Tag Archives: Merritt Parkway Conservancy

Another Bridge Needs Work

Posted on November 12, 2015 | 14 comments

Bridges are all over the Westport news. There’s the uncertain fate of the Bridge Street bridge, and the uncertain date — because work has apparently stopped forever — for finishing the North Avenue Merritt Parkway bridge.

Now a 3rd bridge has grabbed the attention of at least one Westporter.

Alert “06880” reader Jonathan McClure wondered what’s up with the Merritt’s Newtown Turnpike bridge. It’s been encased in wood for a while. He searched the web, but found no explanation.

The Merritt Parkway Newtown Turnpike bridge. (Photo/Jonathan McClure)

The Merritt Parkway Newtown Turnpike bridge. (Photo/Jonathan McClure)

So he contacted the Merritt Parkway Conservancy. Executive director Jill Smyth replied that the state Department of Transportation had safety concerns about stones coming loose from the bridge. To protect drivers and preserve the exterior, DOT braced it with wood.

The Conservancy is working with DOT on repairs. Restoration of the bridge will begin in 2017.

2017!  You know — the same year that work resumes on the North Avenue bridge.

The same bridge, before being encased in wood.

The same bridge, before being encased in wood.

14 Comments

Posted in Organizations, Places, Transportation

Tagged , , ,

Bear With Us

Posted on June 3, 2013 | 24 comments

A big black bear’s weekend ramble through Westport elicited plenty of chatter. There were blog posts,  Facebook photos, some bad puns (see headline above), and predictable jokes about what bears do in the woods.

But lurking behind all the heh-heh-I’m-not-worried comments are serious issues.

An “06880” reader — who has had extended conversations with the Merritt Parkway Conservancy and state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection — emailed me with several concerns.

“State urban forest experts have suggested that deforestation of the Merritt Parkway, and clear-cutting for large developments like the new YMCA at Mahackeno, will result in more wildlife venturing into residential areas from previously forested areas.

“And a black bear appears in backyards soon after.”

The bear, on Tupelo Road.

The bear, on Tupelo Road.

“Although a bear may be categorized as a singular public safety issue, it should be considered in context with other issues,” the reader continues.

“Reduction of urban forest  in suburban communities ultimately results in other public safety issues. For instance, Westport is wedged between 2 significant diesel fume corridors. Particulate matter from both the Merritt and I-95  corridors is filtered by the urban forest.” Increased levels of asthma may result.

Clear-cutting dangerous trees on the Merritt Parkway solves one problem. But traffic jams -- due to tree work, accidents or just plain rush hour -- brings other environmental problems.

Clear-cutting dangerous trees on the Merritt Parkway solves one problem. But traffic jams — due to tree work, accidents or just plain rush hour — brings other environmental problems.

The reader also worries that after large parcels of land are deforested, they are paved with conventional asphalt — not modern “pervious paving,” which reduces runoff, traps suspended solids, and filters pollutants from the water.

“Certainly we cannot solve everything instantly,” the reader acknowledges.

“The bear is not the primary issue. But it could be an example of cause and effect specific to Merritt Parkway and Mahackeno deforestation. We need to identify issues as they arise, and together plan viable strategies for urban forest management.”

24 Comments

Posted in Environment

Tagged , ,

The Merritt Parkway: Cutting, Planting, Crashing

Posted on April 21, 2013 | 11 comments

In the aftermath of the recent Paul Bunyan activity near the Merritt, a group of interested Westporters, Norwalkers and Fairfielders — not all of whom live near the parkway — have done some letter-writing.

They wanted to know whether new trees — less prone to fall over and kill people — would be planted once the dangerous ones were removed.

The Merritt Parkway before...

The Merritt Parkway before…

They contacted state representatives and the Department of Transportation.

The answer was “yes.”

There will be short trees and shrubs that “give” easily.

The new, improved vegetation is not only to prevent deaths by landing on cars, but also to prevent deaths when cars run off the road and smash into them. That happens a lot more than trees toppling in high winds and hurricanes.

The stumps that line the roadside now will be removed “soon.”

Homeowners hope the planting takes place “soon,” as well. They (and the new Y) are pretty exposed, following the recent cutting.

The DOT is working with the Merritt Parkway Conservancy on this project.

At the same time, DOT plans to replace all rusted metal guard rails with reinforced wood ones.

Hopefully they too will “give” when drivers plow into them.

11 Comments

Posted in Organizations, Places

Tagged , ,