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A group of lawmakers gathered in Bridgehampton on Thursday afternoon, October 20, to celebrate the ground-breaking of a sidewalk project along the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, an effort to make the roadway safer for pedestrians.
A group of about 25 people huddled at the edge of the shoulder of the road as cars zoomed by, precariously close—a sign in itself that the sidewalks were badly needed along the road. The project will cost about $1 million, according to Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman. Southampton Town is kicking in $100,000 toward the project.
“Today is an important day for the community,” Mr. Schneiderman said as workers shoveled dirt in the background. “It really is a celebration, in a way.”
The legislator was flanked by most of the Southampton Town Board and members of the Bridgehampton community, including Bonnie Cannon, executive director of the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center. “I’m just ecstatic. Now we have a sidewalk,” Ms. Cannon said.
Town Councilwoman Nancy Graboski lead the effort at the town level. She shook Mr. Schneiderman’s hand and said, “Thank you very, very much,” and noted that her one criticism was that the project had taken so long to get rolling. “The wheels of government move slowly,” she said.
Town Councilman Chris Nuzzi, Councilwoman Bridget Fleming and Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst offered words of gratitude and thanked the community. Mr. Nuzzi said the effort to get sidewalks was a “grass-roots one.” Officials thanked Bridgehampton resident Julie Hopson, who galvanized the community and helped organize a 500-signature petition, said Mr. Schneiderman.
“It was the community that spearheaded this and pushed the legislators for moving this along,” Mr. Nuzzi said.
Rohma Abbas on Oct 21, 2011