State Orders Boat Ramp In Derby Closed

The boat ramp in question is essentially under the Route 8 bridge connecting Derby to Shelton.

DERBY — State officials indefinitely closed a boat ramp to the Housatonic River, Mayor Richard Dziekan’s office announced Friday.

“It looks like this, at least at this point, is permanent,” said Andrew Baklik, Dziekan’s chief of staff (in a subsequent email, Baklik clarified his statement to say it will remain closed for the foreseeable future).

Baklik said the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), along with the state Department of Transportation (DOT) inspected the boat ramp near O’Sullivan’s Island Thursday.

“They deemed it to be unsafe for public use,” Baklik said.

The boat ramp is not ADA compliant and ​“it’s not listed anywhere by the DOT or DEEP as a public-access ramp,” Baklik said.

The boat ramp in question is essentially under the Route 8 bridge connecting Derby to Shelton.

The boat ramp is owned by the state.

The city recently started issuing permits to use the boat ramp. Recent $100 permits — for boat ramp trailers — to non-Derby residents will be refunded, Baklik said.

The city can’t take it over and make repairs.

“We really don’t have any jurisdiction down there,” Baklik said.

“The ramp had become popular because essentially it’s the only unmonitored free access to the Long Island Sound,” Baklik said. ​“But that ramp has always been dicey at best.”

Baklik said the city will have to talk to the state about emergency services being able to use the ramp. 

This is the notice Town Clerk Marc Garofalo sent out:

“The Mayor’s Office has been notified, via telephone, by the State of Connecticut DOT and DEEP that, after a joint inspection yesterday, they have ordered the Boat Ramp under the Commodore Hull Bridge on Route 8 closed until further notice. A formal notification will be forth coming.

All Public Safety entities should take notice in case of a need to launch into the Housatonic River.

All users should be aware that cement barriers and fencing have been installed by the State of Connecticut in order to prevent use of the boat ramp.

When formal notification is received, it will be made available.”

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