Norwich ― About 50 years ago, state traffic engineers had one goal in mind for the several state roads that converge in downtown Norwich: How can we best get cars through downtown and out?

A series of one-way streets with loop patterns were established that no one seemed to like but are still in place today, officials from a transportation consulting firm told an audience of about 30 people gathered at Otis Library Wednesday.

“I work downtown. We have a lot of one ways and it’s hard to get from one location to the next location without going through all of downtown to get to the office building right next door,” resident Cynthia Jean-Mary said public comment.

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments has received a $212,500 grant from the state Department of Transportation, with the city adding $37,500, to conduct a transportation corridor study of downtown Norwich, the waterfront and entrances to downtown.

The study includes streets, traffic patterns, sidewalks, parks, Norwich Harbor area, and major gateways into downtown. Consultants will look at traffic and sidewalk improvements, pedestrian and bicycle safety and green space attractions.

During Wednesday’s public forum, Joseph Balskus and Daniel Amutz of VHB Engineers described traffic data collected in June and the group heard an hour of comments from residents and business owners.

Several state roads ― Routes 2, 12, 32, 82 and 165 ― converge downtown and run through the city. Water Street and Chelsea Harbor Drive each are three-lane, one-way state routes that cut off Norwich Harbor from downtown, one going east into downtown and one going west out of town.

Amutz said there were 938 crashes in the study area during 2022, one-fifth of them involving injuries. Most involved rear-end collisions, he said. The intersections of Washington and West Main streets and the Courthouse Square, Main Street and Broadway intersection are top pedestrian safety problem spots.

Washington Square is where Route 82 meets Route 2. With three lanes of traffic on both streets, there is little congestion, Amutz said. But the crosswalk is long and is a safety hazard.

“It’s working great for capacity of vehicles, but not for pedestrians,” Balskus said.

Mark Benjamin, a Norwich Fire Department battalion chief, called the intersection one of the most dangerous for pedestrians. Vehicles turn right on red, not noticing if pedestrians are in the crosswalk. Benjamin said the Courthouse Square area is dangerous at dusk and evening, due to poor lighting.

The biggest traffic congestion occurs at the intersection of Chelsea Harbor Drive, Water Street and Courthouse Square. Many drivers turn right onto the Shetucket River bridge and then left onto the Viaduct. But red lights at each intersection cause backups. The intersection of Main Street and Broadway also has traffic congestion.

The consultants said the next public forum, not yet scheduled, will include proposed improvements to key downtown areas.

The robust public comment period Wednesday touched on topics ranging from one-way streets to parking, weeds growing through sidewalks and the perception that downtown has high crime. Speakers complained that large garbage cans block sidewalks for pedestrians and people using wheelchairs. Vacant buildings are unsightly and harbor overgrown weeds.

Peter Procko, chairman of the Greeneville Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Committee, recommended reviving the former NRZ that has been dormant for years.

The study is expected to be completed in late spring or early summer, said Jim Butler, senior advisor for the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments.

It will be presented to the City Council with a series of recommendations, and city leaders will be asked to choose from the proposals and pitch the ideas to the state DOT for possible funding, Butler said.

c.bessette@theday.com