”

Next week, on August 31st, the State Bond Commission is expected to approve $750,000 for improvements to Wethersfield Avenue including construction of new granite curbing, minor drainage improvements, pavement markings, new sidewalks and crosswalks, and full depth roadway patches.

A key feature of these improvements will be the installation of parking bays and “bulb outs” along the sides of the roadway to calm traffic and increase safety.

The streetscape improvements will move forward in full coordination with the previously planned Airport Road area MDC sewer separation project. In addition to its sewer work, MDC will contribute $420,950 to the streetscape improvements.

“In working toward this project, we knew that MDC already planned to tear up Wethersfield Avenue as part of the ongoing city-wide sewer separation effort. The timing couldn’t be better to make additional improvements to the road, and we are very glad that MDC is fully involved this streetscape improvement,” said Senator Fonfara.

Senator Fonfara concluded, “This project is the result of many years of effort on the part of the South End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, and particularly Al Marotta of the Wethersfield Avenue Advisory Committee. I want to thank everyone in the community who has advocated to make this a reality.”