CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NEWS RELEASE
2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546
FOR RELEASE: November 18, 2013
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
FAX: (860) 594-3065
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Public Informational Meeting Concerning the Proposed Pequonnock River Trail from Route 127 to Quarry Road in the Town of Trumbull
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (Department) will conduct a public informational meeting concerning the proposed Pequonnock River Trail from Route 127 (White Plains Road) to Quarry Road, 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 7:00 p.m.
The project is identified as State Project No. 144-191.
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 the State 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 (Bridge No. 00751) 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.
The meeting facility is ADA accessible.  Language assistance may be requested by contacting the Department of Transportation's Office of Communications (Voice only) at (860) 594-3062 at least five working days prior to the meeting.  Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public, and efforts will be made to respond to requests for assistance.  
Plans of the proposed project will be on display for public review.  Department personnel will be available during the meeting to discuss this project.  More detailed information is available at the Department’s Office of Engineering, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.  Anyone wishing to discuss the project may contact Mr. 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.