Let The Digging Begin: Thames Street Rehab Project Ready to Go

Reported and written by Ellyn Santiago.

A local contractor (B&W Paving & Landscaping of Mystic), local subcontractors, local jobs (construction foreman lives in Groton City) and the promise of a new era for Thames Street, by this time in 2014, they’ll be no more “bumping down” Thames.  

“This (project) is key to development of this area,” said Groton City Mayor Marian Galbraith. “We’re poised to be able to do something with economic development of the area.”  

Galbraith, who lobbied heavily for voter approval of the rehabilitation of Thames Street along with Republican City Councilor Keith Hedrick, is standing at the site of the construction staging area pointing out that when the project is completed, the spot will be a park.  

“As terrible as it looks right now, this is going to be a park,” she said.  

 Scheduled to take 270 calendar days with a winter shutdown slated to begin in November, the groundbreaking is set for next week, according to City and project engineer William E Lewis.      

In 2009 voters rejected a plan for the Thames rehabilitation at a price tag of $10.7 million. Two yeas later, after seeing that plan trimmed to $6.3 million, voters blessed the project.

According to plan figures, the 20-year bond would cost property taxpayers, in its highest year, just over $24 on a median price home of $165,410. 

There will be traffic disruptions but Lewis and Galbraith said the schools, EB, local businesses and residents will be informed daily about what and where.  

Galbraith said that residents have told her they’ll be okay with the detours.   “(Residents say) ‘That’s okay. It will be worth it. We’ve been bumping along this road forever. It will be worth it.’”