Construction on the other arterial routes progressed at a much slower pace. After learning that none of the city's arterial streets would see work in 1956, the city of Norwich lobbied the state to add at least part of the project to the year's construction schedule. The delay was attributed to a lack of state funds; however, Norwich Mayor Frank Portelli claimed that work had not been halted on other cities' arterial routes and that Norwich was simply being passed over. A project to improve the remaining arterial highways was finally developed by the state and presented to Norwich officials in January 1958. The highways would now be wide within the city and wide with shoulders in width outside of the city.