CTDOT presents Route 72 realignment through Brackett Park; alternative that preserves more parkland recommended

The Connecticut Department of Transportation presented a concept plan to realign Route 72 through Brackett Park and told the City Council the agency plans to advance the project to design with a recommendation that minimizes property takings and preserves parkland. "We're moving this forward" with the curved alignment, Andrew Correa, project manager in CTDOT's division of highway design, said.

Correa said the agency analyzed multiple alternatives and prefers what it calls alternative B, a curved approach that keeps a larger section of the park intact, avoids some right-of-way impacts to adjacent buildings and adds a modest traffic-calming geometry. "This option leaves a larger area of Brackett Park intact itself and also avoid[s] some, rights away impacts to adjacent buildings as well," Correa said.

The nut of the presentation was that the project is still in concept development but the department is preparing to hand the work to a design team. Correa said CTDOT expects a design phase of roughly two to three years (possibly longer because of environmental permitting), followed by one to two years of construction; CTDOT estimated the project "a little over $9,000,000" and said the funding would be state and federal — "no cost to the city," Correa said.

Council members asked about impacts to park amenities and nearby properties. CTDOT staff said the preferred alignment would run near the park's tree line and culvert and likely avoid taking buildings on the west-side corner that a straight alignment would require. The department also said it had discussed maintaining access for parish processions at a nearby church and that driveways would be accommodated in the design handoff.

Councilors and staff raised questions about park amenities that could be affected. One councilor asked about a basketball court located in the path of the proposed alignment; Correa said the concept-level plan treats built features inside the park as design-level landscape elements and that replacement or relocation would be considered during design. CTDOT also said coordination is required with ongoing riverfront planning by local groups.

CTDOT identified internal coordination steps already completed — right-of-way review, environmental review and structure unit input — and noted there will be additional public outreach. The presentation included the project number referenced by CTDOT as Project 0170011.

The council did not take a formal vote on the presentation; CTDOT staff said they will continue public engagement as the project moves into design and permitting.