For years, livable community activists, including current and former elected officials, have advocated vigorously for pedestrian and cycling access to the Putnam Memorial Bridge, oftentimes in the face of consistent ConnDOT refusal.

Earlier this month, however, the Department announced that the debate over a walkway for the bridge, which connects Glastonbury and Wethersfield, was over.  Thanks to the tireless efforts of safety advocates and elected officials, and a change of heart at the agency, the planned rehabilitation of the bridge now includes the addition of a six-foot-wide walkway.

Unfortunately for cyclists though, protected bicycle access on the bridge will not be included. ConnDOT has stated that due to weight constraints on the bridge, the pathway could be no wider than six feet, much smaller than federally preferred multi-use path widths of eight to ten feet.  This will force cyclists to dismount and walk their bicycles across the bridge.

Questions still remain concerning access leading up to the bridge walkway for cyclists and pedestrians.  The Town of Glastonbury has expressed interest in studying this remaining challenge and has begun to seek grant funding to do so.  The push for this access infrastructure will be an ideal opportunity for ConnDOT to put its new bicycle and pedestrian policies into action by helping local municipalities fund the construction of new sidewalks.  Historically, towns and municipalities in Connecticut were solely responsible for the local match necessary to be eligible for federal resources during the construction of new sidewalk infrastructure.  Now, with the new ConnDOT policies, the projects will be funded with more balanced contributions from local, state and federal sources.

The evolution of this project has been long and has mirrored ConnDOT’s ongoing culture change in regards to biking and walking.  Four years ago, ConnDOT officials were claiming that state law prohibited pedestrian and cycling access on bridges, before backing down after continued pressure from advocates and elected officials. What the agency has announced for the Putnam Bridge isn’t perfect, but shows that the agency has continued its progress towards being a true promoter of biking and walking.