Do you trailer your boat to the Branford River state launch on Goodsell Point Road? Heads up: the popular Branford boat launch shuts down Monday, July 18 through Friday, November 4, 2016 for renovations.

In early 2016, the Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) put out plenty of warning that the launch would be closed and upgraded as early as this spring, but until now there had been no closing date announced. In fact, the DEEP had originally planned to close the ramp from fall 2014 to spring 2015 for renovations, but that timeline was delayed. Now, the closing is posted at the state site here and a closing notice has been posted prominently at the driveway at the top of the launch site at 38 Goodsell Point Road.

The DEEP managed to hold off the closing date to allow boaters to get into the Sound during heavy use dates including Memorial Day through the Fourth of July weekend and bit beyond. The popular launch is where many boat owners who moor or dock for the summer months in Branford launch their boats come spring; while throughout the summer it's often packed on the weekends with day-trip boaters seeking the ramp's mid-to-high tide access.

Limited use of the ramp at low tide has been one of the issues facing the aging launch. The state is planning significant upgrades to the launch, pier, driveway and parking area with additional handicapped access and kayak and canoe launch support (Zip06 shared news of those plans here ).

During the period the Branford launch will be shuttered, the DEEP's recommending boaters trailer over to Guilford's town-owned boat launch at the Guilford town marina. As previously reported, there is a fee charged by the Town of Guilford as well as limited trailer parking; and boaters need to be prepared navigate Guilford harbor's rocky challenges to make their way back to Branford waters. The DEEP is also recommending boaters trailer to the state's smaller East River boat launch in Guilford, for which there is no fee;  but the small lot has some parking issues; especially at high tide.  See Zip06's story on the Guilford options, fees and more here

For more information, contact DEEP Boating at (860) 434 -8638.