Portland to East Hampton Developments

There is a major development happening with the Air Line Trail in Portland and East Hampton Connecticut. Users of the trail will be glad to know that significant progress is being made to connect the Portland and East Hampton sections of the trail and thereby connect the Portland trail to the rest of the 55-mile long Connecticut State Park Air Line Trail.  This has been a long-term goal of the two towns and the State Parks Division.

June 3 marks the 7-year anniversary of the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the Air Line Trail in Portland in 2018.  A few months later, East Hampton completed a section of their trail connecting it to Portland’s. However, a small 1800-foot gap remained in East Hampton separating the two segments. This gap has frustrated many users of the trail for the past 6 years.

The 1800-foot gap was unable to be completed as part of the original plan because a stream ran through it and it was designated as wetlands, requiring a wetlands study.  A plan then needed to be developed to allow the trail through without disturbing the stream and water way and appropriate permits obtained. Eversource also had power lines running through this section that further complicated the situation. Sufficient funding also needed to be found. This all took several years to work out.