Norwich — Anyone wanting to get from Route 32 in Thamesville to the Route 82-West Main Street shopping areas or the Interstate 395 on-ramp, or vice versa, knows how to avoid a few slow miles of red lights and congestion: take a shortcut onto Dunham Street.

The straight, east-west residential street bears more than its share of traffic due to its strategic location as a perfect cut-through between routes 32 and 82. And its surface has shown the wear and tear over the years, along with a patchwork of uneven pavement left behind after utility work last year.

The city Public Works Department plans to rectify the problems next summer with more than a simple repaving project. City Engineer Patrick McLaughlin presented plans to residents and members of the East Great Plain Volunteer Fire Department this week for a $2.1 million reconstruction of the entire 4,500-foot length of Dunham Street starting June 1, 2019.

The work includes construction of sidewalks along the southern side of the street for the entire length, creation of shared bicycle lanes in both directions and new pavement. The street is not wide enough for dedicated bicycle lanes like those recently marked on Mahan Drive, but lines at the shoulder will mark the area for bicycles, McLaughlin said.

Currently, sidewalks are in place on both sides of the street at each end that run about a quarter to a third of the street's length and then end. Those sidewalks will remain in place and be improved in spots, while a new sidewalk on the south side will be added to fill in the gaps, McLaughlin said.

Norwich Public Utilities ran natural gas lines through the street two years ago, and NPU is expected to install a new water line for the Westledge Apartments along the route prior to repaving, McLaughlin said.

“We’re constantly coordinating with NPU to make sure all their work is done first,” McLaughlin said.

The project will be funded using $1.76 million through the state Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program, which will cover the entire construction cost, and city funds to cover the up to $340,000 anticipated design and engineering costs.

Work is slated to begin June 1 and be completed by October 2019.

The road is not expected to be completely closed at any point during the construction but alternating one-way traffic will be needed in work zones. School buses will be able to run along the road during the project, McLaughlin said. All work will be done during the day.

“With residences and houses right close to the road, you wouldn’t want to do night work,” he said.

c.bessette@theday.com