Stonington — After an estimated 400 residents and contractors poured through its gates last Saturday, town officials have announced that the transfer station will close for one week beginning Wednesday.

Many of those who visited the transfer station over this past weekend did not have lot of items but were instead socializing with neighbors or just disposing of their yellow trash bags, which are always collected each week by the town’s hauler, according to Solid Waste Manager John Phetteplace. Cars backed up to the front entrance on Greenhaven Road and people parked next to containers to unload items, creating a “traffic nightmare.”

“Being outside may have seemed like a safe place to distance but clearly no distancing was happening,” he said. “It was not just putting our people in danger but our residents, as well.”

Phetteplace said he did not want to fully close the facility as some other towns have done, as this would leave contractors without a place to dispose of debris. But, he said, he also needs to protect his employees and residents.

So, he and town officials came up with a plan to re-open the transfer station Thursday, April 2, at which point residents will only be able to access the facility by making an appointment. A maximum of five people will be allowed in every 15 minutes.

In announcing the temporary change in operations, the town stated, “As some municipalities are moving towards fully closing their transfer station, we are striving to keep ours open to continue to serve residents and small businesses. We are taking these extraordinary measures to ensure the health of our workers and residents alike.”

Beginning April 2, the transfer station will be open by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The facility will be closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. Before the change, the facility was closed Wednesday but open on Sundays. Residents can make an appointment by calling (860) 535-5088 weekdays between 9 a.m. and noon. Appointments must be booked at least 24 hours in advance and no same-day appointments will be permitted.

Phetteplace said the one-week closure beginning Wednesday will allow staff to prepare for the appointment-based schedule. He said an employee will be at the gate checking appointments.

Phetteplace stressed that there still is curbside pickup for all residents, so they do not need to bring their yellow bags to the transfer station.

He also asked residents to fully close their yellow bags to help protect workers who are picking them up.

j.wojtas@theday.com