Groton ― The city wants to make the Bridge Street and Interstate 95 interchange, one of its busiest intersections and a gateway to the city, safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

But before making any permanent improvements, the city will test them out first.

The city is planning a two-month “Tactical Urbanism” demonstration project that will use materials, including tape, paint and planters, to make temporary improvements, such as bicycle lanes and sidewalk curb extensions, said City of Groton Economic Development Manager Cierra Patrick.

The project will focus on Bridge, North and Broad streets.

Patrick said the idea is to evaluate a “Complete Streets” redesign of the intersection that considers how all forms of transportation, including motor vehicles, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians, interact.

The demonstration will include a proposed bike lane that will cross Bridge Street and travel along North Street.

A left turning lane from Bridge Street to the Gold Star Bridge access will become a median, with planters, in an effort to calm traffic in the area, said Patrick.

There also will be some crosswalk additions, including a new sidewalk on Bridge Street where Norm’s Diner is and where Paul’s TV used to be, plus tweaks to existing crosswalks, Patrick said.

The project is slated to begin Sept. 25, contingent on permit approval, said Patrick.

A conceptual plan, available on the community engagement website https://www.greatergroton.com shows proposed bike lanes in green and curb-cut extensions in yellow.

The city will seek feedback throughout the project. City of Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick said that if the temporary improvements are well received, the city would seek funding for permanent improvements.

Based on initial feedback, there have been conversations about whether it would be better for a potential bike path to continue along North Street to Mitchell Street or Meridian Street, or turn onto Broad Street and then go to Monument Street and ultimately connect to Smith Street, Patrick said.

The city also will be looking at the timing of traffic lights in the area.

The Bridge Street and I-95 intersection gets significant traffic from the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, Electric Boat and Pfizer, particularly at shift changes, said City Planner Leslie Creane.

Creane said she has heard from people that there aren’t many pedestrians in the area, and she said that’s exactly the point.

“We want there to be pedestrians. The businesses that are there want to have pedestrians,” said Creane. “People want to be able to feel they can safely walk across the streets so that they can walk across the bridge once that opens back up or they can walk safely across Bridge Street.”

Complete Streets

The city’s “Complete Streets” demonstration project, in the works for several years, grew out of the Plan of Conservation and Development and the community’s wish to have a more walkable and bikeable community, starting with the city’s “gateways,” Patrick said.

Patrick said the city is starting to see more business activity on Bridge Street, so the city wants to design the area to bring more awareness to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists about what to expect at the intersection and to find ways to calm traffic.

Hedrick said the city wants to evaluate the improvements’ viability before Electric Boat brings in thousands of new workers, which will create additional parking and traffic challenges for the city.

Hedrick said parking and traffic are always going to be issues in the city, which is 3.2 square miles and has a population of about 9,500 people, with another 15,000 people traveling in and out of the city each day to go to Electric Boat, Pfizer and Avery Point.

Hedrick said some of the strategy is to retrain people to use Clarence B. Sharp Highway, which was designed for people to get in and out of the city quickly.

Community feedback

During an open house at the Municipal Building this week, about a dozen residents and local officials listened to a presentation, asked questions and made comments.

Attendees shared concerns, including about the considerable amount of traffic that causes a bottleneck as people turn from Fairview Avenue onto Bridge Street, as they come from the Naval Submarine Base, and potentially in the future from the Triton Square apartment complex under construction.

They were also worried about traffic jams in the area and an increase in traffic during shift changes.

Attendees said they have witnessed pedestrians unsafely crossing Bridge and Broad streets. They added that sidewalks should be on both sides of the streets on Broad, Bridge and North streets.

Another open house is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 13 in the Municipal Building.

Patrick and Creane encouraged community members to share comments on the greatergroton.com website. A final version of the plan will be shared before it is implemented.

Patrick said the city received grants, in the amounts of $25,000 and about $30,000, from the state Department of Public Health for the development of the plans and community engagement.

k.drelich@theday.com