Merritt Parkway Question

[jeminni]

Does anyone know how to get to the Merritt Parkway after getting off the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York? I'm driving up to Providence to pick my DD up from colllege and would like to go that way. I need to know how to get on it and how far to take it to get back on I-95 to head into Providence. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[abner1776]

After the bridge stay on 287 heading east. You will eventually see the exit for Interstate 684 which heads north...but stay on 287.

The next exit after 684 should be Hutchinson River Parkway, Rt 127 and Rt 15. Take this exit heading north and it will split with Rt 15 heading to the right...Rt 15 is the Merritt Parkway.

Not sure which exit to get off MP to get back on RT 95, but I would not wait too long since the MP and RT 95 gradually get further apart as you head up into CT...the longer you go...the further is will be to get back on RT 95.

 

[bicker]

If you're coming off the Tappan Zee Bridge and heading to Providence, you are better off not taking the Merritt Parkway. Even after all the widening and straightening, it is still a tough road for a long-haul trip, and especially treacherous at night, since it doesn't have lights the entire way. It is best used if you're heading to one of the communities on the parkway, or heading up into the center of CT, such as to Hartford.

Rather, when you get off the Tappan Zee Bridge, continue on I-287 to the end. That will put you directly onto I-95, which goes directly to Providence.

 

[CapeCod53]

The Merritt Pky & Rte 95 have an easy intersection in Mil-ford. Its right after you go over that metal bridge over a river near the helicopter company's headquarters. (This is as you are coming out of NYC)You always see helicopter's "parked" there. We do use the Merritt coming from the Mass Pike to 84 to Hartford, etc. I actually continue to the Hutchinson River Pky to the Croos County to the Major Deegan to the George Washington Bridge to get to central NJ on the NJ Turnpike.(My grandparents lived in Yonkers near both the Cross County & the Major Deegan so I grew up with these roads) I hate the Cross Bronx Expressway which is the way 95 comes into the GW bridge. I agree, the Merritt can be a scary road sometimes but I like it for the change of scenery on a long trip.

 

[Ms. Belle]

What's nice about the Merritt is that there is no truck traffic. After going over the Sikorsky Bridge in ****ord, CT take the next exit to the right and you can connect with either 95 north or south.

 

[seashoreCM]

MP and RT 95 gradually get further apart as you head up into CT...the longer you go...the further is will be to get back on RT 95.

That long metal bridge comes after Bridgeport if you are northbound. Right after it in Mil-ford the Merritt and I-95 come very close (like a mile) for a short distance where that crossover is. Unless the exits were re-numbered, it was exit 54 off of the Merritt to get to I-95.

So if you want to use the Merritt from NYC to Providence for most of its length it's not too bad. There are a lot of sharp curves so you won't be going as fast as on I-95.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[buzz2400]

I live in this area. What everyone is posting is correct. When you are on the merritt parkway, rt 15 coming over the border into conn. the first town is greenwich. You will have to pretty much go the speed limit up until westport/fairfield. It is very winding. Trucks are not allowed because they can't clear the overpass bridges. Once you get to the fairfield area, it is a much better ride. It is about another 15-20 (no traffic) to get to stratford where you would come to the sikorsky bridge. Bear right after the bridge and that will take you to I-95.

 

[jeminni]

Thanks everyone

 

[BigTigger]

And to add to this with a recent experience (and to counter Bicker), I-95 has been closed at night between exits 7 & 8 the last month for roadwork, so you will get shunted onto the coast road to get around this closure with a large backup due to the trucks.

Take the Merritt and relax a little as it may be dark (and curvy in the Greenwich area), but it much more relaxing than I-95. It is 38 miles from the NY/CT border to the Sikorsky bridge where you can exit to head back to I-95.