Greenway Committee Plans for Phase 2, Looks Forward to Phase 3

Now that a contractor is ready to start work on Phase 2 of the Stratford Greenway, Greenway Committee members are already looking forward to Phase 3.

The Dalling Construction Company was awarded the contract for Phase 2, which will connect the Phase 1 section to Main Street next to DeLuca Field. The work is estimated to cost $375,000.

At a meeting on Thursday, committee members began planning for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Phase 2 and what might come next.

Town planner David Killeen said more people in Stratford are becoming aware of the greenway, a park-like strip with park benches following a paved bikeway and parallel walkway.

Phase 1 winds along the Housatonic River just south of the Birdseye boat ramp, and gives visitors scenic views of the river and the Milford Point marshes.

Killeen told the committee that the town has submitted an application for a $947,200 grant from the Federal Highway Administration for Phase 3, which would extend the Greenway 2.4 miles up Elm Street to Stratford Center.

The town’s local share of the Phase 3 project cost would be $236,800, he said. The work would entail designating the bike path by painting the bicycle pathway on the side of the road, and adding signs for the walking path.

"It’s almost a $1.2 million project altogether," Killeen said.

The committee was hoping to set a date for the Phase 2 ribbon-cutting, but was unable to do so because work hasn’t begun yet.

Greenway Committee Chairman Joseph Vecsey said the ribbon-cutting ceremony would probably take place by the end of October.

Killeen said he hopes to hear from the Community Transportation Program about the federal grant before the Phase 2 ribbon-cutting takes place.

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