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02/06/2024 01:44 PMGUILFORD - Town officials are urging residents to participate in a survey that could impact any potential redesign of Route 146 in both Guilford and Branford. Find a direct link to the survey here.
This well-known scenic byway is a favorite for hikers, bikers, photographers, and vehicles but has a reputation as a hazardous road for all, including drivers.
Thin road widths and limited sightlines make navigating the stretch of Route 146 from Stony Creek into downtown Guilford a white-knuckle trip for any vehicle or pedestrian.
First Selectman Matt Hoey said the survey is a critical step in how the multiple agencies overseeing the project are gathering information, and urged residents to participate.
“Community input, interested party input, is always welcome and should always be part of the process. This is where folks get to show their support, concern, and their detractions,” said Hoey. “In particular, due to the scenic nature of that portion of the road, it is very important that all perspectives are heard from.”
The project has now been placed into the state Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Corridor Management Plan (CMP) process. According to the DOT, a CMP is a plan “that the communities along a scenic highway and the road’s owner write together. The plan outlines how to protect and improve the unique qualities and character of that corridor.”
Hoey said the Route 146 CMP is a process that residents should ensure they are included in.
“There are only a couple of these types of roadways that have been placed under the Management Plan statewide…I know that there are not a lot. The reason that it is now a management plan is that we had gone through the South Central [Regional] Council of Governments to have a corridor study conducted, and the input we gathered was centered around the fact that folks didn’t want it disturbed or any change to the scenic nature of that corridor. They really expressed wanting to protect that corridor. As a result, we did not wind up completing that study and moved it to a Department of Transportation-sponsored management plan for the whole of Route 146. This is another opportunity for them to share their opinions and concerns about how this management plan is fashioned and what it means long-term.”
According to the state DOT website, the specific aim of this CMP, “…is to develop a Corridor Management Plan for Connecticut Route 146 in Branford and Guilford. The purpose of creating a CMP is to review the Route 146 corridor mobility and plan how to protect its many historical, cultural, and environmental resources, as well as managing the roadway infrastructure to ensure the corridor is more resilient to climate risks such as flooding.”
According to town officials, there has thus far been a poor response to the survey, which is now posted on the town site. The survey is a detailed one, asking all manner of questions about what the very people who utilize that roadway experience and what they would like to see in regard to change, if any.
Outside of his elected duties, Hoey is also an avid cyclist and said he sees firsthand how the hazards associated with this stretch of roadway affect its use.
“As a cyclist, I can say that is a very difficult stretch of road. In the past couple of years, I have not gone out that way as much as I used to,” said Hoey. “It used to be one of my favorite rides, but it is clearly one of the more dangerous rides a cyclist can be on. Part of that is simply the nature of the road. It is tight, it is narrow, and winding, and unfortunately, drivers don’t consistently obey the speed limits.”
The public survey for the draft Route 146 Corridor Management Plan Strategies will only be open for one more week, closing for comment at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16. The survey can be found on the town website, www.guilfordct.gov.
The direct link to the survey is: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/bedec7ae/dimwFBTMLkS9S_HeDoZE-w?u=https://arcg.is/0uWq4b