Tour of the Future Ash Creek Pedestrian Bridge Site
“Fairfield
Metro station, Bridgeport is clearly getting better every day. Transit
oriented development, business growth, and train station improvements
are playing a key role.”
– Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch
- WHO: Mayor Finch, Elected Officials, and Community Leaders.
- WHAT: Tour of the future Ash Creek Pedestrian Bridge Site.
- WHERE: Corner of Fox St. and Canfield St. in Bridgeport, Conn.
- WHEN: Thursday @ 10:00AM.
Bridgeport, Conn. (June 4, 2015)
– Today, Mayor Finch will join elected officials and community leaders
for a tour of the future Ash Creek Pedestrian Bridge site.
The
event comes just days after the announcement of $3.8 million in
Connecticut Department of Transportation funding to build a new
pedestrian bridge over Ash Creek.
The
160 foot steel truss bridge will provide greater access for
Bridgeporters to the Fairfield Metro train station. With a walkway width
of 14 feet the bridge will be a safe and convenient improvement to
Bridgeport’s transit oriented development.
In
addition to the bridge structure, there will be improvement to the
Creek trail. The 650 foot walkway extending Canfield Ave creates a
pedestrian greenway along current dead ends from Fox Street to Davidson
St. This will significantly increase the ¼ mile walkshed to the
Fairfield Metro train station and create a scenic greenway along Ash
Creek. The trail work will also eradicate existing invasive plant
species and create upland meadow vegetation.
“This
is great news for Bridgeport,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “Our city is
making significant investments in transit oriented development, which
helps us create jobs and grow businesses by ensuring transportation is
readily available for folks within Connecticut and the Greater New York
City area. Between investing in a second train station, improving our
downtown train station, and giving pedestrians access to the Fairfield
Metro station, Bridgeport is clearly getting better every day. Transit
oriented development, business growth, and train station improvements
are playing a key role. Thanks to Gov. Malloy and state leaders for
their generosity in helping us continue to make smart investments in
Bridgeport’s future.”
The
project also includes improvement to Fox Street in anticipation of the
increase in pedestrian and bicycle activity from Fairfield Ave to the
bridge site. The work includes reconstruction of sidewalks and curbs
along with the planting of street trees. There is also potential to
extend the existing bicycle route from Fairfield Ave to the bridge.
On
the Bridgeport side of the bridge, there will be a gateway plaza
constructed to connect to the bridge. On the Fairfield side, there will
be work to help connect the wetlands walking trail & the train
station.
The
area is an invaluable natural resource that has a long history with the
Bridgeport and Fairfield community. The city of Bridgeport is thankful
to the state for investing in the environment around the bridge.
“As
a kid, my sister and I used to make traps to catch mummie bait fish for
crab fishing here at Ash Creek,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “I spent many
warm afternoons here enjoying its natural beauty. I have always
considered Ash Creek to be another great Bridgeport park and I’m proud
that we are investing to ensure the area is clean and open to the
public.”