Indian Hole Bridge Repair

Indian Hole Bridge, Indian Well State Park

If you have ever walked out to the scenic falls at Indian Well State Park, or hiked the "blue dot" Paugussett Trail in that area, you've seen the large stone arch bridge over Indian Hole Brook. Indian Well Road runs across the top, but drivers cannot see the old stone arch below their cars.  The stonework was built from 1935-1937 during the Great Depression as part of the WPA program.

This stonework at the top of the bridge would be replaced with a concrete wall.

The bridge has been listed as deficient for some time now and in need of repair. The good news is that the state DOT is in the process of planning this repair, and intends to preserve the stone arches while making the bridge more structurally sound by placing a concrete slab under the roadway to better distribute the weight of vehicles crossing and by providing some drainage channels through the stonework.

Extensive retaining walls stretch into the distance

The bad news is that the stone "wingwalls" that you see on either side of the top of the bridge while driving over it will be replaced with concrete on the sides facing the road and capstones along the top. The bridge aesthetics will be degraded for people driving and walking over the bridge.

Indian Hole Bridge as viewed from the east

According to the DOT, the bridge was built in 1910, but this is incorrect. According to a 1936 report issued by the State Park and Forest Commission: "In the fall of 1935 the WPA workers took up the project of a stone-arch bridge, twenty-four foot span, on which they are still busy, with the prospect that it may be in use by next summer. This bridge will take the place of an old wooden one on the town road, which is in poor condition and due for retirement."

The Paugussett Trail runs below the retaining walls south of the bridge

The stonework along the road is extensive and typical for projects of the WPA (Work Progress Administration), a work program most active in the late 1930s.  WPA crews built 10,000 bridges across the United States during the depths of the Great Depression.  This particular WPA project was much more than an arch bridge. The stone retaining walls holding up Indian Well Road (but invisible by passing cars) are a good ten feet in height and continue for more than a quarter mile from the bridge. This was a massive undertaking.

Indian Well Road was a little-used gravel road leading to a Scout camp when the state purchased 157 acres in 1928 for the new Indian Well State Park (the cost was only $4,150). At that time, it was reported that "the approach to this park is unsatisfactory and parking space for cars is almost entirely lacking." But the park proved to be popular and by 1936 it had 150,000 visitors a year, including "11,400 camp days."  The WPA project was a necessity.

The best way to view the stone retaining walls is to park in the hiker lot across the road from the falls (a street sign points to The Maples). Venture through the woods down to Indian Hole Brook. In normal low summer flow, it is very easy to walk across the water here and go under the bridge. Cross the brook to see the long stone retaining wall heading off to the north. Then go back to the parking area and look for southbound blue trail blazes heading through the meadow and follow the blazes. After the trail enters the tree line, it turns right and then left again on old abandoned pavement. This used to be Indian Well Road before the WPA project.  As the trail follows the old pavement, a massive stone retain wall appears to the right, parallel to the trail. Eventually the hiking trail rises up to meet the stone wall, with stairs bringing hikers up to the current Indian Well Road.

Many people go under the bridge to explore

As an aside: The old road alignments from a 1934 aerial superimposed on a more recent aerial are interesting. Near the bottom of image, the old Indian Well Road went past some buildings. This part of the old road is now a section of the Paugussett Trail that has some old pavement under foot, and hikers can see the ruins of the old buildings under thick vines.  Heading north, the original road route rejoins the current route, but then veers to the east just before the location of the current bridge.

The red lines are road alignments from a 1934 aerial.
(Leavenworth Road and Indian Well Road were realigned after 1934)
The bridge is in the upper center portion of the image.

The road from the Maples used to go straight out to Indian Well Road rather than curving to the south like it does now, and it looks like the road had formerly continued across the road to join Leavenworth Road. In the 1934 aerial, there is an old trace visible through the forest (shown as a pale yellow line on the aerial below).  Route 110 was given a better curve subsequent to 1934.

Construction drawings: Here are some drawings from the DOT showing the existing and proposed work at the top of the bridge. This is from their application to the CT DEEP for a general permit for water resources construction activities (click images to enlarge):

Existing bridge (click to enlarge)

Proposal, showing stonework replaced with concrete wall 

References:
"Twelfth Biennial Report of the Connecticut State Parks and Forests for the Fiscal Years July 1, 1934 to June 30, 1936" published 1936 by the State of Connecticut.

"Report of the State Park and Forest Commission to the Governor For the Fiscal Term ended June 30, 1928" published 1928 by the State of Connecticut and also the report for 1930 (both are available within a Google ebook that contains multiple reports).

DOT Project Info:  Project number 126-172 "Rehabilition of Bridge No. 01602." Contact is Kimberly C. Lesay, Transportation Assistant Planning Director, Bureau of Policy and Planning, CT DOT, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT 06131, (860) 594-2931

DOT Design Plans: 

Structures: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o28pcmru7383nna/04-Structures_CT_CON_DCD2_0126-0172.pdf?dl=0

Traffic: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yi6ebt2fxfiq1v9/05-Traffic_CT_CON_DCD_0126-0172.pdf?dl=0

Nells Loop Trail Workout

The Trails Committee and some great volunteers tackled clearing brush and hay along the Nells Loop Trail on Saturday.  Like many of the past few work parties it got steamy as we cleared along the powerlines.

This was actually the "After" picture showing how wet it was.  Shown are Mark, Rich, Bob, Graham, and Mike.  Not in picture are Tyler, Luis, Jim & Terry.  As we said it was warm work.

 
We cleared out a bit at the entrance to start.  We met at the Abby Wright Open Space across from L'Hermitage Condominiums on Nells Rock Road.  Parks and Rec was going to cut some of the brush behind the gate and we didn't want to take all their fun from them.

We fired up the power tools and headed into the the woods.  Here's Graham with one of the hedgetrimmers.

Jim and Rich took a little time getting the other hedgetrimmer going; possibly even resorting to reading the switch directions.

We worked our way out through the woodland sections to the powerlines, where the trails were pretty overgrown.  It looked like mountain bikers had kept a single track open, but it was pretty brushy.

Tyler and Mark used the new sickle bar trimmer for clearing out the trail.  It works pretty good and having 2 brushcutters speeds things up a lot.

The "After" trail is much easier to walk or bike than the before picture.

We also did a lot of manual cutting.  Here's Jim along the powerlines.

Luis, Jim, and Rich also trimmed back sections of the Basil Brook Bypass trail.

The Sweet Pepperbush were in bloom along the wetlands.

The crew cleared back from the powerlines, out to John Dominick Drive, and back along the white trail to the parking lot.  We kept going till we got everything or ran out of gas, whichever came first. 

It was a good turnout and we got a lot done.  A few bikers and hikers passed us, but it seemed most were waiting for nicer weather.  Thanks to Luis, Tyler, and Graham, as well as the trail committee for helping out.

Paugussett Trail Clearing; Mayflower Lane to Rt. 110

On a muggy Saturday, several trails volunteers met at Sinsabaugh Heights to clear out the Paugussett Trail from Mayflower Lane down to Rt. 110.  The work party was a success, and after everyone sweated out several pounds of water the trail was much clearer.

Graham, Bob, Jim, Val, Betsy, Mark and Mike, along with Luis & Terry (not pictured) posing in the briar tunnel (and not many towns can say they have one of those) after the cutting was done.  Nice Job.

This was the "Before" picture in some areas.  It's amazing what sun and rain can do for plant growth where you don't want it to grow sometimes.

Here's the "After" picture.  Can you find the Paugussett Trail now?  Good.

Jim & Luis headed down to Rt. 110 and worked uphill.  A second team worked downhill from Sinsabaugh.  A third team cut uphill toward Mayflower Lane.

It was hot work, but we were making good progress in the heat and humidity.  Unfortunately, when we got up to Mayflower Lane there was a large dump of yard waste from nearby residential lawns that had been piled up in the trail.  I could repeat what was said, but this is a family blog.    There was ornamental grass, sticks, evergreen shrubs, grass clippings, and thick leaf piles that appeared to come from some of the neighboring yards, not the City Open Space.  We set about to clear out the trailhead and piled all the yard waste out on City-owed property by the road so everyone on the street could enjoy the waste piles.

The yard waste was dumped right behind the sign that said no dumping waste, and the City fine amounts.  Nice Touch.

 So the volunteers, on their Saturday, in high heat and humidity, cleaned up the mess.

And this is the view from the trailhead out to Mayflower Lane.  I can understand how some people want nicely maintained lawns, but most properties in Shelton can manage to have a compost pile somewhere on your own property, or else take the stuff to the transfer station for free.  And if you use a lawn service you are responsible for what your employees do and where they dump.  Do Not Dump Your Waste on City Property, and Do Not Dump Your Garbage in the Middle of the Trail.

We also cut back briars, raked the trail, cut brush and made it easy to see where the trail went for everyone.

So we got a lot of work done all the way down to Rt. 110 opposite Indian Well State Park.  Thanks to the Sinsabaugh folks that warned us about the bees; nobody got stung.  Enjoy your Shelton Open Spaces, and no dumping.  Lets show some community pride and Keep Shelton Clean.

Cut, cut, cut the brush, as far as you can see ......

Mow that brush.  Nothing like a lot of rain and sunshine to fill in the trails with plant growth.  So the Trails Committee and volunteers braved the June heat and humidity to cut back the vegetation along the Paugussett Trail from Constitution Blvd North going North and South.

For some reason I feel a song about a boat coming on.......

Jim and Luis took the Gator and mower and cleared various spots out to Wellington CT, past Independence Dr., and down along the RecPath.  It was hot, buggy, and did we say hot?  The guys did a great job mowing with the Gator.

Mark Vallero cut out portions of the Turkey Trot, Paugussett Trail, and other spots before he had to go home to work on his own house.  Obviously, he has to work on his sense of priorities.

One of the "before" pictures along the Paugussett Trail.  We cut all this back and made the trail more tick unfriendly for the hikers and bikers passing thru.  Bill Dyer dove into this and cut stuff back until he had to leave. 

We cleared out down to Meadow Street at Mayflower Lane.  There's more that can be cut (as always at this time of the year), but the trail looks better and is more passable.  Thanks to Betsy, Graham, Bob, Bill, Mark, Val, Mike, Terry, Jim and Luis for coming out to give Shelton's trails a haircut on a steamy Saturday.

Join us Saturday 7/12 at 8:30 at Sinsabaugh Heights to cut out the rest of the Paugussett Trail down to Rt. 110.  We're meeting at the parking lot at the back of the neighborhood.  Bring water, bug spray, and your choice of weapon to deal with briars and brush.

The Means Brook Greenway Trail System

You've probably never heard of the Means Brook Greenway, but we hope that changes. It includes Nicholdale Farm, Willis Woods,  Pearmain Preserve, and more.

New map of the greenway

Print out a full-page Greenway Map HERE (posted along with all the other trail maps at sheltonconservation.org under the "Trails" tab).

What's a greenway?  Many people think that a greenway is a type of trail, as in the "Derby Greenway," and sometimes that's true. But not every greenway has a trail, and some have more than one trail. Merriam Webster defines a greenway as "a strip of undeveloped land near an urban area, set aside for recreational use or environmental protection." That strip of land might be 20 feet wide and consist entirely of a trail, or it may be a 500 yards wide and have no trails. As long as it's a protected corridor of greenspace, it's a greenway.

Shelton's Greenway System: Shelton has a system of interconnected conceptual greenways that were first outlined in the 1993 Open Space Plan, mostly following our waterways. One of these was the Means Brook Greenway, which follows Means Brook for nearly five miles from the Monroe Border to where it empties into the Far Mill River near Huntington Center. The greenway was "conceptual" because most of it was not actually protected in 1993 when the first Open Space Plan was drafted. Much of this greenway has since been preserved in various ways, sometimes private and other times public, including the Pearmain Preserve property which was purchased with the help of a state grant in 2018.

The Means Brook trail system is maintained by a cooperative effort between the Shelton Land Conservation Trust (a private, non-profit group) and the City of Shelton's Trails Committee. The trails cross a patchwork of conservation properties, some owned by the Land Trust or City of Shelton outright. Some of the properties are remain in private hands protected by easements, however, so it's important for people to remain on the blazed trails and respect the property owners. Also, hunting may occur on these lands, so hikers should wear bright colors in Autumn.

Public Access: The main parking area for the Nicholdale Farm and the Means Brook trail system is at #324 Leavenworth Road (Rt 110), with two additional parking areas located nearby, including a small pulloff on the north side of Leavenworth Road at the beginning of Stockmal Trail. Care should be taken when parking or crossing Leavenworth Road because cars are often travelling at 50 mph. The Nicholdale-Willis Woods Connector Trail leads to the highway crossing location with the best sight lines.

Future possibilities: On the greenway map you may notice a property called "Trombetta Woods" just over the river from the end of Stockmal Trail. That's a good-size piece of city open space without public access. If we can find a way to cross Means Brook, then Stockmal Trail could be extended. But this is a river that really floods, and the property is owned by the Aquarion Water Company, so it would need a substantial bridge and special permission would be needed cross that property.  There are serious obstacles to extending Stockmal Trail, but it's something we've looked at.

RecPath Fences Repaired

We walked the route of the CT Trails Day Hike the week before and everything was fine.  On Trails Day, 6/1/19 when we came to the bridge at Silent Waters we found this:

Some jerks went through, snapped fence post and knocked down fences on top of the dam along the RecPath.  The fences protected people from falling off the face of the historic dams along Silent Waters, so this wasn't just your stupid run-of-the-mill vandalism, this was public safety vandalism. 

The Trails Day hike went fine and no one was injured or harmed, but this had to get fixed.

Unfortunately, this occurred at the end of the City's fiscal year, and I won't get into the ugly details,  but it's challenging to get things purchased at this time of the year in Shelton.  The Trails Committee is also pretty strapped with mowing and brushcutting chores right now because everything is growing wildly on 28 miles of trails across town.

So the Mayor authorized some overtime for D&D Landscaping; a local contractor who has helped us out in the past.  Bill Dyer, Trails Committee Chairman, went over to Home Depot, and personally bought 40 fence rails (with his 10% Veteran's discount), and Terry Gallagher picked up 8 locust fence posts at Orange Fence Co. on Sat. and carried them up to the broken sections.

Long story short, Dan & Dave did a great job with Bill in pulling out the broken posts, cutting brush, resetting rails, and making the fence solid, safe and tight so the RecPath was safe for you, the public,  again.

New posts were installed, rails replaced, fence rails moved around and existing posts were tightened up.

A lot of lower fence rails were replaced, and the fences were straightened in a number of places. 

There's more to do, but the immediate crisis was fixed, and fixed well by D&D Landscaping and Trails volunteers.  This should make things safer for RecPath users. 

There's a lot of beautiful corners of Shelton along these trails.  If you're interested in seeing other portions of the Shelton Lakes Greenway join us Saturday, 6/22/19 at 8:30 on Constitution Blvd North for clearing along the Paugussett Trail.  See the trails work parties page for more info.

What's the Name of that Song?

A lot of times in life we go thru places or things and we hear music in our heads.  Some of us can even nail down the tune quickly.  But for some of us we have to work at it.  Saturday at Lane St. a bunch of us worked along the Shelton Lakes Recreation Path cutting briars, mowing hay and fixing boardwalks:

Mike Flament was leading this week's work party and replacing old boards in the boardwalk with Shayaan.  The two of them were probably hearing The Pretenders, while they worked.

The RecPath was busy Saturday too.  Mike and Sam probably thought they were working for ConnDOT on I-95 with all the traffic on their bridge job.

The hay was pretty thick along the RecPath and was getting out of control.  Normally the Land Trust has a farmer who hays it by now.

  

This mower was a out of it, but luckily we had a mower that was up to the task.

Jim and Mark drove over with the Gator and our mower and tried to cut back the hay field to restore our 3 foot wide RecPath back to 8 feet wide.  I think they both inhaled their own weight in grass seed that day.  If you have any bare spots in your lawn you can book them ahead of time and they'll stop by your home and just roll about in the grass and help re-seed the place on their way home.

 

This is the after picture.  We have to do some more close mowing or other controls to keep the meadow from taking over the RecPath, but this was a great start.

Rachel, Bella, Val, and Graham were doing a fine job clearing the cuttings and making the RecPath more presentable.  It was really nice having so many good volunteers take time out from their weekend to maintain one of Shelton's really special open spaces.

In case you were wondering where all that yellow pollen was coming from; White Pine flowers along the edge of the meadow.

There were other wildflowers along the Path in the meadow.

Grahmn was doing a great job with the new bushcutter.  It's deadly, but he just kept going with it.

Trail Safety Tip:  If you're running, biking, or walking on the trails, and volunteers are using power tools ahead of you, get their attention, and wait for them to stop before you pass.  You can get seriously hurt if they swing around suddenly and hit your with a brushcutter or chainsaw, which almost happened Saturday.  A trail runner almost scared the crap out of me when he passed as I was getting ready to swing around.  When you're working, hot, tired, and getting sprayed with rocks, poison ivy, briars, etc, and you're covered with hard hats, face masks, safety glasses, ear muffs, etc. you just don't hear people coming up behind you silently.  We want all our trail users to have a good time and return home with the same number of legs and parts that they set out with, so please, get our attention before you try to pass someone working on the trails with power tools.  For our sake and yours.

Shayann and Mike screwed down all the decking on the boardwalk after they made repairs.  Thanks to Betsey, Val, Grahamn, Mike, Sayann, Bella, Rachael, Jim, Mark, and Terry for all the hot work.  It really helps when there's a decent turn out.  The RecPath thru the Land Trust Meadow at Lane Street is one of Shelton's hidden wonders, and well worth the visit if you've never been there.

 At the end of the work party you turn off the equipment, pull off the ear muffs, listen to the birds and look around.  It's really a nice corner of Connecticut when you stop to enjoy it.  Now, what was that song that was going thru my head at the end?