Here's How Long The Great Island Access Road Project Could Take To Complete

DARIEN, CT — After several delays, work to widen the access road to Great Island is set to begin on Monday, June 16, according to the town.

Darien Director of Public Works Ed Gentile appeared before the Great Island Advisory Committee (GIAC) on Thursday night to provide an update on the project that will help accommodate emergency vehicle access and two-way traffic.

The special meeting is available to watch on-demand on Darien TV79.

Gentile said the project could take up to nine months, with an end date around April 2026.

"We're looking at a possible nine month schedule, and that is winter weather-dependent. We'll be able to do some things in the winter, and some things we will not be able to do," Gentile said.

Work hours are scheduled from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, Gentile said. "Non-intrusive work" could take place on Saturdays, as long as resident can access the island without any safety issues.

Access to Great Island during the project will only be granted after 4 p.m. on weekdays and all day Saturdays and Sundays like it is currently.

GIAC Chair and Selectman Monica McNally called the project "a big milestone" for the town.

The project has taken a while to come to fruition. In April 2024, it was announced that the town received zero bids for the project. Gentile attributed the lack of interest due to a "tight" project schedule which called for completion in four to six months.

The schedule was extended out to 180 days, and in the summer of 2024, the project was awarded to Burns Construction with a cost around $1.7 million.

Then in September 2024, Darien held a public tree hearing after residents objected to the posted removal of three white spruces, three Eastern hemlocks, and nine Norway spruces along the Great Island access road.

Town officials said the removals were needed to allow for safe and efficient access for emergency vehicles, construction vehicles and residents, regardless of what the final master plan is for the property.

Darien Tree Warden Michael Cotta ruled in favor of the removals, but two residents appealed the decision and filed lawsuits in Stamford Superior Court in October.

The lawsuits were dismissed in May of this year, according to the CT Judicial Branch website, paving the way for the project to begin.

Gentile said Thursday that variable message signs have been placed at the Great Island gate and at Pear Tree Point Beach to notify residents of the closures.

Access will be maintained on the road during the course of the project for emergency vehicles and a tenant who lives on the island, Gentile noted.