Walkway Over the Putnam

The Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) reports that the Putnam Bridge, which carries Route 3 over the Connecticut River between Glastonbury and Wethersfield, has a pedestrian walkway in its future.  The six-foot wide walkway will be constructed at a cost of approximately $5 million, added on to a $26 million State Department of Transportation bridge rehabilitation project set to get underway this year and be completed in 2014.  CRCOG is working with local communities to seek funding for a feasibility study to develop multi-use pathways on either side of the bridge to connect with local roads.

Death by Driving

Connecticut had 223 vehicular deaths in 2009, the latest stats available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Most deadly state in the nation?  California, with 3,081.  Runner-up, Texas with 3,071.  The only other state with more than 2,000 vehicular fatalities:  Florida with 2,558.  At the safest end of the spectrum:  Alaska with 64 deaths, Vermont with 74, Rhode Island with 83.