City Public Works Upgrading Downtown Corridor Prior to 5-Figure Complete Makeover Project by Contractor
By Jeff Toquinto on April 16, 2026
A planned makeover to begin after May in Bridgeport’s downtown corridor is getting some prep work by the city’s Public Works Department.
According to Public Works Department Director Richard “Tiny” Grimes, his staff will be visible working through the downtown area for about a month.
The reason for the work, as noted above, is related to the makeover that is on its way. The city is currently accepting bids for a project to clean approximately 59,800 square feet of concrete sidewalks and the sealing of approximately 8,800 square feet of decorative stamped 
concrete sidewalks.
concrete sidewalks.
Bids are due May 1. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting was held at the Bridgeport City Municipal Complex on Monday, April 13. Interim City Manager Joe Shuttleworth said the project is estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Barring something unusual, the bid will likely be up for approval at Council's May 11 meeting.
Grimes’ crew is focusing on the stamped concrete, which can be seen throughout a sizable portion of the downtown from its intersection with Virginia Avenue all the way to the intersection of Route 131.
“We’re going back and repairing the damaged areas on the stamped concrete,” said Grimes. “There are some other issues we’re also correcting.”
The main area of work, beyond the stamped brick concrete, involves old planters. Grimes said they were put in during original work on the sidewalks, almost exclusively at the edge of city parking lots or entrances to lots.
“They would be there for a short period of time and then get ran over.”
The work on the stamped brick concrete is “time consuming,” said Grimes.
“We’re tearing out some bad areas, repouring the concrete, and restamping it. We’re going to have it all done prior to the contractor that will be hired coming in and doing the sealing and cleaning of the sidewalks throughout the downtown,” said Grimes.
Motorists are advised to be cautious when driving through the downtown area of the workers. Signs will be up notifying motorists of work areas.
There have been several million dollars in sidewalk improvements since 1999. Bridgeport has utilized grant programs, and matching dollars, to do the sidewalk repairs, as well as decorative street light decorations.
Editor's Note: Public Works staff is shown doing work earlier this week in front of the Bridgeport Fire Department on Main Street.
