Ceremony to mark reopening of Cold Spring Road

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A locked gate blocks public access to the Naugatuck State Forest at the end Cold Spring Road in Beacon Falls last year. The road will be reopened Wednesday. –FILE PHOTO
A locked gate blocks public access to the Naugatuck State Forest at the end Cold Spring Road in Beacon Falls last year. The road will be reopened Wednesday. –FILE PHOTO

BEACON FALLS — The reopening of Cold Spring Road in Beacon Falls will be marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday.

The road allows access to High Rock State Park in the Naugatuck State Forest. It was originally closed in May 2012 as repairs were being done on the Metro-North Railroad line that runs through the area. Cold Spring Road was supposed to be reopened after the work was done last September. But, state Department of Transportation officials kept the road blocked with a locked gate because they felt it posed a major safety concern due to its proximity to the railroad.

Town officials and local legislators lobbied to reopen the road. Their fight came to an end in September when the DOT announced the road will be reopened after some safety improvements were made, including adding about 3,000 feet of fencing as well as signage cautioning pedestrians about the active railroad.

The ceremony to open the newly restored access road will be held Nov. 13 at 9 a.m.

Local legislators lauded the news of the road’s reopening.

“Reopening Cold Spring Road will provide much easier access to the beauty and splendor of the Naugatuck State Forest and I’m happy our hard work has paid off,” state Rep. Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) said in a press release. “Hundreds of area residents utilize the park each month and allowing them a safe and easy entry benefits the entire community.”

“Naugatuck State Forest attracts people from throughout the state and region,” state Rep. David Labriola (R-131) said in a press release. “Reopening this road provides easier access for all visitors who enjoy this beautiful state park.”

“Cold Spring Road is the sole entry point in Beacon Falls for hikers, bikers and horseback riders to enter Naugatuck State Forest,” state Rep. Theresa Conroy (D-105) said in a press release. “I’m pleased we were all able to work together to solve this problem and re-open the road.”

“First and foremost, the safety and well-being of all who use Cold Spring Road remains of paramount concern,” state Sen. Joseph Crisco (D-17) said in a press release. “Once that public safety concern was addressed to the satisfaction of DOT and local officials, we could move forward to reopen the road and provide this key point of access for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders who use the state forest for recreation.”