The dangerous stretch of Cross Highway between North Avenue and Bayberry Lane is slated for improvements.
Residents can review proposals at a public information meeting next Tuesday (March 14, 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Department of Public Works engineering staff and other town officials will discuss and answer questions regarding the proposals, and any potential impacts to the neighborhood.
The design engineer will participate online, with data and drawings.
Proposed concepts range from minor traffic sign upgrades to complete intersection reconstruction. They include, but are not limited to:
- Adding crosswalks in key areas
- Construction of new and/or repair of existing sidewalks
- Adding revised signage along the right-of-way
- Relocation of utility poles
- Installation of traffic signals
- Roadway widening at the intersections to realign approach and turning lanes
- Installation of roundabouts at the intersections
- Bridge replacement over Dead Man’s Brook.
For questions about the project, call town engineer Keith Wilberg at 203-341-1128, or email kwilberg@westportct.gov.
A recent 3-car accident at the intersection of Cross Highway and Bayberry Lane. (Photo/Westport Fire Department)
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Alert “06880” reader Bob Weingarten writes:
“I drove by the Linxweiler Homestead house at 655 Post Road East (between Fresh Market and McDonald’s) — given to the town in 1981 — and saw 10 or so red ribbons on trees in the front and side of the property. This is normally an indication that the trees will be eliminated.
“Very strange. There seems to be too many to be ‘sick’.”
The tree warden has not responded to a request for comment.
Trees with red ribbons by Linxweiler House: the view from Post Road East …
… and from Crescent Road. (Photos/Bob Weingarten)
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The #7-ranked Staples High School boys basketball team easily dispatched #26 Manchester last night, in the first round of the state Division II tournament.
The score was 74-39, and the game was not even that close. But what the large crowd will remember most happened a few seconds from the end.
The Redhawks coach substituted in a player with a developmental disability. A Staples player fouled him softly, but deliberately, at the 3-point line, giving him 3 free throws.
He missed them all — not by much — but the referee detected a lane violation on the third. The young athlete sank his 4th attempt — swish! — to the roar of both teams, and fans on both sides of the gym.
The win advances Staples to the round of 16. They host #23 RHAM — an upset 61-52 winner over Enfield — tomorrow (Thursday, March 9). Game time is 6:30 p.m. (Hat tip: Jordan Schur)
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Television producer/filmmaker/author Natasha Rogoff talks about her debut book, “Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia” tomorrow — and the public is invited.
It’s a true story from the mid-1990s, when the Soviet Union renounced communism and moved toward democracy. Amid bombings, assassinations and a military takeover of the production office, Rogoff and a talented Moscow team of artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers and puppeteers brought laughter, learning and a new way of seeing the world to children in Russia, Ukraine and across the former Soviet empire.
The Westport Library event (March 9, 10 a.m.) is sponsored by the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston.
Click below for more information:
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A wide variety of films will be shown at Friday’s “Teen Festival” at MoCA Westport (March 10, 6 p.m., 19 Newtown Turnpike).
High school students from around the area have submitted short films. Some are serious; some are funny — all are intriguing and worht seeing.
Tickets are $5 in advance (click here), $10 at the door). Proceeds fund the work of the Teens at MoCA club. Light snacks will be served.
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Jeremy Schaap — award-winning journalist, author, host of ESPN’s “E:60” and “Outside the Lines,” and a 1986 Staples High School graduate and current Westporter — spoke at the Westport Rotary Club’s lunch meeting yesterday.
Schaap — son of legendary sportscaster and writer Dick Schaap — described growing up immersed in the New York sports world when the Yankees, Mets, Jets and Giants loomed large.
Yet he called Mike Tyson one of his most fascinating interview subjects. They’ve spoken over 100 times, and “he’s the athlete that most let you into how he was thinking.”
Schaap was interviewed by his longtime friend Karl Mergenthaler (Staples ’87), Westport Rotary Club president.
Jeremy Schaap, at yesterday’s Westport Rotary Club meeting at Green’s Farms Church. (Photo and hat tip/Dave Matlow)
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Looking for a Westport-themed St. Patrick’s Day gift? Or yourself?
You’re in luck!
“Finding Westport” has just introduced a new collection of hoodies, tees, tank tops, blankets, mugs and more. Click here to see, and order.
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Young LGBTQ+ people are making their mark on Westport, and the world.
Now they’re eligible for a scholarship, up to $1,000.
Sponsored by Westport Pride, it is open to anyone who has planned or been part of activities or organizations in the LGBTQ+ community; anyone who feels their experiences as a young queer person has shaped their perspective as an aspect of themselves, or LGBTQ+ individuals who produced art that highlights the history, struggles or triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community.
High school students in Westport are eligible. Applications are available here, or at the Staples High School College & Career Center. Applications include an essay, video or art piece, and small write-up.
The application deadline is March 31.
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All 3 Westport selectwomen visited Staples High School on Monday, to celebrate Civic Learning Week. The goal is to empower students to become active, engaged members of their community.
In a meeting moderated by seniors Scarlett Siegel and Spencer Yim, Jen Tooker Andrea Moore and Candice Savin answered questions from students. Topics ranged from the structure of town government to efforts to address sustainability, traffic and other areas.
Members of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society assisted with the event.
Celebrating Civic Learning Week (from left): Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice, moderators Spencer Yim and Scarlett Siegel, and selectwomen Jen Tooker, Andrea Moore and Candice Savin.
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A Compo Beach sunset shows off our town’s beauty, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature:
(Photo/Jonathan Alloy)
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And finally … David Lindley was not a household name. But the session guitarist played on some of the most famous recordings by Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Rod Stewart and others. He performed on his own too.
Lindley died Friday, at 78. He had suffered from kidney trouble, pneumonia and other ailments. Click here for a full obituary. Click below to hear his work:
(Please make sure “06880” is not running on empty. Click here to contribute. Thank you!)
Would like the public to be aware that those trees on the post road are proposed to be cut down for sidewalk installation and lane expansion.
They also want to cut down the two beautiful cherry blossom trees at Sakura.
Want to save them or have comments or concerns about the cherry blossom trees at Sakura?
mail to: Joseph.Aiello@ct.gov
This is the direct contact to save the trees at Sakura along with the trees on the other side.
Regarding the “dangerous” stretch of Cross Highway: How about utilizing resources that already exist. (The WPD) Hammer the area night and day with real traffic enforcement. No enforcement no compliance.
Speaking of trees 🌲
Did Flavia or the tree warden ever get back to 06880 on the Longshore Chainsaw Massacre?
Buttigieg leadership skills ⁉️
Not a word from either.
Who do they report to in Town Hall??
Replace the bridge over Deadmans? Really? Why do we so often start the conversation at the extreme end? Why not first explore reasonable modification strategies that would conserve the historic nature of the span?
For many years I lived on Bayberry Lane below the Cross Highway intersection. Over the years I stopped to help at several accidents. There is nothing inherently “wrong” with that stretch of road except maybe no sidewalks.
Here are the issues and the solutions…
I don’t know what the speed limit is there but I’m sure its not 60mph. Almost nobody drives the actual speed limit but maybe slowing down to a normal speed would help.
People getting drunk (and now high) and driving.
People who are totally distracted by the 50 gadgets now at their fingertips while driving. Pay attention to the road!
People who have no consideration for traffic laws and blow through the intersections.
I’ve never seen an accident there from a sober, driving close to the speed limit who wasn’t distracted and actually cared about the stop signs person.
I have never seen a three car pile up in suburbia.
Full stop.
The intersection of Crescent Road and Post Road East by Linxweiler House (655PRE) is being realigned and moved slightly West by the State and hence the need for removal of the trees.