I remember driving down Rt 11 for my first visit to the Coast Guard Academy in New London in 1973, and when I reported in 1974 - thinking it might be done by '78 graduation. Ha! Great video.
Im Center CT born and raised...and as beautiful as it is, the deeply ingrained provincialism and backward thinking really holds the state back in so many ways. I find it amazing that Texas, Colorado, Utah...even Ohio...get roads built in critical areas and connect long-planned routes with far more ease. No long drawn out EIR reports and legalized delays to serve nothing more than killing needed roads. There are FAR too many NIMBYs and environmental nutcases that stop critical infrastructure which would ease congestion in key areas, especially with small segments of unfinished expressways like Route 11. Imagine driving from the Hartford area down Route 2/11 to get to I-95/New London/ RI and the Cape area without having to endure the traffic lights on Route 9 in Middletown. Connecticut needs a process to finish these small segments of highway so that life can be made better for everyone, not just the rural do-nothings that hold us back.
Nicely done! I particularly like the drone shots. Gives it a whole different perspective. I did an awful lot of driving all over the State of CT. back in the 70s and 80s. At that time, there were many more incomplete, disconnected or abandoned freeways. It was nice to see a pick up in construction efforts beginning in the 1980s where a lot of these roadways were finally utilized. Maybe not completely or exactly as envisioned, but way better than decaying ribbons of concrete. In particular, RT. 8, I-384, I-291, RT 9, RT 25 and I-691.
One of these days they are going to invent something that gives a reading about things underground. Not only will it change archaeology, but every stiff whose body went unfound are going to be spotted. Guys who killed someone when they were 22 will go to jail now as 75 year old convicts.
in 1972 the property had already been bought (like so many other state projects) but the tree huggers were around every corner having meetings with the "not in my backyard" crew. By the time they got done with environmental studies and court costs, plus delays, there wasn't enough money to finish the road. The same thing happened with Rt 7 (the extension) north of Danbury. The last 5-10 miles going through Brookfield into New Milford sat in a similar state of non-completion for at least 10 years... might have been 20. (don't recall) Back in the 70s we took our vehicles off road on moon lit nights and drove the entire clear cut to to fool around. As I recall, the section of Rt 84 by the Danbury Airport, and going up through Newtown, also branching off as Rt 7 to Brookfield, too like 20 years to finish as well. They never did build Rt 7 from Norwalk to Danbury and it's been over 50 years since the property was bought up. There was never any construction on that section.
I’m 37 years old and idk why but one of my wishes before I die is for them to complete Rt 7 from Norwalk to Danbury 😂 But I heard Wilton will not allow that.
@@ECharlez14 they stopped asking and ran out of funding 40 years ago. Last I heard they didn't have enough money to do a single lane in each direction.
Honestly, route 7 not being completed is probably the only thing that has kept most of western or mainly north western CT so beautiful. Look at all the warehouses and distribution centers built along other easily accessible highways just outside of densely populated areas where they can buy cheap farmland. Even though it is a pain to get from Norwalk to Danbury and further north it is a really nice drive and I trade the convenience for preserving what's left of CT's farmland. I am by no means a tree hugger I drive a 2001 diesel pickup that probably depletes the Ozone or whatever but as far as preserving farmland and the rapidly dying small farm I am all for it. Just look at how much of an impact 7 has on the surroundings of its section in Norwalk. That could destroy a small town like Kent. I don't even live in that part of CT.
@@thesmallenginekid I'm with ya there but building the road is NOT the main issue. We'll have traffic either with or without the road. Just the fact that there's cheap land 10 - 20 miles outside of most major towns / cities and few restrictive zoning rules, will keep developers busy well beyond my lifetime. Just look at New Milford and farther north with all of those tin industrial looking shacks on either side of the old Rt 7. There's an entire village of townhouses just past the end of where the super 7 ends now. (only a few hundred yards into the woods) The more they build, the more people will eventually push for a newer road. IOW, poor town planning and zoning is really to blame. Wilton recently threw their hand in the air and let developers build HUGE apartment complexes because it's the only way they see to get more tax money... but let's keep in Rt 7. They are also stuck in the cycle and will be pushing for the new road in a decade or so. I am glad I am retired and no longer need to travel during rush hour.
@@rupe53 I agree it is a perpetual cycle and there is no avoiding the inevitable suburbanization. I also agree that poor state planning and foresight is partially to blame. But also, CT is in a unique position where other states have been able to plan their cities and infrastructure better, many of the towns in CT have been around since before the revolutionary war, which makes it harder to just start cutting roads where convenient like they can in the open Midwest with abundant space. I sit on the Merritt every day for 30 min each way to get to work so I feel the commuting pain lol.
Thanks for covering it. We affectionately call it Route 5 1/2 - for half of Route 11. It was not continued ever because of opposition in an upcoming town where it would pass by the local water reservoir, which they heatedly objected to. This will never be completed even if the money became available.
Shell: That's wonderful. I sometimes thought about being an archaeologist, but all that digging for days and days before finding anything put me off. When they invent programmable digging robots where the archaeologists sit in the shade with a nice cold one while the robot does all the heavy work, I might give it a try.
This road was open to Salem when my Dad was still alive (died 1970). We thought it would be finished and shorten our trips to visit my brother. I've traveled it many times over the years, but didn't realize there was a dirt road past the Salem exit. Thanks for posting this.
I've been living off Witch Meadow for about 10 years now.....was wondering where it would take me if I stayed "left" at the top of the last exit...pretty cool!
My dad and I used to drive our ATVs up there, it almost feels like chernobyl minus the radiation lmao. The icecream barn right by the bridge has to be the best icecream in CT btw.
we have the exact same thing where I live in Pennsylvania dubbed the goat path expressway.PA 23 built at the same time and also ran out of funds. Bridges and interchanges and grades were built and it only serves cows now.
I'm stuck in PA until November. PennDOT is a freakin' joke. They suck, and are just a huge, hungry money machine. I will miss Pennsylvania like a toothache.
Could I finish the Route11 without been pulled over by the cops? What I'm trying to say is...it's legal? Or cops will detour me to route 85 or any other road close by?
I'm find it both cool and hysterical that you did this! Amazing that after all that work, they just stopped. All they had to do was finish paving it! It shouldn't have been that hard to do.
Happy Native American Viking Cowboy History An expressway connecting Route 2 in Colchester and the Connecticut Turnpike in New London had been planned as far back as the 1950s. It was originally designated the Route 85 Expressway. Construction began in 1966 but was halted due to lack of funding. The half-finished expressway opened in 1972 as Route 11.[3]
If there's no public land to ride on, don't bother registering it unless needed for out of state use. You don't need to register any road vehicle if it doesn't go on the road either. Race cars, private collectibles, museum pieces, and anything else kept off the road doesn't need registration. Buying a ZR1 to sell pristine with 0 miles on it in 10 years for a cool million (just a swag)? Just keep it in your garage for the duration. No registration = no property tax either afik.
Excuse me u pay to register if ur a moron and want to give the cops a tag to run for ur address nothing more if u can't access trail wow the average person is so dumb
I think Laura is saying its dumb because we have the option to register atvs but they claim there is no where for us to legally ride them. Dirtbikes where grandfathered in as other atvs werent invented yet. Its another shame. Most things are illegal or frowned apon these days. How about driving on this dirt road.... is that legal?
Sorry to say the state took someone’s Ranch to build this Road. The square D Ranch was someone’s dream come true and the Route 11 went right through it. People living on that side of Salem had to deal with constant blasting through all that rock you see in the video. Route 85 then and now is a dangerous highway. I personally knew several young people who died on that road. I have been in the nursery when someone has crashed into someone else trying to turn into it. Beach traffic on Route 85 was backed up for miles behind a light in Chesterfield. I avoid that route as much possible. I looked forward to having that Route 11 which, it was suggested, could be built as a greenway. Now the cars that use it instead of Route 85 going towards New London get dumped at the traffic light in Salem. That traffic could turn right on red but also tended to claim the right of way when the light was green making it difficult, if not impossible, for people, who also had the green light to turn left onto Route 85. The solution was a roundabout, which only works if people slow down and yield the right of way. This works better in theory than practice. I avoid it like the plague. So, thats my memory of Route 11.
I'm surprised there aren't any roadblocks or gates to stop vehicles from traveling down those areas. This was 7 years ago so they might've put something there now to stop people from dumping because at the very end it looked like big piles of garbage like mattresses and couches and God knows what else. Still, pretty cool to see this video. Oh, I'll bet it makes for a fun snowmobile or ATV riding trail.
Lack of funds & and a over abundance of tree huggers. That is why Route 9 stops at RT 84 and does not connect with 91 North. It was supposed to make a loop around Hartford. And why the Interstate Highway is not near Norwich, it's almost 3 miles from down town Norwich. Route 2A does not connect with RT 2, it dead ends at RT 12. RT 2 should be 4 Lanes all the way from I-95 through Norwich , but that's only by FoxWoods, because Fox Woods built it. Love your tree huggers! Tell me some more about Connecticut. I lived there for 28 years, I left 4 years ago. If you talk to the correct people you find out Just how screwed up Connecticut is.
looks like its still well traveled considering the pronounced paths. Would be fun to travel it at least once. Curious where those exits were planned to come out to and where they currently lead. as far as the end of the road there were still two paths at the fork, so is it the official end and those paths were just made by atvs or something?
Wanted to visit this place ever since I saw this video. Just got my chance today. Pretty bummed out when I realized it's not possible to drive a full size truck past the bridges. I headed south on Rt. 11 and veered off into the median before the end. I followed the overgrown trail all the way up to the bridge. Placed right at the bridge entry are two large concrete blockades. A dirt burm was made to the left so motorcycles can continue but there's no way you're getting any 4 wheeled vehicle through or over that. Still not defeated I backtracked to the beginning of the trail and crossed over to the other "northbound side" and headed up to what I thought would lead to the other bridge. Well...there's a state deadfall dumpyard up that way and a large overgrown burm to the left that at one time was the clear path to the northbound bridge. Again, no dice. I don't think it would have mattered if I could have got on to the bridge being that the "road" on the otherside is completely overgrown and impassable. At least this is what I can see on Google maps in satellite mode. Well now....let's see if I can find a way through or around the DOT yard on the other side of the bridges? Nope. DOT sits in a well just east of the two bridges and is locked up. Wouldn't matter anyway since the yard is surrounded by a steep incline of trap rock and is fenced in. There is a foot path around the east (left) side of the yard which heads back over to the abandoned north and southbound lanes. My wife, the dog and I parked just off Rt. 82 and headed in on foot. Unfortunately by this time the sun started to set and we had to head back before we even got near the cutouts. Funny thing though, we saw a relic storm drain fully installed along the trail most likely there are more along both lanes of the abandoned north and south lanes. We'll have to go back with more time. Does anyone know of an alternative path in by truck? Did some poking around but couldn't find anything. Prehaps from the dead end side? Thanks for the post!
I shot this video 5 years ago and never back since. At that time I was able to drive over the dirt berm on the south bound bridge, the video show's the way I went. I was driving a Chevy Colorado and that was tight with the overgrown brush.
Way to dig up a 30 year old soundtrack? It sounds like the background music to a safety training video. I always wondered what was down rt 11 if I had a vehicle that could go off road. Looks like a lot of nothing, but I appreciate seeing for sure. The 84 quad bridges west of Hartford are also pretty interesting. Crazy how much construction goes into infrastructure projects that just fizzle out and die in CT. I've lived in several other states from east to west coast, including where I currently live in upstate NY, and no other state wastes money on abandoned infrastructure like CT.
Thank you so very much for that comment, you def made me laugh out loud. With your "It sounds like the background music to a safety training video". I so know what your talking about. Even the safty vids at work at crazy old and still got that cheese porno tunes going on.
They started this when I was born in an early 70s did all this ideological information and my parents told me that road will never ever be completed in their lifetime.
If the state still owns the right-of-way, they ought to go ahead and finish it. Found it on a map: it seems logical to go ahead and extend it on to I-95. Local politics may also stand in the way.
I just drove on Route 11 yesterday and noticed the "ghost" bridges after the final exit. I asked the locals why the route was never completed, and no one quite knew why. Seeing the cut stone work makes you wonder how much work is really left to complete the project. The connector with I-95 won't be easy, but gee wiz, they are so close to the end!
@@cjboa Not 100% correct. The project stopped in 1972 due ot lack of money. From what I read, at one point later on they had the money but the EPA did not like their environmental impact mitigation plan, so they stopped it. I guess today cost is the killer.
@@andywolan I would tend to agree with that assessment. Around 1971 or 1972, laws were passed regarding environmental impact studies and highway construction. Those laws are a major reason why projects that stopped due to lack of finding or being tied up in court around that time never resumed: while there may have been funding later or courts allowed construction to proceed, the environmental requirements had rendered the projects cost prohibitive.
tom samuelsson I'm sure he means in his car, abandoned roads are the best because there's no chances of hitting anybody. You get your own private place to test your car. There was a few in the nineties when I had a few cars, but I'm sure they're getting hard to find nowadays. We even used to use the Berlin Turnpike in the mid-90s because it had big long sections with nothing but abandoned buildings in empty parking lots. If the police came they just asked you to leave. That has long since changed and I has been all built up again
Fact is, the people along the the Eastern shore of the state don't want the road finished. It will make the Eastern CT shore more accessible to the Hartford area. They don't want to be a Hartford suburb.
joeschultz2 I live on the eastern shore in Waterford and would love to see Rt 11 completed (along with many others) as it would shorten travel times and provide safer travel for those who commute inland and vice versa. The real issue is that much of the needed land has been developed and would displace many homes. Environmental regulations have also become stronger since the inception of Rt 11 and prohibit the development of wetlands now. The people of the Hartford area already visit our area, I doubt the 10 minute difference to the shore would have much impact, if any.
Here's a thought zip lines and quad trails with a little convenient store/ entry ticket sales at the end of the pavement spot..make some money to put back into the retirement funds
My father told me they used to call route 9 a highway to nowhere now it ties into 84 so maybe the same will happen to 11 tied into another highway who knows
The end of the road is in Salem, CT, which is about 10-15 miles away from New London. It does however provide easy access to Route 85 nearby, which runs straight through to New London. Personally I feel that, with 85 running almost parallel to 11, finishing the construction of 11 doesn't make a lot of sense anyway.
I've always wanted to take a look from that bridge to nowhere I've been under so many times. Thanks for making this, out of curiosity did anyone give you trouble for exploring up there? (I'm in Texas now so I won't be exploring myself either way.)
RT11 is now known as mexico to us in ct ,if you want to race or just go as fast as humanly possible this is the place,very little traffic ever,theres about 6 or 7 mile of very straight paved roads
Nice job guys, I lived in Connecticut most of my life grew up in Montville/Salem and then Hartford/ Colchester, both town lines border that route,.. It's amazing you can hike it, just watch out for Bobcats, Fox and any crazy derelicts!! ✌️ Yes it can be patrolled.. Colchester State Police I believe.
Yep, my hometown grew up in Salem, I live in East Haddam now. A few years ago they redid the Salem four Corners to cut down on traffic accidents. Spent about 5 million on the project. In East Haddam they want to build a walkway on the Goodspeed Bridge, now get this they want to spend 18 million dollars on it, looking to get a federal grant. It's bullshit! It would be nice if they finish 11, then it becomes part of the interstate high way system, 11 and Rt 2 to Hartford joins up on 91 and 84 11 links up with I-95 all it will take is a boatload of money to finish! I am 63 I was 16 when 11 got to Salem, not in my life time.
Was just there yesterday, everything is way different than seen in this video. You can’t drive back there anymore you have to walk on foot and sneak in. The state now put up a sign saying no tresspassing. It’s all grown up back there, looks like nobody has been back there in years.
@@cjboa Yes you can! Watch out for bushes and what not, but it is possible. Wish I knew about this years ago so I could have driven back there when it was open.
I live in Connecticut and had no idea this even existed.
Born and raised & never heard of it myself.
Me too, I never knew this. It’s literally a highway with no paved exit!
Sherry Nelson same
Pam pietro me to Pam, have lived here all my 58 yrs. been down the road to NOWHERE it’s a WASTE of OUR(the tax payers $$$) 😡😫
Did you visit the trail?
Connecticut seems to piss away a lot of money.
Tax and spend Demorats.
It sure does.
Demonkrat run state
And always have their hands out looking for more money ( taxes).
Wild! They did all the hard work-the overpasses and the cuts!
That was a cool trip. Thank for the video!
Born and raised in CT lived there for 38 years and never heard of Rt 11. Thanks for sharing! YEEHAW!
I left there 41 years ago. I lived not far from there and graduated when they were building that road. I still visit family there.
Lol
I remember driving down Rt 11 for my first visit to the Coast Guard Academy in New London in 1973, and when I reported in 1974 - thinking it might be done by '78 graduation. Ha! Great video.
Im Center CT born and raised...and as beautiful as it is, the deeply ingrained provincialism and backward thinking really holds the state back in so many ways.
I find it amazing that Texas, Colorado, Utah...even Ohio...get roads built in critical areas and connect long-planned routes with far more ease.
No long drawn out EIR reports and legalized delays to serve nothing more than killing needed roads.
There are FAR too many NIMBYs and environmental nutcases that stop critical infrastructure which would ease congestion in key areas, especially with small segments of unfinished expressways like Route 11.
Imagine driving from the Hartford area down Route 2/11 to get to I-95/New London/ RI and the Cape area without having to endure the traffic lights on Route 9 in Middletown.
Connecticut needs a process to finish these small segments of highway so that life can be made better for everyone, not just the rural do-nothings that hold us back.
On my 8th birthday, the only thing I wanted for a present was to be taken on a drive on Route 11 as 11 was my favorite number. Yes, I'm autistic.
Same here, but I like 12 though.
@@explorationandhistorywithethan 12 is a good number and good route as well. Many a good diner to be enjoyed.
❤❤❤
Nicely done! I particularly like the drone shots. Gives it a whole different perspective. I did an awful lot of driving all over the State of CT. back in the 70s and 80s. At that time, there were many more incomplete, disconnected or abandoned freeways. It was nice to see a pick up in construction efforts beginning in the 1980s where a lot of these roadways were finally utilized. Maybe not completely or exactly as envisioned, but way better than decaying ribbons of concrete. In particular, RT. 8, I-384, I-291, RT 9, RT 25 and I-691.
I'm a Hartford native but I used to live in Oakdale near Salem four corners and I always wondered about this road. Thank you for the amazing vid
hell yeah I used to take my jeep back here all the time! nice :]
We use to always go hang out off route 11 when I was younger. Good times. Makes me miss CT sometimes! haha
@@Whatupitskevin You live in Florida now? Lazy fuck if you do.
Where is it
How many bodies have been found out there?
Rich V Goodfellas...
Rich V that’s the same thing I thought...
First thing I thought just reading the title.
One of these days they are going to invent something that gives a reading about things underground. Not only will it change archaeology, but every stiff whose body went unfound are going to be spotted. Guys who killed someone when they were 22 will go to jail now as 75 year old convicts.
This place is perfect to salvage a person. Scary.
in 1972 the property had already been bought (like so many other state projects) but the tree huggers were around every corner having meetings with the "not in my backyard" crew. By the time they got done with environmental studies and court costs, plus delays, there wasn't enough money to finish the road. The same thing happened with Rt 7 (the extension) north of Danbury. The last 5-10 miles going through Brookfield into New Milford sat in a similar state of non-completion for at least 10 years... might have been 20. (don't recall) Back in the 70s we took our vehicles off road on moon lit nights and drove the entire clear cut to to fool around. As I recall, the section of Rt 84 by the Danbury Airport, and going up through Newtown, also branching off as Rt 7 to Brookfield, too like 20 years to finish as well. They never did build Rt 7 from Norwalk to Danbury and it's been over 50 years since the property was bought up. There was never any construction on that section.
I’m 37 years old and idk why but one of my wishes before I die is for them to complete Rt 7 from Norwalk to Danbury 😂
But I heard Wilton will not allow that.
@@ECharlez14 they stopped asking and ran out of funding 40 years ago. Last I heard they didn't have enough money to do a single lane in each direction.
Honestly, route 7 not being completed is probably the only thing that has kept most of western or mainly north western CT so beautiful. Look at all the warehouses and distribution centers built along other easily accessible highways just outside of densely populated areas where they can buy cheap farmland. Even though it is a pain to get from Norwalk to Danbury and further north it is a really nice drive and I trade the convenience for preserving what's left of CT's farmland. I am by no means a tree hugger I drive a 2001 diesel pickup that probably depletes the Ozone or whatever but as far as preserving farmland and the rapidly dying small farm I am all for it. Just look at how much of an impact 7 has on the surroundings of its section in Norwalk. That could destroy a small town like Kent. I don't even live in that part of CT.
@@thesmallenginekid I'm with ya there but building the road is NOT the main issue. We'll have traffic either with or without the road. Just the fact that there's cheap land 10 - 20 miles outside of most major towns / cities and few restrictive zoning rules, will keep developers busy well beyond my lifetime. Just look at New Milford and farther north with all of those tin industrial looking shacks on either side of the old Rt 7. There's an entire village of townhouses just past the end of where the super 7 ends now. (only a few hundred yards into the woods) The more they build, the more people will eventually push for a newer road. IOW, poor town planning and zoning is really to blame. Wilton recently threw their hand in the air and let developers build HUGE apartment complexes because it's the only way they see to get more tax money... but let's keep in Rt 7. They are also stuck in the cycle and will be pushing for the new road in a decade or so. I am glad I am retired and no longer need to travel during rush hour.
@@rupe53 I agree it is a perpetual cycle and there is no avoiding the inevitable suburbanization. I also agree that poor state planning and foresight is partially to blame. But also, CT is in a unique position where other states have been able to plan their cities and infrastructure better, many of the towns in CT have been around since before the revolutionary war, which makes it harder to just start cutting roads where convenient like they can in the open Midwest with abundant space. I sit on the Merritt every day for 30 min each way to get to work so I feel the commuting pain lol.
Thanks for covering it. We affectionately call it Route 5 1/2 - for half of Route 11. It was not continued ever because of opposition in an upcoming town where it would pass by the local water reservoir, which they heatedly objected to. This will never be completed even if the money became available.
I've lived in colchester for almost 30 years and have always wanted do drive across that bridge and explore. This is great!
Wild looking land and terrain in the cutouts reminds me of Missouri Arizona hybrid like
They ran out of cash demolishing that ledge!!!
That was pretty cool. Wouldn't want to drive it at night. Or at least have a working GPS/compass.
Imagine what this place looks like at NIGHT!
$50 roundtrip
Joshua Rialto um dark
Yeah I got freaked out driving some back roads in Maine at night. I totally understand where Stephen King got his inspiration from.
it is beautiful if you like the night sky...it is one of the darkest( no light pollution ) places in the state
totally hanging out in that cut out in case of nuclear attack lol
In college I worked on an archaeological dig off that dead end...found a 2,000-yr-old native american pottery shard.
Shell: That's wonderful. I sometimes thought about being an archaeologist, but all that digging for days and days before finding anything put me off. When they invent programmable digging robots where the archaeologists sit in the shade with a nice cold one while the robot does all the heavy work, I might give it a try.
The native American souls stopped the construction. You do not build on their burial grounds.
@@macknumber9 Ya, we saw pet cemetery. Don't want to think what will happen will automobiles. Don't need a 1957 Chevy chasing me off the highway. :)
oh,thats great...another reason to never build the road
This road was open to Salem when my Dad was still alive (died 1970). We thought it would be finished and shorten our trips to visit my brother. I've traveled it many times over the years, but didn't realize there was a dirt road past the Salem exit. Thanks for posting this.
Kathryn Wilson the plan was revived. This is the future extension
I've been living off Witch Meadow for about 10 years now.....was wondering where it would take me if I stayed "left" at the top of the last exit...pretty cool!
My dad and I used to drive our ATVs up there, it almost feels like chernobyl minus the radiation lmao. The icecream barn right by the bridge has to be the best icecream in CT btw.
we have the exact same thing where I live in Pennsylvania dubbed the goat path expressway.PA 23 built at the same time and also ran out of funds. Bridges and interchanges and grades were built and it only serves cows now.
JisINSANE3 there's a section of 4 lane off highway 60 just east of i79, too. Connects two, 2-lane streets. Half- three quarter mile long.
I'm stuck in PA until November. PennDOT is a freakin' joke. They suck, and are just a huge, hungry money machine. I will miss Pennsylvania like a toothache.
Then get the hell out of here please! We PA residents are sick of you cry baby imports.
@@RandyOnTheRadio Just checking in to see if you are still stuck in PA hahahahaha!!
@@RichWeigel nope, in Florida.
They aught to use those two cutouts to create an incredible race track.
I would love to drive this route, but only during the daytime. Can’t imagine being out there at night.
I have ridden my dirt bike in there pretty cool !!!
I like Rte 11 just the way it is no traffic like other highways
Chiri Smile I mean it’s okay when it’s right over by the monroe Trumbull area
Could I finish the Route11 without been pulled over by the cops? What I'm trying to say is...it's legal? Or cops will detour me to route 85 or any other road close by?
I'm find it both cool and hysterical that you did this! Amazing that after all that work, they just stopped. All they had to do was finish paving it! It shouldn't have been that hard to do.
Yup, and of course the state kept the land and didn't return any of the money to tax payers.
Think how much it cost to blast away all that rock to create that "cutout". What a total waste of taxpayers money.
My Dad was in charge of this was his last highway construction job before he retired.
kerry1111111 because he retired, is that why it dead ends?? Hah
Happy Native American Viking Cowboy History
An expressway connecting Route 2 in Colchester and the Connecticut Turnpike in New London had been planned as far back as the 1950s. It was originally designated the Route 85 Expressway. Construction began in 1966 but was halted due to lack of funding. The half-finished expressway opened in 1972 as Route 11.[3]
Ok that's why RT 11 ain't done, no one to replace your dad. good man
That was interesting 👍
Yet you pay to register your ATV and can't even ride legally anywhere in Connecticut
If there's no public land to ride on, don't bother registering it unless needed for out of state use. You don't need to register any road vehicle if it doesn't go on the road either. Race cars, private collectibles, museum pieces, and anything else kept off the road doesn't need registration. Buying a ZR1 to sell pristine with 0 miles on it in 10 years for a cool million (just a swag)? Just keep it in your garage for the duration. No registration = no property tax either afik.
Excuse me u pay to register if ur a moron and want to give the cops a tag to run for ur address nothing more if u can't access trail wow the average person is so dumb
Get a dirtbike like adult ghe state has hundreds of miles of trails for legal bikes...never heard of Pachaug state forest?
I think Laura is saying its dumb because we have the option to register atvs but they claim there is no where for us to legally ride them. Dirtbikes where grandfathered in as other atvs werent invented yet. Its another shame. Most things are illegal or frowned apon these days. How about driving on this dirt road.... is that legal?
@@sbpug hell yeah theres a shit load of trails there. I grew up in Voluntown. Been all over that forest. Awesome place.
Cool. If I come back to CT I will run this trail.
I use to go back there and party as a teenager. I grew up in Niantic. Not too far from there.
Any good for car meets ?
Sorry to say the state took someone’s Ranch to build this Road. The square D Ranch was someone’s dream come true and the Route 11 went right through it. People living on that side of Salem had to deal with constant blasting through all that rock you see in the video. Route 85 then and now is a dangerous highway. I personally knew several young people who died on that road. I have been in the nursery when someone has crashed into someone else trying to turn into it. Beach traffic on Route 85 was backed up for miles behind a light in Chesterfield. I avoid that route as much possible. I looked forward to having that Route 11 which, it was suggested, could be built as a greenway. Now the cars that use it instead of Route 85 going towards New London get dumped at the traffic light in Salem. That traffic could turn right on red but also tended to claim the right of way when the light was green making it difficult, if not impossible, for people, who also had the green light to turn left onto Route 85. The solution was a roundabout, which only works if people slow down and yield the right of way. This works better in theory than practice. I avoid it like the plague. So, thats my memory of Route 11.
This is really cool. I've never heard of this before.
They had to have spent millions(?) on what is there already. Maybe if the stuff - bridges etc - is in good shape it should be completed...
They could make that area into some kind of park or something ?
I'm surprised there aren't any roadblocks or gates to stop vehicles from traveling down those areas. This was 7 years ago so they might've put something there now to stop people from dumping because at the very end it looked like big piles of garbage like mattresses and couches and God knows what else. Still, pretty cool to see this video. Oh, I'll bet it makes for a fun snowmobile or ATV riding trail.
just drove on 11 yesterday. had not been on it for a while. the part where you get off at exit 82 and see the road lead to no where is kinda spooky!
Turn right . go to devil's Hopyard
is that where Malloy stashing our tax money?
That tax money goes to the state pension fund, long before Malloy was governor.
@@hiddencryptid bruh, you need to chill lmao
Unions and Demonkrats been at this game for at least 150 years ,both are the ssme.demonkrats 1st then unions were birthed from them
Lack of funds & and a over abundance of tree huggers. That is why Route 9 stops at RT 84 and does not connect with 91 North. It was supposed to make a loop around Hartford. And why the Interstate Highway is not near Norwich, it's almost 3 miles from down town Norwich. Route 2A does not connect with RT 2, it dead ends at RT 12. RT 2 should be 4 Lanes all the way from I-95 through Norwich , but that's only by FoxWoods, because Fox Woods built it. Love your tree huggers! Tell me some more about Connecticut. I lived there for 28 years, I left 4 years ago. If you talk to the correct people you find out Just how screwed up Connecticut is.
That’s where Connecticut politics ended up,NOWHERE.
Can you get ticketed if I take my Jeep for sightseeing?
By who ?
looks like its still well traveled considering the pronounced paths. Would be fun to travel it at least once. Curious where those exits were planned to come out to and where they currently lead. as far as the end of the road there were still two paths at the fork, so is it the official end and those paths were just made by atvs or something?
they were scouting/ survey trails for the continuation of the road
Wanted to visit this place ever since I saw this video. Just got my chance today. Pretty bummed out when I realized it's not possible to drive a full size truck past the bridges.
I headed south on Rt. 11 and veered off into the median before the end. I followed the overgrown trail all the way up to the bridge. Placed right at the bridge entry are two large concrete blockades. A dirt burm was made to the left so motorcycles can continue but there's no way you're getting any 4 wheeled vehicle through or over that.
Still not defeated I backtracked to the beginning of the trail and crossed over to the other "northbound side" and headed up to what I thought would lead to the other bridge. Well...there's a state deadfall dumpyard up that way and a large overgrown burm to the left that at one time was the clear path to the northbound bridge.
Again, no dice. I don't think it would have mattered if I could have got on to the bridge being that the "road" on the otherside is completely overgrown and impassable. At least this is what I can see on Google maps in satellite mode. Well now....let's see if I can find a way through or around the DOT yard on the other side of the bridges? Nope. DOT sits in a well just east of the two bridges and is locked up.
Wouldn't matter anyway since the yard is surrounded by a steep incline of trap rock and is fenced in. There is a foot path around the east (left) side of the yard which heads back over to the abandoned north and southbound lanes. My wife, the dog and I parked just off Rt. 82 and headed in on foot. Unfortunately by this time the sun started to set and we had to head back before we even got near the cutouts. Funny thing though, we saw a relic storm drain fully installed along the trail most likely there are more along both lanes of the abandoned north and south lanes.
We'll have to go back with more time. Does anyone know of an alternative path in by truck? Did some poking around but couldn't find anything. Prehaps from the dead end side?
Thanks for the post!
I shot this video 5 years ago and never back since. At that time I was able to drive over the dirt berm on the south bound bridge, the video show's the way I went. I was driving a Chevy Colorado and that was tight with the overgrown brush.
A storm drain you say??!! My sense of wonderment makes me feel like there’s more underground. Is Rte.11 really unfinished? Lol
Way to dig up a 30 year old soundtrack? It sounds like the background music to a safety training video. I always wondered what was down rt 11 if I had a vehicle that could go off road. Looks like a lot of nothing, but I appreciate seeing for sure. The 84 quad bridges west of Hartford are also pretty interesting. Crazy how much construction goes into infrastructure projects that just fizzle out and die in CT. I've lived in several other states from east to west coast, including where I currently live in upstate NY, and no other state wastes money on abandoned infrastructure like CT.
Thank you so very much for that comment, you def made me laugh out loud. With your "It sounds like the background music to a safety training video". I so know what your talking about. Even the safty vids at work at crazy old and still got that cheese porno tunes going on.
They started this when I was born in an early 70s did all this ideological information and my parents told me that road will never ever be completed in their lifetime.
If the state still owns the right-of-way, they ought to go ahead and finish it. Found it on a map: it seems logical to go ahead and extend it on to I-95. Local politics may also stand in the way.
so i guess hitch hiking would be futile on this road then?
Damn you can actually get over the bridge despite the over growth? Now in tempted to go check it out myself.
Would be a great candidate for an off-road area for 4X4's/ATV's/dirt bikes.
Yes it would
Looks like great mountain biking trails back there. They could really make some good use out of this mess.
I just drove on Route 11 yesterday and noticed the "ghost" bridges after the final exit. I asked the locals why the route was never completed, and no one quite knew why. Seeing the cut stone work makes you wonder how much work is really left to complete the project. The connector with I-95 won't be easy, but gee wiz, they are so close to the end!
andywolan the State doesn’t want to spend the money
@@cjboa Not 100% correct. The project stopped in 1972 due ot lack of money. From what I read, at one point later on they had the money but the EPA did not like their environmental impact mitigation plan, so they stopped it. I guess today cost is the killer.
@@andywolan I would tend to agree with that assessment. Around 1971 or 1972, laws were passed regarding environmental impact studies and highway construction. Those laws are a major reason why projects that stopped due to lack of finding or being tied up in court around that time never resumed: while there may have been funding later or courts allowed construction to proceed, the environmental requirements had rendered the projects cost prohibitive.
Anyone been out lately this looks cool place for the dog and venture great video with the drone shots man I want a drone so bad I love flying ✌
Road to Now here? Been there.
Do you guys think they will decide to finish RT 11 one day?
No, they tried . The environmental impact to great.
Is route 11 patrolled at all?
Yes, there are a few turnarounds that troopers like to sit.
Thanks for heads up...appreciate it. Been trying to find a spot where I can make a few test hits.
Test hits?
tom samuelsson I'm sure he means in his car, abandoned roads are the best because there's no chances of hitting anybody. You get your own private place to test your car. There was a few in the nineties when I had a few cars, but I'm sure they're getting hard to find nowadays. We even used to use the Berlin Turnpike in the mid-90s because it had big long sections with nothing but abandoned buildings in empty parking lots. If the police came they just asked you to leave. That has long since changed and I has been all built up again
RICH DISCOVERIES yeah. For a so-called free country we can't do shit anymore!
Any chance you saw bigfoot?
Sign on Rt. 11: Connecticut Department Of Transportation Workers Memorial Highway
I'm not kidding! It's there!
drove past it today lmao. how ironic
Fact is, the people along the the Eastern shore of the state don't want the road finished. It will make the Eastern CT shore more accessible to the Hartford area. They don't want to be a Hartford suburb.
joeschultz2 I live on the eastern shore in Waterford and would love to see Rt 11 completed (along with many others) as it would shorten travel times and provide safer travel for those who commute inland and vice versa. The real issue is that much of the needed land has been developed and would displace many homes. Environmental regulations have also become stronger since the inception of Rt 11 and prohibit the development of wetlands now. The people of the Hartford area already visit our area, I doubt the 10 minute difference to the shore would have much impact, if any.
Wow! Loved it👍
The finished part is the perfect place to learn how to get used to highway riding if someone was just learning how to ride a motorcycle.
Here's a thought zip lines and quad trails with a little convenient store/ entry ticket sales at the end of the pavement spot..make some money to put back into the retirement funds
So. Are you allowed to drive on it tho?
My father told me they used to call route 9 a highway to nowhere now it ties into 84 so maybe the same will happen to 11 tied into another highway who knows
How close does it even get to New London at the end? There hasn't been any interest is finishing it in the present?
The end of the road is in Salem, CT, which is about 10-15 miles away from New London. It does however provide easy access to Route 85 nearby, which runs straight through to New London. Personally I feel that, with 85 running almost parallel to 11, finishing the construction of 11 doesn't make a lot of sense anyway.
It only goes back about a mile
I'm going to assume that it's illegal to go down that road due to trespassing, but you knew your risks
Where is this in Ct
Rt 11 Starts in Colchester, the film was shot in Salem.
I always thought that interstate 84 was road to nowhere in Connecticut lol
I've always wanted to take a look from that bridge to nowhere I've been under so many times. Thanks for making this, out of curiosity did anyone give you trouble for exploring up there? (I'm in Texas now so I won't be exploring myself either way.)
Nobody bothered my at the time, but there is nothing out there
What’s the rush to finish it? I grew up near there and it was abandoned a mere 50 years ago!
Take the ride and stop at Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream for your reward when the highway ends. The best
been there many times this yr .. its all over grown only made it past the green bridge 200feet or so .. but really cool spot
I thought they had finished this......apparently not
ive seen that before going to a camp that near by. i forgot what it is called. awesome video
Devils Hopyard?
Another reason people don't like to drive in the notheast.
I live in the "quiet corner". Maybe the hordes of ATV riders can move their riding destinations from here to Rt 11.
Hope they plow it in the Winter
That's amazing.
Those cutouts are like Box Canyon.
Are there any plans to ever finish the highway they have the bridges already in place. Did they make the cut out through the rock or was it like that.
There is no plan to ever finish the road. The cut outs and bridges were cut and built for the road before construction was stopped.
Can someone please make a terrifying movie on this?...
whats the legality of driving and filming here? also who was the first music track you have playing?
often wondered what that trail ride was into 'almost unchartered Colchester'...thanks!
RT11 is now known as mexico to us in ct ,if you want to race or just go as fast as humanly possible this is the place,very little traffic ever,theres about 6 or 7 mile of very straight paved roads
Yes, back in the 70s we used it as our drag-strip after they closed the Colchester Drag-strip.
I wanna go for a ride there!!!! Or if I win the lotto I'll finish the highway
Pretty interesting!
What kind of road is that? 8 would not want to get lost there. It's like a bad movie.
Where was it suppose to go?
New London
if you have a dual sport motorcycle you can ride up on top of the "cut outs" that were never utilized.
Nice job guys, I lived in Connecticut most of my life grew up in Montville/Salem and then Hartford/ Colchester, both town lines border that route,.. It's amazing you can hike it, just watch out for Bobcats, Fox and any crazy derelicts!! ✌️
Yes it can be patrolled.. Colchester State Police I believe.
I have driven route 11 85 hundreds of times now I know why it stopped. Lack of funding.
Native American burial grounds. You do not build on them. They will haunt you. They put a stop to the construction in 1972.
Yep, my hometown grew up in Salem, I live in East Haddam now. A few years ago they redid the Salem four Corners to cut down on traffic accidents. Spent about 5 million on the project. In East Haddam they want to build a walkway on the Goodspeed Bridge, now get this they want to spend 18 million dollars on it, looking to get a federal grant. It's bullshit! It would be nice if they finish 11, then it becomes part of the interstate high way system, 11 and Rt 2 to Hartford joins up on 91 and 84 11 links up with I-95 all it will take is a boatload of money to finish! I am 63 I was 16 when 11 got to Salem, not in my life time.
Cool video
How many miles long
About 1/2 mile
Was just there yesterday, everything is way different than seen in this video. You can’t drive back there anymore you have to walk on foot and sneak in. The state now put up a sign saying no tresspassing. It’s all grown up back there, looks like nobody has been back there in years.
Yes, I tried last year an it was to overgrown. Can you mountain bike back there?
@@cjboa Yes you can! Watch out for bushes and what not, but it is possible. Wish I knew about this years ago so I could have driven back there when it was open.
Hi. I googled route 11 and i noticed this highway is near Salem, CT, im i right?
From Hartford, ends in Salem, CT