Traffic Authority approves Cemetery Street closure

Other Committee · Meeting of September 24, 2026

Norwalk's Traffic Authority approved a weeklong full closure of Cemetery Street for a state drainage project. Commissioners Tony Lopez, Ron Palladino and Sumter, chaired by Mayor Barbara Smith, voted unanimously to close the road, officially State Route 136, between East Avenue and Gregory Boulevard from September 28 through October 2. Walkbridge program manager Gus Mello said the detour would not add new vehicles but would "take a longer route to go down the same path." The Norwalk Police Chief requested a fourth officer at East Avenue and Route 136 to manage commuter backups, calling the move necessary "to get that traffic flowing as best as we can." The closure is timed to finish before the Sono half marathon and 5K on October 4.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,464 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of September 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

Call to Order and Public Participation

The Norwalk Traffic Authority convened a special meeting at 1:32 p.m. Thursday, September 24, 2026, with Mayor Barbara Smith presiding. Roll call recorded Commissioners Tony Lopez and Ron Palladino present, with Commissioner Sumter joining shortly after the meeting began. No members of the public raised their hands electronically during the public participation period, and Smith closed that portion of the meeting without comment.

New Business: Approval of Temporary Closure for the CT DOT East Avenue Connectivity Enhancement Project

Background and stakes: The item exists because the Connecticut Department of Transportation needs to perform a full-depth roadway reconstruction of Cemetery Street, also designated State Route 136, between East Avenue and Gregory Boulevard. The work is a sub-project of the broader Walkbridge program, the regional rail-bridge and streetscape initiative that is also building a new East Avenue underpass nearby. Because the DOT contractor needs to pave down to the roadway base across the street's full width, city staff determined a full closure was safer and more efficient than a partial, lane-by-lane closure.

The question before the body: Commissioners were asked to approve a temporary full closure of Cemetery Street for up to five days so DOT's contractor, identified in the meeting as Grasso, could complete the drainage and paving work.

Substantive content: The closure, shown in orange on a map attached to the last page of the meeting's agenda packet, is scheduled from Monday, September 28, through Friday, October 2, 2026. The presenter, identified only as Ben, told the board the city is "tentatively projecting completion by Friday, October 2nd," timed deliberately to finish before the Sono half marathon and 5K on Sunday, October 4. The plan calls for a 24-hour closure as a worst-case default, though Ben said the contractor may be able to open a ramp through the work zone on some overnight shifts once the site is secured.

The approved detour routes traffic from East Avenue at Van Zandt Street down the one-way portion of East Avenue to Seaview Avenue at Mill Pond, left onto Seaview, around the bend onto First Street, and back to Gregory Boulevard. A splitter island between Van Zandt and Cemetery Street will keep some through-traffic moving on East Avenue itself, and northbound Gregory Boulevard will remain fully open since the paving is restricted to the roadway's south side. DOT and Grasso are to station police officers at East Avenue and Van Zandt and at First Street and Gregory Boulevard, and to deploy variable message signs on Washington Street and East Avenue to warn approaching drivers.

The deliberation: Commissioner Sumter asked whether the project team had considered diverting East Avenue traffic onto Van Zandt Street westbound as an alternative to reduce buildup, rather than funneling everyone onto the longer Seaview-First Street loop. Ben responded that most drivers turning onto Cemetery Street are headed toward Gregory Boulevard and points southeast, so sending them onto Van Zandt would move them away from their destination; he said a variable message sign would instead be placed ahead of Seaview Avenue to redirect westbound traffic before it reaches the Van Zandt dead end.

Sumter also asked about access for businesses near the closure, naming Sweet Ashley's and a laundromat near Roger Square. Ben said Sweet Ashley's parking on East Avenue would remain available, but acknowledged the laundromat and nearby gas station would require the longer Seaview-First Street detour to reach Roger Square. He said the city's communications director and Stephanie Pelletier, the Walkbridge program's public outreach coordinator, were coordinating notification of affected businesses, residents, Norwalk Public Schools transportation and the regional transit district.

The Norwalk Police Chief raised the most substantive pushback of the meeting, questioning the initial officer-placement plan. He said an officer posted near Oldwell Court and Fenwick Place was unnecessary and should instead be moved to East Avenue and Van Zandt, where he expected heavy westbound commuter traffic in the morning as drivers cut through on Route 136 toward Stamford, reversing eastbound in the afternoon. "That officer should be definitely over at East Avenue and Van Zandt," he said, warning of significant backup where Gregory Boulevard traffic merges onto East Avenue near the signal at East Avenue and Winfield. He requested a fourth officer be posted at East Avenue and Route 136, north of the train station, to keep northbound traffic flowing and to help direct Norwalk Public Schools buses, which he said should be instructed to stay east of the closure area entirely rather than attempt the merge near the train station during peak periods.

Gus Mello, the Walkbridge program manager for the state Department of Transportation, said DOT supported adding the officers but did not anticipate a major increase in traffic volume. "We're not anticipating dumping more vehicles into this area than when we would normally see it," Mello said, describing the detour as lengthening existing trips along a known loop rather than introducing new ones. He said DOT would also benefit from timing: the East Norwalk train station is separately closing during the same window, which officials said should reduce some traffic that would otherwise pass through the work area.

Commissioner Palladino said outreach had not reached businesses or Norwalk Public Schools before the vote and asked how quickly that could happen given the Monday start date. A city traffic official, addressed as Garrett, said the team would begin door-to-door outreach to businesses immediately upon approval, supplemented by the Walkbridge program's weekly e-blasted construction newsletter. Garrett also noted the concurrent East Norwalk train station closure as an advantage for easing congestion during the work.

Commissioner Sumter raised a separate question about whether inclement weather could delay the start and whether that would affect the Sono half marathon's schedule. Ben said the road would reopen at the end of each shift rather than remain closed through a weather delay, and that a one-day rain delay beginning September 29 instead of September 28 should still allow completion by October 2 "as long as there's no other substantial delays or surprises." He confirmed paving equipment would be staged only within the established lane closure and mobilized solely while the closure is active.

Procedural steps and outcome: Commissioner Lopez moved approval of the item. After the discussion above, Mayor Smith called the vote. All commissioners present voted aye with no opposition and no abstentions; the motion carried unanimously. A separate motion to adjourn, made by Commissioner Sumter, also passed unanimously by voice vote.

Implications and what is next: The closure takes effect Monday, September 28, and is expected to run through Friday, October 2, with nightly reopening if work is delayed by weather. Residents and commuters using Cemetery Street, East Avenue, Seaview Avenue, First Street and Gregory Boulevard should expect a week of rerouted traffic, additional police presence at key intersections, and altered access to businesses near Roger Square. Norwalk Public Schools bus routes on the east side are expected to be adjusted for the duration. DOT officials said notification of affected businesses and residents would begin immediately following the vote.

Mayor Barbara Smith, presiding officer, Norwalk Traffic Authority. Commissioner Tony Lopez, member, present at roll call. Commissioner Ron Palladino, member, present at roll call. Commissioner Sumter, member, joined shortly after the meeting began. The Norwalk Police Chief, title only, no surname given in the transcript. Ben, city staff member who presented project and closure details; no surname given in the transcript. Garrett, city staff member who addressed outreach timing and the train station closure; no surname given in the transcript. Gus Mello, Walkbridge program manager, Connecticut Department of Transportation, participating remotely to answer technical questions. Stephanie Pelletier, public outreach coordinator for the Walkbridge program, referenced as coordinating business and resident notification; did not speak on the record. No members of the public spoke during public participation.

Connecticut Department of Transportation — lead agency on the East Avenue Connectivity Enhancement project and the closure request. Walkbridge program — the larger regional rail-bridge and streetscape initiative of which the Cemetery Street reconstruction and East Avenue underpass are sub-projects. Grasso — the construction contractor performing the Cemetery Street paving and drainage work. Norwalk Public Schools transportation department — notified of the closure for bus route adjustments. Norwalk Transit District — notified because some transit routes will be affected by the detour. Agenda packet, September 24, 2026 meeting — contains the map of the closure area referenced repeatedly during the discussion. Sono half marathon and 5K, scheduled Sunday, October 4, 2026 — cited as the deadline driving the project's completion target. East Norwalk train station closure — a concurrent, separate closure cited by DOT and city staff as likely to reduce traffic volume during the Cemetery Street work.