Connecticut Parkways

Use of CT RTE 15 and CT RTE 796 is limited

Prohibited parkway vehicles

Trucks and some other vehicles cannot use two of Connecticut’s parkways:

CT Route 15 (Merritt Parkway and Wilbur Cross Parkway) between the New York State Line & I-91 in Meriden, CT
CT Route 796 (Milford Parkway)

This page provides the details you need to avoid being ticketed for a traffic violation.

There have been NO changes to the regulations governing the use of State highways designated as "Parkways" since 2014." The following is provided for clarification, is not an all-inclusive list, and any omission should not be considered as permissible.

Prohibitions by size and appearance

You cannot drive a vehicle on the Merritt Parkway, Wilbur Cross Parkway, or Milford Parkway that:

Is more than 8 feet tall
Is more than 24 feet long
Is more than 7 feet 6 inches wide (excluding mirrors)
Has business branding, advertising, logos

Examples of prohibited vehicles

Type of vehicle	Exceptions	Examples
Passenger vehicles	May use Parkways subject to the HEIGHT, LENGTH, AND WIDTH limits noted above providing they have no business branding, advertising, or logos thereon which would classify them as a vehicle used for commercial purposes.	N/A
Commercial vehicles	PROHIBITED	Vehicles with commercial license plates Vehicles with branding, advertising, or logos Trucks
Trucks	PROHIBITED	Rental trucks (U-Haul, Budget, Penske, etc. Tractor trailers Box trucks
Recreational vehicles (RVs)	PROHIBITED	Personal RVs Rental RVs
Trailers/towing	PROHIBITED Exceptions as noted to the right	Utility trailers Car trailers Tow trailers Camper trailers Exception: A vehicle which has become disabled while using the parkway may be towed from the parkway but only by a registered wrecker or a wrecker vehicle which is defined as follows: A vehicle is properly registered, designed, equipped and used exclusively for the purpose of towing for compensation wrecked or disabled motor vehicles.
Buses	PROHIBITED	All buses, including commercial buses, bearing BUS license plate or otherwise.
Combination license plated vehicles	Generally PROHIBITED Exceptions noted to the right	Combination Plated vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating fully loaded of 7500 lbs or less and without business branding, advertising, or logos etc. which would classify them as a vehicle used for commercial purposes.
School buses	Generally PROHIBITED Exceptions as noted to the right	Two-axle four-wheeled type II registered school bus that satisfy all of the following: Gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand pounds or less Owned by or under contract to a public, private, or religious school or public school district Engaged in the transportation of school children to and from school or school activities Camper Trailers Are not more than: 98 inches high (8 FT 2 IN) 84 inches wide (7 FT 0 IN) 203 inches long (16 FT 11 IN)
Service buses	Generally PROHIBITED Exceptions as noted to the right	Service buses that satisfy all of the following: Owned by or under contract to a public, private, or religious school or public school district Engaged in the transportation of school children to and from school or school activities. Are not more than: 8 feet high 7 feet 6 inches wide 24 feet long
Services buses for students with special needs	Generally PROHIBITED Exceptions as noted to the right	Service buses for students with special needs that satisfy all of the following: Owned by or under contract to a public, private, or religious school or public school district Engaged in the transportation of school children with special needs to and from school or school activities Are not more than: 120 inches high (10 FT 0 IN) 90 inches wide (7 FT 6 IN) 288 inches long (24 FT 0 IN)
Hearses	PROHIBITED When in procession otherwise allowed provided the vehicle does not exceed the HEIGHT, LENGTH, AND WIDTH limits noted above.	N/A

Contact Information

Office of the State Traffic Administration
Connecticut Department of Transportation
2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Phone: 860-594-3020
Fax: 860-594-2552
Email: DOT.OSTA@ct.gov