New Canaan Plans Island to Slow Park St. Traffic

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – Town officials want to install a pedestrian refuge island at Old Stamford Road and Park Street to reduce the speed of traffic. The Department of Public Works and New Canaan Police have been working with the State Department of Transportation to improve controls at the intersection. 

Assistant Public Works Director Tiger Mann said the island would force drivers to reduce speed as they approach the turn. “It’s a different traffic control measure,” Mann said. “It’s been in the works for weeks.”

Mann said town officials have noticed that vehicles traveling north on Old Stamford Road and exiting onto Park Street often do so at high speeds. There is no stop sign on Old Stamford Road. Drivers headed west on Park Street encounter a stop sign before they can turn left onto Bank Street or right onto Old Stamford Road.

Jim Cole, chairman of the New Canaan Police Commission, said the project should slow drivers and make it safer for pedestrians crossing Old Stamford Road to Park Street.

Mann said the project will likely cost about $175,000, which would have to requested from several town boards. The plan also needs approval from ConnDOT because Old Stamford Road (Rt. 106) is a state road. Final approval is expected in a few weeks, Mann said.

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