Committee Explains The Plan To Rebuild Thames Street

A presentation of the proposed Thames Street rehabilitation project held at the Groton Public Library brought out only a handful of residents, but that didn’t deter Groton City Council Deputy Mayor Marian Galbraith.

“We’re just trying to educate (residents) as much as possible, so thank you for coming,” she said before launching into her presentation about the once $10.7 million, now shaved to $6.3 million project to rehabilitate Thames Street. If approved by voters on May 2, the 20-year bond would cost property taxpayers, in its highest year, just over $24 on a median price home of $165,410.

“We’ve tried to be as responsive and responsible as we could be,” she said.

The last time bituminous concrete was poured on Thames Street was 53 years ago, and it’s been more than 20 years since there have been any Thames Street area improvements, albeit then only from Fort to School streets.  They were primarily cosmetic; lighting, sidewalk paving and the like, with state and federal grants picking up the tab.

Fast forward to 2010, when major retaining walls collapsed and slopes failed. In 2009, the $10,725,000 million bond referendum was rejected by voters due to “confusion,” lack of information, misinformation and a poor economic climate, according to a public survey answered by 163 residents.

Residents also did not understand that the Town of Groton is responsible for City of Groton road improvements, per state statute, the survey found. In response to the conundrum, the Thames Street Review Committee was formed, its goal to ensure the rehabilitation of Thames Street as a safe, structurally-sound and functional roadway while responding to community concerns and finding the most cost-effective way to realize its goal.

The scope of the project includes road reconstruction, the rebuilding of retaining walls, improved drainage and some sidewalk repair. Previously, the project included lighting, landscaping and crosswalks, but the new proposal has virtually eliminated all those, cutting the projected cost by 41 percent.

“We were able to cut an awful lot,” Galbraith said. “We focused, focused, focused on what people said they wanted us to focus on: road reconstruction, retaining walls, drainage and sidewalk safety.”

The committee conducted walking tours, reviewed previous plans and ultimately determined that, based on the deterioration of the street and its importance economically and historically to the community, that the project should go to voters in May.

“We wanted to make sure people had all the information,” said City Councilor Keith Hedrick. “If they vote 'no' because they didn’t have the information or didn’t understand (the project), that would be a shame.”

A walking tour dubbed "Thames Street Past, Present and Future" is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 16, with a rain date slated for the following day.  Two additional public presentations are scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 19 at the City of Groton Municipal Building and 7 p.m. on April 20 the Mystic & Noank Library.