DOT to Hold Public Meeting Dec. 10 to Discuss Pequonnock River Trail in Trumbull

The Connecticut Department of Transportation will conduct a public informational meeting concerning the proposed Pequonnock River Trail from Route 127 (White Plains Road) to Quarry Road in Trumbull on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 (Snow Date:  January, 9, 2014) in the Council Chambers, Trumbull Town Hall, 5866 Main Street, Trumbull, Connecticut.  An informal question and answer session will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a formal design presentation at 7 p.m.
 
The purpose of the project is to continue the Pequonnock River Trail from Route 127 across the Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) Corridor to Quarry Road. This will enhance continuity with the existing bicycle trail system throughout Connecticut and provide an alternative to motor vehicle transportation.   
 
This project involves the construction of a multi-use trail from White Plains Road to Quarry Road in the town of Trumbull for a total length of approximately 4,500 feet. It is proposed to install a crosswalk on Route 127 from Twin Brooks Park to allow trail users to cross the road onto a new eight-foot wide section of bituminous trail along the south side of the road. The trail leads to a crosswalk at Rocky Hill Road.  A new five-foot wide concrete sidewalk along the eastern side of Rocky Hill Road will accommodate pedestrians while bicyclists travel with the traffic on the roadway. The ten-foot wide multi-use bituminous trail will resume from the southern cul-de-sac on Rocky Hill Road. The trail then leads toward the Merritt Parkway crossings.  The first crossing occurs at the southbound Merritt Parkway off-ramp to Route 25 (Exit 49) where a new box culvert tunnel structure is proposed.  The trail then leads to an existing, abandoned railroad bridge over the Merritt Parkway and then back under the northbound Merritt Parkway on-ramp from Route 25 through a second new box culvert tunnel structure. The trail will require the total acquisition of one private property immediately south of this second box culvert tunnel to accommodate the trail alignment.  Illumination will be provided within both tunnels for users’ safety. As the trail continues south, it passes a Connecticut Light and Power Company right-of-way with transmission lines traversing east-west, and ends in the vicinity of the Quarry Road cul-de-sac.
 
Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2016 based on the availability of funding. The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $3.5 million.  This project is anticipated to be undertaken with 80% Federal funds and 20% State funds.
 
The public informational meeting is being held to afford a full opportunity for public participation and to allow open discussion of any views and comments the community may have concerning this proposed project.
 
Anyone wishing to discuss the project may contact Timothy M. Wilson at (860) 594-3189 or by e-mail at Timothy.Wilson@ct.gov.  Plans are also available for review at the Trumbull Town Hall.