Portion of Westport's Route 136 Receives 'Scenic' Designation

Editor’s Note: Patch is re-running this popular story in case you missed it the first time around.

Westport, CT - A nearly two-mile section of Route 136 in Westport has been designated as a scenic roadway, the state Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

The scenic section "begins at the intersection with Route 1 and Compo Road south, and proceeds southerly to the intersection at Bridge Street, where it turns westerly, terminating at the west abutment of the Saugatuck River Bridge, for a distance of 1.82 miles," officials wrote in a statement.

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The application to the state to obtain scenic designation was submitted by John Suggs, Morley C. Boyd, Helen Garten and Wendy Crowther.

State Sen. Toni Boucher (R-26th) praised the new designation. Her district includes Westport.

“I am proud to support this important recognition of how beautiful and historically important this portion of Route 136 in Westport is. One of the best attributes Connecticut has is our inspiring landscapes and this designation will protect this portion of Route 136 from overdevelopment. Our collective goal is to preserve this roadway for future generations. Our support for protecting the Cribari Bridge’s historic character is unwavering.”

Throughout Connecticut, there are a total of about 300 miles of designated scenic roads.
According to ConnDOT:

To qualify for scenic road designation, the state roadway under consideration must have a minimum length of one-mile and have significant natural or cultural features along its borders such as agricultural land, a historic building or structure which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the State Register of Historic Places, or afford vistas of marshes, shoreline, forests with mature trees or notable geologic or other natural features which individually or in combination set the roadway apart from other roadways as being distinct. The scenic road shall have development that is compatible with its surroundings and must not detract from the scenic, natural character and visual quality of the roadway area.

For more information, visit ConnDOT's scenic roadways webpage.