Study to Evaluate Feasibility of a Multi-Use Trail on the Merritt Parkway Corridor to Begin

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEWS RELEASE

2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546

NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: November 22, 2011

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062

FAX: (860) 594-3065

WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Study to Evaluate Feasibility of a Multi-Use Trail on the Merritt Parkway Corridor to Begin

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (Department) is beginning a study to evaluate the feasibility of a Multi-Use Trail along the Merritt Parkway corridor.

The study will consider a trail that would span the entire 37.5 miles of the Merritt Parkway, stretching from the New York State border in the Town of Greenwich to the Sikorsky Bridge and Housatonic River in the Town of Stratford. The trail would be located primarily adjacent to and south of the Parkway within the undeveloped highway right-of-way and it would utilize the wooded buffer that exists between the roadway and abutting properties.

As part of the study, an extensive public outreach campaign will be undertaken in each of the eight communities along the Parkway. Public input, along with an inventory of the existing conditions and features of the corridor, will be used to develop a conceptual design for the multi-use trail. Additionally, environmentally sensitive areas will be documented and options to avoid them, including the possible diversion of the trail onto local roads in select areas, will be explored.

It is the Department's policy to keep the public informed and involved when such projects are undertaken. The Department plans to hold a series of public meetings for this study, which will be arranged in coordination with the individual municipalities.

This study will be undertaken with a grant from the National Scenic Byways Program and State funds.

Anyone interested in receiving information on this study may do so by contacting Mr. William Britnell at (860) 594-3274, or by email at William.Britnell@ct.gov. Please make reference to Project No. 173-410.