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The trail leaves Paddock Road just before the curve near its southeast end so that it can descend to pass under the end of the Route 11 highway bridge over the Black River. Each end of this section of the trail is equipped with large black gates, so that the underpass can be closed whenever flooding is anticipated.
East of the underpass, the trail returns to its usual elevation to run along the bank of the river a short distance away from Route 11. After a short distance, it crosses Route 5 South then continues between a large truck stop and a State highway garage as it heads for the old railroad underpass of I-93.
Looking upriver from the Route 11 bridge at the pastoral
route of the trail on Paddock Road.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on September 30, 2000.
Looking northwest along Paddock Road from the exit from the
Route 11 underpass.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on September 30, 2000.
Looking at the southeast end of Paddock Road at the highway
crossing that is avoided by the new trail underpass.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on September 30, 2000.
Looking through the trail underpass of Route 11.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on September 30, 2000.
One of the gates that can be used to close this section of
the trail when the underpass is flooded.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on September 30, 2000.
Looking west at the truck stop near the Route 5 South
Crossing.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on September 30, 2000.
The trail shares the
lightly used Paddock Road west of the Route 11 underpass!
Note that the Route 11 underpass will serve as a trail shelter during inclement
weather.
Trail users must be cautious when crossing Route 5 South.
A gasoline station on the east side of the Route 5 South Crossing offers hot coffee, cold beverages, cold sandwiches, snacks, toilets and
water on a 24 hour - 7 day basis. Telephones are inside and outside
while picnic tables are available outside.
A restaurant is located across Route 11 from the Route 5 South
Crossing. The Restaurant is open M-Thu 7 am to 10 pm, Friday 7 am to Midnight, Saturday 6
am to Midnight, Sunday 6 am to 10 pm. Toilets, water, and telephone are presumably
available within the restaurant during operating hours. An independently
operated Holiday Inn
Express motel is adjacent to the restaurant. Note that the hazardous
nature of the Route 11 highway crossing may discourage trail users from using
this restaurant and motel.
The Town & Village Bus
stops at the Holiday Inn Express on weekdays only.
The Springfield
Route and Springfield-Ludlow
Route provide local service within Springfield to/from this point in the
early morning and late afternoon only, while the Express
to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center stops at this point three or four
times per day in each direction. Note that trail users are encouraged to
call the Town & Village Bus to request an alternate bus stop to avoid
the hazardous crossing of Route 11. Previous communications suggest that the Town
& Village Bus does not accommodate bicycles & skis!
