Visitors to the center of town will have noticed that the brickwork that formed the walkway in front of the Royal Arcanum building has been torn up and that the Public Works Department is preparing to pour concrete in its place.
Brick pavers have been esthetically alluring for streetscape planners in different municipalities for decades but many towns—Norfolk is no exception—have found them to be impractical. New England winters cause the pavers to become uneven and form hazardous surfaces.
First Selectman Henry Tirrell said that money for the project is being drawn from the roads account using sums left over after roads have been paved. So far, Old Colony Road has been resurfaced and work is anticipated on Laurel Way Extension. Tirrell hopes there will be enough left over to pay for further sidewalk replacement around Station Place.