Town Planning To Pave Greenwich Avenue Soon: 'It's A Big Operation'

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich Avenue has undergone several enhancements over the last few years, including intersection and ADA improvements and sidewalk replacement projects.

Now, according to Greenwich Department of Public Works Commissioner Jim Michel, the culminating project is to pave Greenwich Avenue from top to bottom.

Michel appeared before the Board of Selectmen on Aug. 28 to ask for the approval of a noise exemption and detour plan to help facilitate the paving work.

According to Michel, DPW is looking to begin paving around the week of Columbus Day. The hope is to complete all of the work in about two to three weeks.

"It's a big operation we've been planning for a few weeks already, and we'll be planning pretty much daily between now and then," Michel told the selectmen, who did not take any action.

The board is expected to revisit the item at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 11.

Work would take place during the overnight hours from about 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Michel noted 9 p.m. is "kind of the end of the evening for many of the restaurants" on Greenwich Avenue.

"Hopefully we'll be able to get all of [the paving] completed this fall, but in the event we don't, we might have to do a little bit in the spring," said Michel, who noted DPW officials are keeping Thanksgiving and the busy holiday season in mind.

Work is also being proposed to take place this fall so the new pavement has time to settle before heavy outdoor dining barriers are put back in place in spring 2026.

"We understand with the businesses, restaurants and everything out there, it's going to be disruptive regardless of when we do it," Michel said. "We do know there are residents in the area as well, so that's another factor we have to weigh in."

To make the work more efficient, Michel said milling, paving and striping would be done block by block.

"It's going to be kind of a 'marching-down-the-Avenue process,'" Michael added, noting road closure and detours would be needed.

"We'll have police protection, we'll have our staff out there as well. It's going to be a big operation. We'll be having lights and so forth to help the guys that are working out there to be able to see what they're doing," Michel explained.

Police and DPW staff will also be present at the work sites to ensure safety and make sure people aren't wandering into construction zones.

"Luckily for us in this area, there are many side streets that are very closely available to utilize. We don't have any major long detours when we do this, and Greenwich Avenue is a one-way road... So we're really only having to detour in one direction, and that's another benefit we have."

Parking along Greenwich Avenue will be eliminated during overnight working hours, but restored during the daytime, Michel said.

Outdoor dining is subject to end on Oct. 19, and Michel said some outdoor dining areas could be impacted at the very start of the project.

Additionally, Selectwoman Lauren Rabin pointed out that if work isn't completed by Veterans Day on Nov. 11, the town would have to re-examine its annual Veterans Day march and ceremony on Greenwich Avenue.

"We'll see where we're at on that," Michel said.

In addition to the paving project, Michel said DPW is pursuing a public-private partnership to develop a maintenance plan for Greenwich Avenue, notably because of new landscaping that has been added along the .65-mile stretch of roadway.

First Selectman Fred Camillo said the paving project and maintenance plan will complement Greenwich Crossing, the train station revitalization project on Railroad Avenue that could be completed this fall.

"Things are looking up on the Avenue again," Camillo said.