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CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NEWS RELEASE
2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546 |
| FOR RELEASE: November 19, 2016 |
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
FAX: (860) 594-3065
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot |
New Section of Cheshire Trail Opens
Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker and Cheshire Town Manager Michael A. Milone today announced the opening of a 2.4-mile section of a bicycle/pedestrian trail in the town of Cheshire – part of a continuous 23-mile section of the East Coast Greenway between New Haven and Southington.
The new section – part of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail from Jarvis Street in Cheshire to the Southington town line – includes a 12-foot wide pavement with 2-foot wide stone shoulders for runners. The $3.8 million project, which began in September 2015, included fencing for trail safety, park benches and trash receptacles. There are also two composting restrooms at the Jarvis Street parking lot. The work was completed by Schultz Corporation of Terryville, Connecticut.
“We are committed to completing the East Coast Greenway through our state,” said Commissioner Redeker. “In fact, Connecticut is committed to enhancing all modes of transportation across all segments of our transportation infrastructure – from roads and bridges to trails, buses, trains and airports. This beautiful trail in Cheshire is an excellent illustration of our commitment to our state’s transportation and economic future.”
There is one remaining 0.6-mile section of the trail from Cornwall Avenue to West Main Street in Cheshire, which should be completed in the Fall of 2018. Construction on that section will begin in the spring and will include boardwalks over Willow Brook at two locations, and a 10-space parking lot off Railroad Avenue, as well as a restroom, benches, bike lockers and a bicycle repair station.
“This new section of our Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is a welcome addition to the State Park Trail and will provide additional opportunities for families to enjoy the ‘great outdoors,’ said Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert Klee. “This project is a great example of the success we have when DEEP and DOT are able to collaborate and work with municipalities to improve upon our outdoor recreation resources.”
“We are grateful to Commissioner Redeker and the staff at CTDOT and DEEP for making this critical trail a reality,” said Town Manager Milone. “This section, which connects to our recently opened 1.8-mile section from West Main Street to Jarvis Street, provides an incredible and beautiful recreational opportunity for our town residents and the region. Additionally, since it crosses West Main Street where we recently completed $1.85 million in streetscape improvements and sidewalk extensions, it will provide a significant economic catalyst to this retail village.”
"The projects that make up the 57 miles of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, the major spine trail in Connecticut, are nearing completion,” said Bruce Donald, Tri-State Coordinator, East Coast Greenway Alliance and Chairman of the Connecticut Greenways Council. “This multi-use, ADA compliant facility is a local, regional and national draw, and is already putting Connecticut on the map. Congratulations go out to Cheshire, the agencies involved, and particularly CTDOT, who championed and designed this piece."
The East Coast Greenway (ECG) winds some 198 miles through Connecticut, of which 55 percent – more than 100 miles – has been completed. The state is in the middle of a five-year Statewide Trail Program to fill in the gaps along the Greenway. The entire ECG runs 3,000 miles from Key West, Florida, to Calais, Maine. More on the ESG at www.greenway.org. The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail runs 84 miles, from New Haven to Northampton, Massachusetts.
There are also hundreds of miles of local trails crisscrossing Connecticut.