EAST HAVEN

East Haven Town Hall will begin soliciting proposals for the fifth and final phase of the West End Sidewalk Improvement Project project on Tuesday, April 23, looking to bring in bidders to complete a major revitalization for the town.

The West End Sidewalk Improvement Project has been an ongoing endeavor for East Haven for about 18 years and is one of the efforts the town has been making to beautify its downtown area and make it attractive for new residents and businesses. On a whole, the project will give the town center “a much-needed facelift,” featuring trees, lamp posts, and new brick sidewalks, all with a historic look, Michelle Benivegna, the director of administration and management, told The Courier about one year ago.

Ed Sabatino of the same office said, “It will improve accessibility for all residents, while enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of Main Street.”

With the previous four phases of the project having been completed, the final phase “will mirror the design and the revitalization work done in the previous four phases,” said Sabatino.

The final phase of the project will occur between 525 Main Street and the Charter Oak/Columbus Intersection. Each section of the phase will be executed by separate, qualified bidders, as was the case with the previous phases. Additionally, Sabatino said that “as with all phases of the project, ADA accessibility is a vital component.”

According to the contract on the project, bidders must commence construction of their portion of the streetscape within 15 days of a “Notice to Proceed” from Town Hall “and will complete the work within 120 consecutive calendar days of receipt of the Notice to Proceed.”

“The contractor will furnish all of the material, supplies, tools, equipment, labor, and other services necessary for the construction and completion of the project,” states the contract.

Regarding the completion of the final phase, Sabatino said that the town would like to see the work completed “as soon as possible, weather permitting.”