Next Phase Of Mystic Streetscape Could Begin In Spring 2013

The second phase of the Mystic Streetscape project, a 1.3 million plan to build sidewalks, is expected to go out to bid this fall and start no earlier than the spring of 2013, Groton Planning and Development Director Mike Murphy said.

“This is a simple phase,” said Murphy.

The streetscape project, a $3.6 million plan to replace sidewalks, install granite curbs and bury utilities, suffered delays ; merchants hung on for months as workers tore up their sidewalks, traffic backed up and local shoppers stayed away. But the project is now coming to a close, and visitors are returning to the area.

The second phase of the plan would construct sidewalks from the public restrooms on Water Street to the area where Water Street turns into Noank Road. It would add a small section of sidewalk between the Factory Square Building and New London Road on the west side.

The project would involve some landscaping but no burying of utilities.

Murphy said it would also add six to seven parking spaces in front of the Randall’s Warf property between The Emporium and Captain Daniel Packer Inne.

“(By) recessing the curb we pick up a few more feet to cerate standard parking spaces down there, which will be beneficial to the retail and the restaurants on Water Street and generally to the downtown,” he said.

The project is expected to take no more than a few months, Murphy said.

The current phase of the streetscape has some work still remaining; contractors still have to finish the park area across from Mystic Pizza, plaza work at the bookstore, pavers between the sidewalk and buildings and improvements to a pump station at Gravel Street.

Wires are coming down but the utility polls may not be removed at the same time. Roughly half are CL&P poles and half belong to AT&T.