WATERVILLE — The city has been awarded an $850,000 grant officials plan to use for three projects downtown to improve access, walkability and safety.

The Congressionally Directed Spending grant, promoted through U.S. Sen. Angus King’s office, will be used to improve the area around the Spring Street intersection near the Ticonic Bridge and near the restaurants on Silver Street as well as for developing an artwalk extending from Castonguay Square to Temple Street.

City Manager Nicholas Cloutier said Wednesday that city officials learned in February that Waterville had been awarded the grant. The city is expected to have access to the money in several months. That will allow time for input from the public, businesses, city officials and others. Cloutier estimated the actual work would start next year.

“This gives us time to think about the projects and if we want to prioritize any other matching funds,” Cloutier said.

The projects are in keeping with Waterville’s downtown visioning plans developed in 2022-23 that included input from residents, businesses, city officials and urban planners.

The projects emerged from that process to determine what could be done to improve the downtown beyond the most recent developments at the time, which included the change to two-way traffic on Front and Main streets, construction of new buildings and rehabilitation of others.

Those who took part discussed having a pedestrian access from downtown to Head of Falls. The path would include a landscaped art walkway from Castonguay Square that would lead under the skywalk at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, continue to Main Street and lead to a renovated Temple Street, where pedestrians could then progress to the waterfront park.

Also identified as a priority was improved pedestrian access and safety through the intersection where Main, Spring, Water and Front streets converge next to the Ticonic Bridge.

Silver Street also was a priority, where outdoor diners sit on a plaza in front of Silver Street Tavern and other restaurants. A pedestrian-friendly redesign of Appleton Street was also one of many ideas that emerged from the process and that project, which included a little park and landscaping, was completed.

Cloutier said the state Department of Transportation would assist on developing the bridge intersection project, and Waterville Creates would have the expertise to help plan the artwalk.

The projects are possible without relying on local tax dollars. While the focus is on the downtown, improvements to other parts of the city also will be planned in the future, according to Cloutier.

He said such investments help further the city’s destination as a regional hub and help draw both residents and visitors to patronize businesses and enjoy safe, walkable and aesthetically pleasing spaces.