Colebrook Reservoir is so low that we were able to continue on the old Route 8 from the boat launch to the dam.  2.5 miles more of old road bed goes past the dam to the access road..yes all the way! Did you know the new Route 8 is not where it was planned to be?

“The alignment that was chosen for CT Rt.8 was not the one approved by the committee charged with determining which of three routes was to be the one passing the reservoir and then proceeding north through Massachusetts to connect with the Mass. Pike at Becket. There were three proposed alignments: Plan “A” was to go up the east side of the Farmington River, plan “B” was the one you see today, plan “C” was to proceed up the valley on the west side along the crest of the surrounding hills All were to converge on Becket at I-90.

Plan “C” would have gone right past our family farm, which would have ruined the place, hence was of great concern to us.  The final choice had been made, and it was plan “A”, on the un-populated eastern highlands. Eventually Connecticut finished her portion of Rt.8, where it ended at a wall of rock covered by a mature forest. Then and only then did the DOT officials from the two states meet to find out what was going on. Mass. said they weren’t about to start, because they wanted to be able to get paid when they were done, something that wasn’t going to happen with the wrong alignment. There were hearings held in both Hartford and in Washington, where it was
determined that no illegal intent could be found, it was just a bone-head mistake on the part of Conn. officials. The original plan was negated, plan “B” was substituted in its place, and Mass.began to work their section. To my knowledge, this story never made the news at any level.I loved working in Colebrook because of the rugged countryside. I remember walking the roads of Colebrook River and with the buildings standing or partly torn down thinking I was in a war zone. Then there were the people moving the cemetery and not being allowed to leave the work site. Bob Grigg

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