It’s not the Cribari Bridge, or the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.
In fact, most Westporters never even realized there was a bridge on Jesup Road at all.
But when 7 inches of rain rendered the bridge — really just a tiny bit of road a few yards from Imperial Avenue — too dangerous to use last month, Westporters suddenly realized how important that little shortcut is. (Click here for yesterday’s story about the replacement process.)
It’s a quick way to avoid the Post Road, on the way to the Library and Levitt Pavilion.
More importantly, it’s the quickest way for police and Emergency Medical Services — whose headquarters are just up the hill — to head to just about any location in town east of the Saugatuck River.
The Jesup Road bridge is at the foot of the street, where it intersects with Imperial Avenue.
Even a fast-track replacement could take 12 to 18 months, considering the permitting, planning, review, budgeting and construction process.
So what — besides praying we don’t have a dire medical emergency — can we do?
Not much, beyond holding town (and state) officials’ feet to the fire.
But we can try to create workarounds.
One idea is to create alternate routes.
Several Westporters independently came up with the same ideas.
One is to make Bay Street — the short 1-way road that runs from Post Road East past Design Within Reach and the Cake Box to Jesup Road — 2-way. Parking along the road would be eliminated.
That’s a great plan — and not just because it provides important access to the Post Road.
Right now, cars park on both sides of Bay Street. It’s narrow to begin with. When you consider the size of today’s vehicles — and the less-than-stellar parallel parkin job some drivers do — it would also alleviate some of that mess.
Currently, cars park on both sides of Bay Street. (Photo/Google Maps)
Similarly, Taylor Place — the even shorter road that connects the lower library parking lot at the foot of Jesup Green (and Jesup Road) with the Post Road, from Tonic & Green to Tiffany — could also be converted to 2-way traffic. Or perhaps there could be 2 lanes of traffic, one for turning left or going straight, the other turning right.
A few 15-minute parking spots would be eliminated there, along with a delivery zone. But they seem like trade-offs that would help overall.
Taylor Place
Those are a couple of alternatives. “06880” readers probably have others thoughts. Click “Comments” below.
Meanwhile, there’s one other quick fix to make traffic flow a bit smoother: Take down the Imperial Avenue stop signs, in both directions, at Jesup Road.
For the next 12 to 18 months, there will be no need to stop there.
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