Challenge
In New Haven, CT, a heavily wooded area separated a neighborhood from a 1.5-mile pedestrian walkway connecting two schools and a football field. For safety reasons, the City decided to clear the forested area and develop a path to connect the neighborhood to the existing greenway. Since the path would be bisecting a wetland area, the crossing needed to not only protect the area, but also withstand difficult soil conditions with little to no maintenance.
The City researched various materials and ultimately selected PermaTrak for the project. They had worked with PermaTrak before and were familiar with the maintenance-free precast concrete boardwalk system, and believed that it would provide an eco-friendly, durable crossing for the project.
Solution
The City of New Haven partnered with PermaTrak’s team of designers to develop an 82-foot boardwalk that crossed the wetland area. Diamond piers were installed to withstand the soil conditions and minimize disturbance to the area. Timber railings were used to provide a seamless aesthetic with the surrounding wooded area.
Zach Shapiro, Chief Structural Engineer with the City of New Haven, was pleased with the final result. “Installation went very smoothly and the boardwalk looks very nice. Even before the crossing opened, we had kids lined up who were excited to use it.” Now, families in New Haven have a safe convenient way to travel between their neighborhood and the local schools.