Madison 1st Selectman: “I Will Talk To State” About Beach Traffic

MADISON, CT - Although Madison First Selectman Tom Banisch termed the July 4th traffic nightmare due to the closing of Hammonasset State Beach “unavoidable,” he plans to talk with state officials to tackle the issues the early closing of the state’s largest beach caused Madison before it happens again.

The combination of July 4th and a hot, sunny day proved to be too much for the town of Madison to handle - traffic-wise, anyway on Thursday.

All state parks, including Hammonasset, the state’s biggest, were filled to the brim and closed. Hammonasset stopped accepting beachgoers shortly before 11 a.m.

“One thing we will do better in future is be prepared for the illegal parking in the neighborhoods and on the connector,” Banisch said about the parking and traffic problems that plagued Madison following Hammonasset’s early closing.

“I need to talk to the state about not directing people to our town beaches as I was told early Thursday they were telling people to go to Madison town beaches.”

Banisch said when it’s a holiday and the weather is that hot there is only so much either the town or state can do to spare Madison residents the tough parking conditions and the difficulty driving in and around town.

“Last year Hammonasset was closed on July 4th and Labor Day, also,” Banisch said.