The extension of the Cochituate Rail Trail 2.2 miles southeast from Route 30 in Natick to Natick Center hasn’t had its official ceremonial opening yet, but that didn’t stop large numbers of people (including Eve and me) from using it Saturday in its “unofficially open, usable” status.
Here’s a sampling of photos from the return leg of our roundtrip ride from Old Connecticut Path to the trail’s southeastern terminus at Navy Yard Field (so the photos start there and proceed back northwest). For more of a background on this project, see this post from February.
The CRT’s southeastern terminus at Navy Yard Field in Natick CenterThe trail running past the Modera Natick Center apartments/townhousesTrail intersection with Fisher St. (I think). Wide opening with simple splitter island with coneflowers and other low landscaping, no bollards. Wide ladder-style crosswalk markings and detectable warning strip.The trail has a few of these nice waysides with interpretive signage, bike racks, trash/recycling containers, and seating. I believe the large stone blocks were salvaged from the demolition of the old Route 9 railroad bridge abutments.The new bridge over Route 9The Route 9 on/off rampNice trail design along this steeper portion of the old railroad bed, near Lake CochituateTrailside bench getting some useThe milestones provide useful info and add an aesthetic touchInterpretive sign with the loooong history of the CRT’s development. Cheers to the hard work of advocates, elected officials, Town staff and consultants, MassDOT, and others over the years to make this trail a reality.Wayside at a Lake Cochituate overlook (off the left side of the picture)Trail roundabout at the Wonderbread Spur. The excellent thoroughness of wayfinding signage is reminiscent of Dutch paths.Interpretive sign along the Wonderbread Spur. Yes, there really was a bread factory here that made Wonderbread.The Avalon apartments along the Wonderbread SpurThe end of the Wonderbread Spur at Speen St. It’s a short spur but it makes an important connection to destinations. Just across Speen is the Natick Mall, Wegmans, and tons of other shopping opportunities, as well as additional apartments.The new bridge over Route 30This sign is just north of the Route 30 bridge, the area where the extension starts.And one last photo along the older portion of the CRT, showing one of the few shared-use path crossings of I-90 in Eastern Massachusetts.
Jeff Brubaker 
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