Draft
September 15, 2017
Scope of Work for Rt. 146 Comprehensive Corridor Study
Rt. 146 is a CT State Road extending from Rt. 1 in Guilford along the Branford Green
also ending at Rt. 1. It serves as a local collector road with traffic ranging between
2000 and 5000 ADT. The road is approximately 10 miles long containing two lanes
in a narrow ROW. As the only road in Connecticut that is a National Register Historic
District, State Scenic Road and State Designated Bikeway, special consideration
should be taken to ensure that the use of the road and any improvements proposed
are managed to preserve these exceptional features and uses. The purpose of this
study is to address the long range future of the road and guide decision making
about road improvements. In considering changes to the use of the road and
improvements thereto measures to calm traffic, enforce speed limits and improve
safety and amenity for vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and residents are of utmost
importance.
Three recent events have triggered the current thinking about the need for a
comprehensive study of the road and its environs. First, the Guilford Community
Coastal Resilience Plan (2015) has called for such a study in light of the coastal
resilience issues identified in this work and the recognition that Rt. 146 frequently
floods and will likely be subject to increasing flooding resulting from sea level rise
and increasing storm frequencies. Second, controversies about the location of the
Shoreline Greenway Trail in both Guilford and Branford have pointed to the need to
reconsider the impact of this regional pedestrian and cycling facility on the Rt. 146
corridor. In addition, there have been significant innovations in recent years in
traffic calming methodologies, traffic enforcement technology and complete street
design that can be utilized to increase the safety and utility of the road. Finally a
CDOT proposal to create a bridge at Great Harbor in Guilford and invest substantial
resources in this facility has suggested that a review of the purposes and character
of the road needs to occur before major capital investments are considered.
Important Characteristics of the Rt. 146 Corridor
Rt. 146 is a unique and significant resource for the residents of Guilford and
Branford and for the citizens of the Region and State. The following characteristics
are particularly important;
 The road is the principal access to multiple residential neighborhoods in the
two Towns and to important recreational resources.
 The road is itself designated as a National Register District, serves several
other Historic Districts and provides access to dozens of Historic Places and
Homes. Many of these historic homes and other structures are as close as
five feet from the roadway edge, which will make widening of paved surfaces
very difficult.
 The road is a State of Connecticut designated Scenic Road.

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The road is a State designated bikeway and is extensively used by bicyclists.
The road is subject to frequent flooding and is increasingly vulnerable to
coastal high tides and storms.
The road also winds through several sections of topography that are
extremely challenging both vertically and horizontally. This difficult
topography when combined with the particular alignment of the narrow
AMTRAK rail underpasses with Route 146 also poses highly significant special
challenges in a couple of locations that need to be specifically addressed.

Scope of Work
1. Create inventory and map of existing road conditions, facilities ROW, and
important adjacent land use.
2. Incorporate information from sea level rise projections and ongoing studies
by UConn.
3. Identify important scenic, historic and recreational resources.
4. Characterize use by pedestrians and bicyclists.
5. Review speed limits, travel lane markings, and signage.
6. Evaluate strategies for traffic calming and speed limit control.
7. Evaluate condition of corridor landscape including control of invasive species
such as phragmites, Japanese knotweed, etc.
8. Project future land use and development.
9. Describe in detail current and projected vehicular traffic.
10.Create design vocabulary for road improvements including historic post and
cable guardrail and other features.
11.Evaluate and plan for high water evacuation routes for residential
neighborhoods.
12.Create alternative futures for the development and redevelopment of the
road and related facilities.
Create a Process for Executing the Corridor Study
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Identify major stakeholders
Appoint study committee (representatives from Guilford, Branford, the
SCCCOG, and CDOT
Create budget for the project and identify funding sources.
Review previous DOT study “From the Mountains to the Sea: Routes 77 and
146 Corridor Management Study” 1996. Evaluate the degree of progress
made in addressing the Recommendations from the 1996 study.
Hire consultant and implement the project.