Windham County Observer

Grosvenordales Seem Assured Of Sidewalks

Highway Commissioner May Yet Build Walks Between Villages Under State Aid Road Act Despite Defeat In Legislature Of Bill Introduced In House By Sen. Barber, Rep. Donnelly.

A project providing for construction of sidewalks between the villages of Grosvenordale and North Grosvenordale stands a good chance of being undertaken despite legislative action that apparently killed the project, Rep. Raymond L. Donnelly of Thompson has been advised.

A measure was introduced by Sen. William P. Barber and Rep. Donnelly early this year empowering the Highway Commission to undertake construction of the sidewalks. The bill was killed, however, when the Legislative Committee on Roads, Rivers and Bridges gave it an unfavorable report.

The work may soon be undertaken, however, under provisions of the State Aid Road Act, providing two factors are favorable, Rep. Donnelly has been advised. Voters of Thompson first must approve an expenditure of State Aid Road funds for the work. It was understood today that a town meeting will be called in Thompson within a few weeks to see if voters will approve such an expenditure.

It was almost a foregone conclusion, in view of need for the sidewalks from a safety standpoint, that the Thompson town meeting will sanction expenditure State Aid Road funds for such a project.

The second factor that stands in the way of the project is approval of the War Production Board. Sanction of the WPB must also be obtained before it can be undertaken.

Sidewalks between the Grosvenordales has long been a project that has been desired but never realized. Hundreds of pedestrians have for years been forced to use the highway between the two villages, subjecting themselves to the hazards of this heavily traveled stretch of highway.

School children, likewise, walking to school between the two villages, have been forced to run the same risk. Sponsors of the sidewalk bill have argued that construction of the

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Grosvenordale Walks
(Continued from Page One)
walks would eliminate entirely such
hazards.

Solution of this problem never
before has offered itself until the
measure in this respect was intro-
duced during the early sessions of
the Legislature this year. Although
an unfavorable report was issued
on the bill by the Committee on
Highways, Bridges, and Rivers,
sponsors of the measure, Sen. Barber
and Rep. Donnelly, have worked
tirelessly on furtherance of the pro-
ject until they finally have found
that their purpose may be accom-
plished through the use of State Aid
Road funds. Their latest advice is
that surveyors of the State High-
way Department may start work
soon preparing the project for actual
construction work.