State Proposes Putnam Bridge Bike Path Connecting Glastonbury and Wethersfield

Part of a $30.2 million renovation project of the Putnam Bridge connecting Glastonbury and Wethersfield is a walkway that will run along both sides of the structure. 

And, while it is not totally finalized yet, state and local officials are working on creating a bike path that will be part of that walkway.

The Hartford Courant reported Wednesday that the state Department of Transportation held an informal meeting Tuesday night to present a preliminary plan for a bike path within a six-foot-wide walkway on the Route 3 bridge.

The Courant reported that the bike paths would require access points on both sides of the bridge, which means additional costs amounting to $3.2 million, or $600,000 for the Wethersfield portion and $2.6 milion for the Glastonbury portion.

DOT Spokesman Kevin Nursick told Patch the paths wouldn’t be installed on the bridge until 2015, after the rehabilitation is done.

The bike paths aren’t a done deal, however, as municipal leaders in both Glastonbury and Wethersfield still need to fund the creation of the access points, Nursick noted.

But, Nursick said the towns are supportive of the initiative.

“We have every understanding that they’re going to do it,” Nurisck said. “It’s all a matter of timing.”

Check the Hartford Courant’s article for a graphic of the bike path.