Recent discussion about flooding at 55-57 Greens Farms Road — and the potential for more, if plans for a 250-unit apartment complex there move forward — got Eric Buchroeder thinking.
Though very young, he remembers construction of I-95 — then called the Connecticut Turnpike — in the mid-1950s. It was part of President Eisenhower’s plan for a nationwide highway network to provide security against foreign invasion. (As a young cavalry officer in World War I, he’d had difficulty moving large numbers of troops around the country.)
In 1953, Eric says, the plan was to construct an elevated highway, in a right of way between Greens Farms Road and the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad tracks.
Though later built level with the tracks, it needed much more roadbed material than was available commercailly.
Someone had the idea to pump liquified sand and silt from the bottom of Long Island Sound at Compo Beach. Steel pipes ran the material from the beach, up Hillspoint Road to Greens Farms Road, where it was used as landfill to elevate the road embankment.
Greens Farms Road was rebuilt too, replacing curves with the current stretch between Hillspoint Road and Compo Road South/Bridge Street.
Readers: Do you remember construction of that stretch of I-95, and the construction of the “new” Greens Farms Road? Click “Comments” below.
We have no photos of the construction of I-95 along Greens Farms Road. So this view — looking east from Saugatuck — will have to do.
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Extremely interesting. I didn’t know about the scheme to suck the essence out of the Sound and dump it inland. Yeesh.
During construction adventurous kids could get onto a paved portion near the present South Compo Rd. / Greens Farms Rd. Intersection and ride parallel to the train tracks up to Hillspoint Road.
I remember watching the construction from Sasco Creek Road ( the road that leads to Southport Beach) The one thing that really sticks with me is the enormous tires on the construction vehicles! They looked like they were the size of a two story building. But as I’ve mentioned before, that highway changed Westport forever!
A couple of corrections on Eisenhower:
Not a cavalry officer, but tanks.
Not during World War I, but after.
Not difficulty moving large numbers of troops in wartime, but an Army experiment/demonstration in peacetime.
In 1919, Major Eisenhower was assigned as an observer on an Army convoy to test how a variety of Army vehicles would perform, and to demonstrate the need for improved roads and bridges for military and civilian needs. The truck train averaged only 5.65 m.p.h. from Washington, D.C., to Oakland, California, traveling mostly on the historic Lincoln Highway once it reached Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The convoy was ferried to San Francisco. Most of the roads from Illinois through Nevada were unpaved.
Thanks, Bill. I relied on Eric for that info. Corrections are noted!
I’m too young to remember the construction. I do remember an old timer telling me they dredged sand from the bottom of LIS off Sherwood Island’s East Beach. There is a spot about 1/4 off shore where the bottom drops and then comes back up. When I would fish out there it was easy to see on a fish/depth finder where they dredged.
I grew up in Waterbury CT. In the early 60’s, Interstate 84 was constructed. The section that ren through the city is now known as “The mixmaster.” My cousin Jim and I would watch the blasting from our neighborhood way up on the hillside overlooking the site. There was all kinds of blasting to get through the stone. He would scavenge around the sites and take discarded blasting wire, for what reason I don’t remember. I’m hearing the mixmaster will be undergoing rerouting. It’s a busy area, so that will be a headache for all.
I’ve been on the Left Coast since 1975. When did they stop calling it the Connecticut Turnpike?
Please tell me they still call it the Merritt Parkway?
Mid-’70s was around the time it became known as “I-95.”
Both the “turnpike” and “thruway” names are only used by REAL old-timers.
And yes, it’s still the Merritt!
We drove on it before it was completed, especially along Greens Farms Road. Can’t remember how we got on it.
I am a native of Westport. Staples class of 1958.
My most vivid memory of I95 being developed is the tears as Eminent Domain took over. If my memory is correct my brother, Corky Cookman and several of his friends did manage to get on I95 and drive before it was completed. Perhaps some of the Downshifters will see this and respond.