August 26th marked an exciting milestone for the City of Meriden and surrounding communities with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Research Parkway Linear Trail. Designed to enhance local connectivity, the project features a new 10-foot-wide paved trail, extended sidewalk connections, and dedicated trailhead parking near the Wallingford town line. Funded through the federal Transportation Alternatives Program and administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Local Roads Unit with City oversight, the corridor incorporates safety enhancements, full ADA/PROWAG accessibility, and Low Impact Development drainage features with educational interpretive signage.
BL Companies provided an end-to-end solution, combining land surveying, transportation engineering, landscape architecture, and full-time Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) services. BL’s design team developed an accessible corridor with eco-friendly drainage solutions, while the CEI team managed field inspections, traffic control, utility coordination, materials testing, and administrative closeout to CTDOT standards. Working closely with the City of Meriden and CTDOT, BL helped make this landmark project possiBLe.
The Research Parkway Linear Trail is part of Meriden’s growing network of linear trails, connecting residents and visitors to the community and outdoors. On Saturday, October 17, the trail and surrounding area will be featured during the Fall Festival of History and Nature at 562 Oregon Road in Meriden. BL is proud to have helped create this lasting connection for the Meriden community.