intersection to connection

REIMAGINING the chapel street bridge and intersections

LEARN ABOUT INTERSECTION TO CONNECTION

The Intersection to Connection project is a placemaking and transportation infrastructure improvement effort that reimagines the Chapel Street bridge and adjacent intersections. The railroad and highway infrastructure located here have for decades distanced apart five neighborhoods in New Haven from each other. Public art around the train tracks will help knit back together the area and call attention to the larger history of inequitable railroad and highway development in a new way.

Initiated by Town Green District and in partnership with New Haven Department of Cultural Affairs, New Haven Department of Engineering, and Arts Council of Greater New Haven, the project aims to celebrate neighborhood identities adjacent to each other, increase the safety and dignity of pedestrian and public transportation, and lastly to enhance the hospitality and walkability of the area for small businesses. The corner of Chapel and State will be enlivened with public art, landscaping, color, and light designed by Atelier Cue based in Erector’s Square in the Fair Haven neighborhood.

Surrounding residents, businesses, pedestrians, transit riders, property owners and other frequent users of Chapel Street provided the ideas for the project. We first asked community members about their concerns and vision for the corridor, and Atelier Cue drafted design concepts to advance the community vision. We followed up with several public input sessions to refine the design, which resulted in the proposal of five physical improvements ranging from adding sidewalk planters, creative crosswalks, way-finding signage, public art installed on the overpass walls, and increased overpass lighting.

As of Winter 2024, the project has completed:

· Phase 1A: Flower planters installed along the bridge.

· Phase 1B: Creative Crosswalk painted with community volunteers.

· Coming Fall 2024: Phase 2A: Bridge Mural installation.

give to support the project

This improvement project is only made possible through a combination of grants, corporate sponsors and gifts from supporters and community members such as yourself. Please consider investing in your community through this public art project.