Merritt Parkway and CT Truck-Prohibited Routes

Merritt Parkway

The Merritt Parkway (Route 15) is completely closed to all commercial vehicles. The restrictions are absolute:

The Merritt Parkway has 40+ low-clearance historic overpasses. These bridges are architectural landmarks and will NOT be raised. A standard tractor-trailer at 13 foot 6 inches will not clear an 8-foot bridge.

What Happens If You Enter

Trucks that enter the Merritt Parkway get stuck under bridges. This results in:

• Multi-hour traffic closures
• Towing fees (specialized equipment required)
• Bridge damage liability (potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars)
• Criminal citations
• News coverage (your company name on the local news)

Wilbur Cross Parkway

The Wilbur Cross Parkway is the northern extension of the Merritt Parkway with similar restrictions. Same height limits, same truck bans, same low-clearance bridges. Treat the entire Route 15 corridor as truck-prohibited.

CTDOT OSTA Through-Truck Bans

Many Connecticut municipalities have established through-truck prohibition zones through the CTDOT Office of State Traffic Administration (OSTA). These bans typically cover residential streets and historic areas where truck traffic causes damage or safety concerns.

How they work:

• Signs posted at zone boundaries
• Trucks may enter the zone ONLY for local pickups or deliveries
• Through-traffic must use state highways or interstates
• Enforcement by local police

Check the CTDOT OSTA website for a list of municipalities with active through-truck prohibitions.

What to Use Instead

The Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways run parallel to I-95 from Greenwich to Milford. For truck routing through Connecticut:

:::tip GPS navigation apps frequently suggest the Merritt Parkway as a faster route parallel to I-95. Override this suggestion every time. Consumer GPS does not reliably filter truck-prohibited routes in Connecticut. :::