The state Bond Commission has awarded West Haven $2.1 million to fund major infrastructure and safety improvements along Captain Thomas Boulevard, marking the latest milestone in the ongoing transformation of the city’s shoreline, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.
Borer said the state grant will pay for extensive pedestrian upgrades, enhanced modern lighting and median curbing, in addition to paving the parking lots and a portion of the Captain Thomas corridor.
The project will complement a separate upcoming city initiative to install new traffic lights from Campbell Avenue to Kelsey Avenue, drastically improving traffic flow and pedestrian safety, the mayor said.
“We have ordered modern AI-generated crosswalk lights that will detect when a person — not a car — is in the crosswalk and the light follows the person across the road,” Borer said. “I learned of these when I was in (Washington) D.C. I think they are very cool and safe.”
The mayor added: “From Beach Street to the boardwalk to The Kelsey project that is underway, we have been working hard to upgrade this area to be more of a revenue driver and attraction for not only developers but for our residents and visitors. An upgrade to Captain Thomas Boulevard will be an important complement to those efforts, as it’s the gateway to these new projects.”
The new funding builds upon a string of shoreline grants previously obtained under Borer’s leadership. Past allocations have funded critical pumping station upgrades, $600,000 for boardwalk enhancements, including new fencing and lampposts, and the vital raising of Beach Street.
Borer said the Beach Street elevation project has successfully transitioned a once-run-down area into a vibrant, flood-resilient destination slated for athletic tournaments, retail and dining.
The mayor then moved up the coast to the boardwalk and the former Savin Rock Conference Center, with all investments made through state partnerships.
“West Haven’s shoreline is becoming one of the best examples in Connecticut of what smart, sustained state investment can do for a community,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “This investment is about making West Haven’s shoreline safer to walk, easier to get to, and more attractive to families, visitors and businesses. I’m proud to keep partnering with Mayor Borer and Senator Maroney on projects that improve quality of life for residents while strengthening the local economy for years to come.”
State Sen. James Maroney, who worked closely with the city’s leadership to help obtain the funding, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the development boom.
“This funding is a direct investment in West Haven’s future,” said Maroney, D-Milford. “I was proud to work alongside Mayor Borer, Governor Lamont and the West Haven delegation to obtain these dollars, which will transform the entryway to our shore along Captain Thomas Boulevard. It builds on the momentum we’re already seeing with projects like The Kelsey, and it’s another step toward making our miles of shoreline more accessible for everyone who calls West Haven home.”
The revitalization of West Haven’s waterfront has already generated massive economic momentum and private-public partnerships, most notably on Beach Street. Riva Bar & Restaurant opened last year, the former Debonair Beach Motel was recently demolished to make way for new market-rate residences, and a highly anticipated coffeehouse at the former Frenchy’s Bait & Tackle site is expected to open within the next few months.
Just west of Beach Street, at the former conference center site, a $900,000 state grant jump-started the transformation of the dilapidated building into The Kelsey at Savin Rock, an upscale restaurant and event venue that is expected to open early next year.
With upgraded pumping stations, boardwalk improvements and the upcoming Captain Thomas Boulevard overhaul, West Haven is successfully cementing its shoreline as a premier regional hub for residents, visitors and business investors alike.