Airline Trail Extension Nearing Completion

If you are wondering what the construction is going on behind Main Street Pizza in East Hampton, it is the completion of the latest extension of the Airline Trail.

The extension is expected to be completed by the end of June. The trail, the southern portion of which extends about 23 miles from Lebanon to East Hampton, will now drop walkers, hikers, bicyclists and the like off in the Village Center.

Among the work being completed besides the end point next to Main Street Pizza is a bridge over Pocotopaug Creek that runs adjacent to Watrous Street. The bridge is being constructed over an old railroad bridge that was once part of a rail line called the Air Line that had been established in 1873 to connect New Haven with Windham.

However, underneath the bridge, and in the general area, is debris, including cinder blocks, that trucks and other equipment can not get to because of the steep embankments on either side.

As a result, the town is trying to organize a volunteer effort to clean up the area around the brook. Local groups are being contacted and others aware of the effort are asking members to assist. The clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, June 30, from 8 a.m. to noon.

“It will be a bucket brigade because there is no access,” acting Town Manager Jeff Jylkka said during last Tuesday’s town council meeting. “That’s probably going to be the best way to get that material out of there.”

Those interested in lending a hand or wanting more information, can call town hall at 860-267-4468.

Funding for the extension was made possible through a Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant in 2010.

The extension project, designed by Anchor Engineering, is using more than 1,500 square feet of modular block retaining wall. Diversity Construction Group of Cheshire is the general contractor.