NORWICH – The City of Norwich Common Council unanimously approved an agreement with the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) at a special meeting on Monday, which will bring the city five new pedestrian controlled crosswalk lights, a new mid-way crosswalk in front of NBT Bank, and a non-pedestrian controlled crosswalk across Route 12 south of Front Street at no cost to city taxpayers.

The pedestrian controlled crosswalk lights will be added to four existing crosswalks on Route 12: in front of McDonalds, by the turn for Beebe Avenue, by Nina's Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant, by the Norwich Family YMCA, and also at a new mid-way crosswalk that will exist in front of NBT Bank.

"We do not want to see anybody get hit. It's a public safety issue and we're really glad that New York State wanted to work with us on this in coming up with a new design," said City of Norwich Alderman Ward 6 Robert Jeffrey, noting that particularly the crosswalk in front of NBT Bank has seen too many accidents and near-misses in recent history.