The Barrington Town Council recently approved a bid that will bring new sidewalks to two heavily-traveled roads in town. 

The bid is for nearly $1.3 million and covers the construction of new sidewalks on sections of Maple Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. The Maple Avenue work will run between Prince’s Hill Avenue and Walter Street, while the Lincoln Avenue work runs between Washington Road and Peck Avenue. 

The town received four bids for the project. At the meeting on July 22, Barrington Department of Public Works Director Alan Corvi told Council members that D’Ambra Construction Company offered the lowest bid — $973,586. When coupled with a 15 percent contingency and $155,000 for additional resurfacing, the total cost of the work is $1,297,874.

The job will include sidewalks and drainage, Corvi said. 

Anyone who has walked certain sections of those two roads are treated to varying quality of sidewalks. Along Lincoln Avenue in front of the middle school, the sidewalk is new and safe and wide — a clear separation from the roadway. But walk a littler farther west and the sidewalk fades and blends and crumbles into the westbound vehicle travel lane. 

The same situation exists on Maple Avenue, where the eastern end of the road offers pedestrians safe passage from shop to shop and block to block. Other sections of Maple Avenue are void of a sidewalk altogether or offer walkers a hint of a designated lane. 

Lisa Watts, a Kirby Street resident who was appointed to the Barrington Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee earlier in the Council meeting, told members she walks her dog along Maple Avenue almost every day. She described a less-than-desirable experience for pedestrians. The planned sidewalk improvements are exciting and much-needed, she said. 

Council member Kate Berard asked Corvi if the new sidewalks would be able to accommodate people pushing strollers. Corvi said the plans call for ADA-compliant sidewalks, that they will be at least four-feet wide. He said they could be up to five feet wide in some sections. 

Corvi also said the town would like to negotiate with the construction company, if possible to repave both roadways along the same sections designated for the new sidewalks.