Sidewalk Project to Close Section of Gulf Street

Editor's note: Mayor Ben Blake was not immediately available for comment regarding the city's handling of sidewalk projects.

A city project to install sidewalks and a retaining wall along properties on Gulf Street -- from Old Field Lane to the existing sidewalk at 650 Gulf St. -- is expected to begin this week and will result in a daytime detour for motorists.

"It's a safety project because it's very dangerous to walk," Robin Lynch, of the city's engineering and sewer commission, told Milford Patch on Thursday.

Lynch said hedges encroach on the road making it hazardous for pedestrians who must be wary about cars coming around a curve. She said the project is part of the city's Walking City Initiative, which reportedly began in the spring.

According to a release from the city, the hours of construction will be Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. During this time, the road will be closed to through traffic. The road will be open to through traffic outside those hours.

Traffic will be detoured westerly onto Old Field Lane then northerly onto Ranch Road and Knobb Hill Road then to Welchs Point Road and in the reverse to access properties on either side of the project.

The project is expected to continue from the month of November through mid-December 2013.