Located near the geographic center of the state, Meriden has good overall exposure to the regional highway network. Local access from Interstate 691 is provided at four locations, but a strong gateway to the City Center does not presently exist.

Lewis Avenue and Colony Street currently connect to the west side of the downtown area, but the confusing one-way traffic pattern makes movement through the downtown difficult for the new visitor. State Street currently provides the most direct highway link to the City Center, but as a gateway its location between the Meriden Manufacturing building and the Carabetta building (formerly Quinlan’s Hardware) is quite intimidating.

This Master Plan proposes to improve the access to this area from Interstate 691 so that the proposed development can take full advantage of regional economic resources. The proposed improvements include developing a new boulevard connection between the end of Columbia Street (the “Downtown Meriden” exit from the west) and a realigned Camp Street. The new connection will create a new four-way intersection at Colony Street, and eliminate the existing zigzag movement between Columbia and Camp Streets. It will also directly link the exit from the west to the exit from the east, thereby providing clear and direct access to and from downtown Meriden that does not currently exist.

The Master Plan proposes the relocation of lower State Street, replacing its intersection at East Main Street with a new intersection with Pratt Street, opposite Catlin Street. The new State Street will be a boulevard, with planted islands in the center and on street parking where appropriate. This new drive will provide an attractive and welcoming path into the City Center. The new State Street will link directly to Catlin Street, which ends at East Main Street and City Hall. As discussed below, this change will simplify the existing traffic issues at the intersection of East and West Main Streets. In addition, it will provide an inviting new gateway directly to the City Center from the regional access provided by I-691. It will also create a parcel whose size and configuration is consistent with contemporary commercial needs.

The physical center of the City of Meriden is the one-way circle at the intersection of East and West Main Streets. Traffic circulation in this area is inefficient and confusing due to the combination of the rail lines, one-way streets, and the close proximity of the intersection of seven major roadways that connect Meriden to the surrounding region. As a result, this area presents a major challenge from the Master Planning standpoint.

The Master Plan proposes to respond to this challenge by reducing the number of streets entering this interchange from seven to three. To accomplish this, the intersection of State Street and East Main will be eliminated, with lower State Street being relocated east to intersect with Pratt Street. In addition, South Colony will be combined with Crown and shifted the east to intersect East Main opposite a slightly realigned Pratt Street.

By making these adjustments, the traffic congestion and confusion that has plagued this area for decades will be eliminated. The one-way circle between Colony and Pratt Streets will be gone. Two-way traffic will be accommodated on Hanover Street as well as on East Main Street between Colony and Pratt. The area will still remain a central point for all of the existing connections to the surrounding region.


The material on this page is reproduced from "Meriden City Center Initiative - A Comprehensive Plan for Revitalization" prepared by BL Companies, released 07/24/2002. All rights reserved.