Zoning Board Approves Pedestrian Bridge Over Rippowam River

STAMFORD, CT — A pedestrian bridge will be built over the Rippowam River from Greenwich Avenue to Washington Boulevard and the Charter Communications building in Stamford.

The city's Zoning Board unanimously approved the project last week by a vote of 5-0. The bridge will be 250-feet-long and 12-feet-wide, with approach walkways, utility fixtures, drainage improvements and other site improvements.

The bridge will connect Mill River Park to the north, and provide pedestrians and cyclists with an alternate path to the train station because there's already access from the Charter site to the station.

Building and Land Technology will construct the bridge, but the city will own it upon completion.

The intent is to build the bridge this summer or fall, according to David Ginter from Redniss and Mead.

"This will bring us closer to having a continuous connection from Mill River down to the harbor," said Land Use Bureau Chief Ralph Blessing during last week's Zoning Board meeting. "There's a couple of pieces still missing... I think it will be vitally important to connect the South End to Mill River Park."

Last fall, the city broke ground on Phase II of the Mill River Collaborative's Greenway Project. The 12-foot wide, multi-use, lighted greenway trail will extend 2,300 feet from Green Street up to the southern border of Scalzi Park.

At the time, then-Mayor David Martin said the trail was part of "a comprehensive vision" to connect parks at the southernmost end of the city all the way up to Scalzi Park.