The
Merritt Parkway (also known locally as "The Merritt") is a
historic limited-access
parkway in
Fairfield County, Connecticut, the first of its kind. Designed for Connecticut's
Gold Coast, the parkway is known for its scenic layout, its uniquely styled signage, and the architecturally elaborate overpasses along the route. It is designated as a
National Scenic Byway and is also listed in the
National Register of Historic Places. Signed as part of
Route 15, it runs from the
New York state line in
Greenwich, where it serves as the continuation of the
Hutchinson River Parkway, to the
Housatonic River in
Stratford, where the
Wilbur Cross Parkway begins. Facing bitter opposition, the project took six years to build in three different sections, with the Connecticut Department of Transportation constantly requiring additional funding due to the area's high property value. The parkway was named for U.S. Congressman
Schuyler Merritt. On May 19, 2010, the Merritt Parkway was named one of America's Most Endangered Historic Places.