With its low self-esteem and high urban blight, Hartford is the ultimate underdog city. Sad City Hartford documents the joys, sorrows and eccentricities of New England's Rising Star.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Spooked By A Highway Walking Path

This highway walking path has long intrigued us. The long winding concrete structure topped with a steel cage seems unneccassary to say the least. No one ever seems to be using it. The parking lot it leads to is almost always empty. It seems weird that it is so long and winding  instead of straight as if so many people would be using it, it needed to be stretched out. Imagine our excitement when we found the gate to the empty dirt lot unlocked.
When we parked and got out of the car, we got that weird feeling we got at the Keney Clock Tower; solitude. While the cars above whizzed by on I-91, we were the only ones in the large dirt lot under the hot summer sun.

Looking at the walking path, we thought that the winding maze was the last place you'd want to get caught with someone unhappy to see you. There was some evidence of visitors from graffiti and a few discarded containers.



Even a little unnerved by the vast empty structure, we steeled ourselves and got ready to go in and start exploring. We took out the camera, started recording and entered. About two steps in, an animal to our left rustling in the long grass and we quickly retreated backwards. At that we decided that maybe we would check out the overpass at a later date.

You can't really see the animal rustle in this video, but you can see the hasty retreat.

12 comments:

  1. I was here a couple of months ago. Not nearly the number of discarded alcohol containers as we expected. Mostly the massive $.99 Arizona iced tea cans and newspaper. Although I think we spotted some underwear or other clothing.

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  2. I know it's a bit outside the Sad City limits, but I'd love to see photos of The Stack where I-291 was supposed to go (and where Rt 9 now terminates)

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  3. I always wondered about this structure as well. Please go back--I need a full report.

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  4. Wasn't that lot just used for the Cirque du Soleil?

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  5. How are you guys ever going to have the guts to shoot yourself into an underground water tunnel ending in the CT River if you can't even walk around a desolate part of Hartford in broad daylight?

    And you call yourselves investigative reporters...

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  7. It goes to Riverside Park, which is not exactly the scariest place in Hartford. I think you guys can probably tough through it and make the journey.

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  8. yo that shit is not even scary

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  9. I used to jog up and down the river and cross at that bridge occasionally instead of the Founders bridge. About 30% of the time there was a homeless guy that was sleeping in there... he never once woke up when I jogged by.

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  10. Im doing my architectural thesis right there! that entire parking lot, bridge, and the adjacent park. I have created a new pedestrian bridge, with connections into the park, and a huge community garden system! I can send you more information if you are interested! My email address is mpegolo815@g.rwu.edu

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  11. Thanks, we'd love to see the info! Send to HakaanLoob@gmail.com

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  12. Just a bit of background on the foot bridge over I-91.
    There has been a bridge at this location since the early '50s or before. Its purpose was to provide easy access from the neighborhoods in northeast Hartford over the rail line and the then new Veterans Highway to Riverside Park. Yes, the area north of Morgan St. and east of Windsor St. was once a thriving neighborhood full of life.

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