WEST HAVEN, CT — The neighborhood surrounding the West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center is set for a $1.8 million transformation aimed at improving access and safety for tens of thousands of veterans by early 2026.
The state bond-funded project, announced Monday by Mayor Dorinda Borer, will focus on transit-oriented improvements including sidewalk upgrades, new lighting, bus shelters, and blue emergency lights with surveillance cameras.
The goal is to make the busy Campbell Avenue corridor safer and more accessible for veterans, employees, and residents.
“It’s a very busy facility that creates a very busy neighborhood,” Borer said. She emphasized that the upgrades will benefit not only the estimated 58,000 veterans treated at the facility each year, but also the roughly 2,000 hospital employees and surrounding community. Including outpatient services, the number of veterans served annually climbs to nearly 500,000.
“This is going to make a huge, huge difference,” said West Haven Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana. He cited incidents involving veterans, including visually impaired patients who suffered falls due to deteriorated sidewalks. “These upgrades will save lives,” he added.
The West Haven VA facility includes 180 inpatient beds and offers cancer and mental health treatment among other services.
The project is backed by the Community Investment Fund and reflects its mission to support underserved communities, according to state Department of Economic and Community Development Deputy Commissioner Matthew Pugliese.
“We’re excited to get this project going,” Pugliese said.
While design specifics are still being finalized, Borer noted that the city has held a kickoff meeting with representatives from public works, police, and other departments. A request for proposals will be issued once the design is approved.
Borer estimated the full process could take about nine months. “But don’t hold me to that,” she added.
