[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by JayCT

My favorite thing about the Merritt wwas a quote in Engineering News Record Magazine on the old Sikorsky Bridge's metal grate deck. A state engineer was discussing the use of metal grate decking on the bridge and noted that it had been used before and worked well for "cars and horse drawn carts". Like I said it was a very different world back then. Jay

...except that that bridge is part of the Wilbur Cross Parkway which was the second phase of the project (and almost wasn't built).

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

No offense folks, but i'm wondering what you're smoking if you feel that Rt.8 is more aesthetically pleasing than the Merritt.

There's a mile stretch prior to Exit 12 north that is treed and there's a stretch just beyond Seymour around Prospect/Beacon Falls that is pleasant looking, but beyond those areas, i don't see what you're seeing.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

...except that that bridge is part of the Wilbur Cross Parkway which was the second phase of the project (and almost wasn't built).

Technically you are correct. ConnDOT designated the begining of the Wilbur Cross as the west abutment of the Sikorsky Bridge because they knew the old bridge had to go and did not want to deal with a possible Historic Structure Designation. When it was built though, the name Merritt Parkway ended at the county line which is in the middle of the bridge. If you look at offical ConnDOT road maps, the section of the bridge in Stratford is named Merritt Parkway. The section in Milford is named Wilbur Cross. Jay

[Rich Cabeza]

I like to pull to the side of the road on the Merritt and fish in those little streams that run parallel to it. I back my car into the brush where nobody can see it from the road. Like I little kid when I pull out back into the road I pretend I'm Batman exiting the Bat Cave. Crazy huh?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

No offense folks, but i'm wondering what you're smoking if you feel that Rt.8 is more aesthetically pleasing than the Merritt.

There's a mile stretch prior to Exit 12 north that is treed and there's a stretch just beyond Seymour around Prospect/Beacon Falls that is pleasant looking, but beyond those areas, i don't see what you're seeing.

That's exactly what I said:

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I think the stretch of Route 8 in Beacon Falls is absolutely breathtaking as the highway snakes along the river through the Naugatuck State Forest.

Personally I think the Merritt is beautiful, but it's getting uglier by the day.