Norwich — The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments is seeking comments on a four-year regional transportation plan outlining projects from the Gold Star Memorial Bridge to bicycle and pedestrian upgrades. The 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program is a planning document with a list of projects expected to be funded federally, with state and some local matching funds, over four years, according to the document. The projects include improvements to transit, highways, and pedestrian and bicycle paths. A public hearing on the draft plan will be held Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Council of Governments’ office at 5 Connecticut Ave. and virtually. Kate Rattan, director of transportation planning for the council of governments, said the plan lists about $1.5 billion of highway projects and $50.7 million in transit projects. Projects featured in the plan include phases of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge northbound project in New London and Groton and its southbound walkway and bike path improvement; the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge in Montville and Preston; safety improvements on Route 32 in New London and Route 82 in Norwich; and signal modernization, according to the document. Among the other projects are Interstate 95 Exit 89 ramp improvements and a Depot Road to Thomas Road bicycle improvements project in Groton that “will include the re-striping of Industrial Drive, Depot Road, Route 1, and SR 649 (South Road/Tower Avenue) to create bicycle lanes and share the road pavement markings.” The plan also calls for bicycle and pedestrian upgrades along Williams Street from Gordon Court to Huntington Street in New London, the reconfiguration of the I-95 Exit 71 and 72 interchanges in Old Lyme and East Lyme, rehabilitation of a culvert carrying Route 165 in Preston, and improvements to bridges carrying Route 11 northbound and Route 11 southbound over Eight Mile River in Salem. Transit projects include an Electric Vehicle facility and new paratransit vehicles for the Southeast Area Transit District. The plan, updated on a two-year basis, includes safety and traffic congestion goals.
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