The town will replace another bridge in Old Greenwich next year — and that means there will be another traffic detour.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved closing Wesskum Wood Road and setting up a detour so the bridge that travels over Binney Park Brook can be removed and replaced.
No start date has been announced, so there is no exact timeframe for the detour.
Town Senior Civil Engineer Gabriella Circosta Cohee, project manager for the bridge replacement, said they hope to begin work in spring.
Along with the new bridge, there will also be new curbs, catch basins, manholes, sidewalks and a decorative crosswalk. Portions of Wesskum Wood Road will also be repaved.
The current bridge will be demolished.
According to the Department of Public Works, the construction work is expected to last 12 months with the new bridge in place by next fall. However, the detour is expected to last for only three months, with a tentative start date of after July 6.
Due to the work, Wesskum Wood Road will be closed between Binney Park Drive and the driveway for 90, 92 and 96 Wesskum Wood Road.
Traffic in both directions will be detoured on a 1.5-mile route using Sound Beach Avenue, West End Avenue, Summit Road, Drinkwater Place, Owenoke Way and Arch Street.
About 2,500 vehicles a day use the road, Circosta-Cohee said.
The Board of Selectmen typically waits two weeks between introducing an item and voting. But Circosta-Cohee urged the board to vote so the construction work can go out to bid.
“We understand with detours people have to go out of their way, but I think everyone understands this is a project that needs to be done,” Circosta Cohee said.
The board agreed there was enough public notice and unanimously approved the road closure and detour.
Backcountry
It was an event 10 years in the making: The town cut the ribbon to open the new backcountry Station 4 for Greenwich Emergency Medical Service on Wednesday.
For about a decade, GEMS was forced to made do with a temporary FEMA trailer on the Brunswick School campus to serve the northern part of town.
GEMS has finally moved to its new permanent home at 1327 King St. next to the Griffith E. Harris municipal golf course.
There was a champagne toast and applause for the work by GEMS employees, board members and supporters to make the new station a reality. GEMS will provide emergency service to the backcountry and aid in response to other parts of town from the new Station 4.
“This is the culmination of an effort that took years,” GEMS Board of Directors Chair Rod Saggese said. “GEMS’ mission is to provide high-quality pre-hospital care for every resident in the town of Greenwich. This great new facility we have here will help us do exactly that.”
Andy Fox, who chairs GEMS’ Facilities Committee, recalled how Superstorm Sandy took out the previous Station 4 facility in the backcountry a decade ago. A FEMA trailer was set up for temporary use, but that lasted far more than the planned two years.
“It is exciting to be here finally,” Fox said. “I never thought the day would come.”
GEMS will park its ambulances inside at Station 4, offering protection from the elements and preventing wear and tear. The ambulances will last three years longer — for a total of 10 years — with the inside parking, Fox said.
A nonprofit, GEMS operates independently. It is not a town department like the fire or police departments; it has a contract with the town to provide EMS services. GEMS does its own fundraising to pay for ambulances and medical supplies.
The crowd at the ribbon-cutting included Chief of Police James Heavey, Commissioner of Public Works Amy Siebert, Superintendent of Building Construction and Maintenance Luigi Romano, state Rep. Stephen Meskers and Representative Town Meeting Moderator Alexis Voulgaris as well as several members of the Board of Estimate & Taxation.
First Selectman Fred Camillo had the honor of cutting the ribbon.
“I always tell people that you never want to see a medical emergency, but if you do ever find yourself in a situation like that, you want to hope you’re in Greenwich, Connecticut, because of GEMS,” Camillo said. “Thank you so much for all that you do.”
GEMS Executive Director Tracy Schietinger thanked everyone and gave a special shout out and gift to Brunswick School for hosting GEMS for more than a year.
There are 1,300 calls a year in the region, she said. The new station will also allow GEMS to better “protect everyone up here and everyone in town,” she said.
Downtown
The Junior League of Greenwich will hold its annual “Festival of Trees” at the Arch Street Teen Center.
Attendees can stroll through a display of beautifully decorated trees donated by professionals, retail shops and individuals. Each tree has its own theme, with some designed especially for kids. Place a bid on a tree or gingerbread house for a chance to win it and take it home.
Also, kids can do photos with Santa Claus, buy gifts at the “giving shop” and do crafts with Mrs. Claus.
This fundraising event supports the Junior League’s projects in the community.
The event starts at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 with a “Honoring Tradition” cocktail party in the Teen Center. Enjoy the trees as well as food from Prime and drinks from Cap, Cork and Cellar. A holiday boutique will also be open. Tickets, at $75 per person, can be purchased at www.jlgreenwich.org.
There will be family days from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 20. There are $40 family tickets for four, $15 individual tickets and $10 senior tickets. Attendees can check out the trees and gingerbread houses and take part in holiday-themed games.
An online shop is open at www.jlgreenwich.org/the-enchanted-forest/ to purchase a variety of holiday gifts and items.
In other Junior League events, through Nov. 18, residents can purchase VIP Santa Experiences. On Dec. 10, Santa will visit homes in a vintage car and elves will bring a goody bag to children.
There will also be a VIP Storytime with Santa over Zoom for $30 between 7 and 8 p.m. Dec. 6 and Dec. 8. In the 15-minute virtual, interactive sessions, Santa will read a holiday story. The limit is 13 families per session.
Cos Cob
The Greenwich Pen Women will hold an open mic night in collaboration with Greenwich Library at the Cos Cob Library starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17.
It is an opportunity for local writers and creative types as well as anyone in the community to speak up. To register, visit greenwichlibrary.libcal.com/event/9630695.
Each person who signs up will get a five-minute slot. The Greenwich Pen Women said participants should “choose material that ignites interest and energy.” They are “encouraged to practice in advance and to watch their language, politics and religion in this public venue.” Attendees can speak up or just listen and enjoy.
“The event is open to the public,” said Diane Morello, executive vice president of the Greenwich Pen Women. “At past open mic events, we had people share a variety of their terrific work (including) mystery chapters, short stories, poetry, lyrics, blogs, free verse, memoirs, personal essays, science fiction, children’s stories and oral storytelling.”
Morello added that there is “a vibrant writing community in lower Fairfield County.”
“Open mic gives people an opportunity to share their original work. … When writers and creatives come together to speak their work aloud, they hone their skills and amplify the power of their voices,” she said.
Greenwich Pen Women is a nonprofit organization of professional women artists, writers and composers. For more information, visit www.greenwichpenwomen.org.
kborsuk@greenwichtime.com