By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — Church Lane will stay open to diners and closed to traffic through Nov. 24.

The Board of Selectmen, in its capacity as the town’s Traffic Authority, on Wednesday approved a request to permit outdoor dining downtown for an additional month. 

The request, made by the Downtown Westport Association, began as a way to allow people to safely gather during the height of the pandemic, as well as to support restaurants.

“We do support this initiative,” Police Chief Foti Koskinas told the board. “The weather looks like it’s going to be in our favor.”

The selectmen’s vote was unanimous. 

On Wednesday, plenty of people were enjoying the outdoor dining on Church Lane in the sunny, unseasonably warm weather.

The National Weather Service predicts Thursday will be sunny, with a high around 60 degrees.