Update Issued On Great Island Access Road Project

DARIEN, CT — Darien Public Works Director Ed Gentile provided an update last week on the ongoing work to widen 23A, the access road to Great Island.

Gentile appeared before the Great Island Parking Design Committee during the committee's June 18 meeting, which is available to watch on demand on Darien TV.

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Widening 23A, with associated site improvements, is a vital step in opening up the 60-plus-acre property to more residents, as it will allow for cars to get on the island, including emergency vehicles.

Gentile said crews are seeking to mill the Goodwives River Road area around June 25, with paving of the roadway intersection possibly taking place June 29-July 1, with the addition of the wearing course - or the uppermost layer of pavement - to the driveway into the circle.

There is still more work to be done on the stone retaining walls in the area, Gentile said, but the main walls should be completed soon.

"We still have a lot of work to do on the walls, but we feel we can get that pavement down, hopefully have that roadway accessible, as well as the sidewalk accessible, for the Fourth of July weekend," Gentile said. "We are shooting for that. We did go ahead and order the gates for the two causeway areas, and we're on their schedule for implementation."

Plantings, especially for screening purposes, can be installed while the roadway is open, Gentile said, noting more planting work could take place in September/October.

More information on the 23A project is expected the week of June 29, Gentile said.

Watch the full June 18 Great Island Parking Design Committee on DarienTV.