The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), in cooperation with the towns of Thomaston and Watertown, will hold a public information meeting on Thursday, June 21st, 2018 to present preliminary design concept for a short section of the Naugatuck River Greenway (NRG) trail in Thomaston and design of critical features along the future NRG trail in Watertown.  The meeting will begin informally at 6 p.m. with a formal presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in Thomaston Town Hall, Meeting Room 1, at 158 Main Street, Thomaston, CT.  It is being held to provide residents and stakeholders an opportunity to learn project details, review concept plans and project timeline, and provide input on the design. Anyone interested in the project is encouraged to attend.

The project is being funded by a federal Recreational Trails Program grant administered through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).  The purpose is to design and construct a trailhead and trail on town property in Thomaston adjacent to the town water pollution control and animal control facilities, and design critical features including drainage and rail separation for a trail to be constructed in the future in Watertown.  The project is part of the larger 44-mile NRG trail that is planned to follow the Naugatuck River from Torrington to Derby.

The design work in Thomaston and Watertown is being conducted by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. (VHB) an engineering and design firm with offices in Wethersfield, CT.  

The project will include:

  • Design and construction of a trailhead parking lot on Old Waterbury Road
  • Design and construction of an approximately 1200 foot compacted stone dust multiuse trail extending from the trailhead around the WPCA to a future crossing of Branch Brook
  • Design of critical features along the future route of the NRG in Watertown including drainage crossings, rail separation, typical cross sections, and fall protection.
  • Investigation into bridge types and costs, with a cost estimate for the preferred alternative (construction of a bridge is not currently funded).                        

It is currently expected that the design will be completed in the Summer 2018, with construction following in Spring 2019.  

“The June 21st public information meeting will provide the residents of Thomaston and Watertown and the wider region extensive information about the plans for upcoming NRG development,” said Mark Nielsen, NVCOG Director of Planning. “It will also allow residents and stakeholders an opportunity to provide input and comments on the project before it enters the final design phase.”

More information about the project can be found at the project webpage HERE