Where is Broad Bridge Brook?

By Tom Pieragostini

I doubt if anyone else has noticed there wasn't a sign marking where "Broad Bridge Brook" flows under the Merritt Parkway in (Nichols) Trumbull. I noticed quite a few new signs placed recently that identify the rivers and brooks that flow under the Parkway. We ought to have more marker signs in town, especially for our historic sites and local natural landmarks.

I contacted the CT DOT and requested that a sign be placed for it and included a copy of Clark's 1867 map of Trumbull, which clearly identifies the brook that flows off the south side of Mischa Hill in Nichols Center.

I argued that Broad Bridge Brook was used as a natural landmark in the earliest land records that I've read that date back to to the 1600s, when the village was first inhabited by the English as a part of the Stratford settlement.

I received a quick response from the CT DOT, explaining that during the review and design of the recent Merritt Parkway projects, that included highway resigning (SPN 50-204/144-180), they did not provide watercourse signs for "Broad Bridge Brook" because their project plans and the USGS maps of the area, identified it as an "unnamed watercourse".

So, in accordance with the Department Policy, no signing was provided for it. However, because of my reference to a document (Clark's 1867 Map of Trumbull), that provided local historical significance, it was determined to be sufficient enough proof to take precedence over Department Policy regarding the signing of this previously unnamed watercourse.

Therefore, the CT DOT has requested their Department's Office of Maintenance to fabricate and install a sign for Broad Bridge Brook in Trumbull.