Connecticut News

[shadyjay]

Yup, never seen a speed limit higher than 50 on a 2-lane road in CT.  Here in VT, we have speed limits of 55 on 2-lane roads ONLY if they are access-controlled.  The only road which meets that criteria is CT 118 east of Litchfield down to the CT 8 area, IIRC. 

I've never understood why SSR 695 (the far eastern end of the Conn Tpke) never went to 65 in 1998.  I was just on it last month and there's limited traffic, good geometry, and could easily support 65.  So could I-395 SB for another mile or so from Exit 2 (Route 85) closer to I-95.  When the speed limits were changed in 1998 from 55 to 65, CT 9 dropped to 55 mph before Exit 2, and a few years later it was kept at 65 right up to the I-95 split. 

[jp the roadgeek]

There are a couple of areas that are still 55 that should be 65 (or at least 60).  Once the Waterbury construction is completed, I-84 from Austin Rd to Route 9 should be raised to 65 with the exception of the area of the 72 interchange in Plainville, which should remain at 50 because of all of the crossing traffic.  Route 8 should be 60 or 65 from the 25 split to the Naugatuck town line, as should Route 25 from the split to just before the end of the expressway.

BTW, just drove down Christian Lane in Berlin.  Looks like the little 72 West sign is gone.

[kurumi]

BTW, just drove down Christian Lane in Berlin.  Looks like the little 72 West sign is gone.

we should have been more discreet in our discussion

[Alps]

BTW, just drove down Christian Lane in Berlin.  Looks like the little 72 West sign is gone.

we should have been more discreet in our discussion

It didn't disappear this year.

[KEVIN_224]

It's near my work place. I'll let you know soon enough.   

[Alps]

It's near my work place. I'll let you know soon enough.   

I'm saying it was gone a year ago when I went through.

[Duke87]

I think the highest speed limit in CT along an undivided two-lane road is 50 MPH (CT 85 in Hebron, CT 118 in Litchfield, US 202 in New Hartford, etc.)

Can confirm this empirically from having driven the entire state highway system. Speed limits above 50 only exist on freeways. And even off freeways, 50 is used sparingly. The majority of 2-lane state highways outside of urban areas are posted at 40 or 45.

[Mergingtraffic]

I think the highest speed limit in CT along an undivided two-lane road is 50 MPH (CT 85 in Hebron, CT 118 in Litchfield, US 202 in New Hartford, etc.)

Can confirm this empirically from having driven the entire state highway system. Speed limits above 50 only exist on freeways. And even off freeways, 50 is used sparingly. The majority of 2-lane state highways outside of urban areas are posted at 40 or 45.

Meanwhile in NY, the next state over, the exact same type of road would be signed at 55, while CT would have it at 40. Look at NY-55 to CT-55.

[jp the roadgeek]

I think the highest speed limit in CT along an undivided two-lane road is 50 MPH (CT 85 in Hebron, CT 118 in Litchfield, US 202 in New Hartford, etc.)

Can confirm this empirically from having driven the entire state highway system. Speed limits above 50 only exist on freeways. And even off freeways, 50 is used sparingly. The majority of 2-lane state highways outside of urban areas are posted at 40 or 45.

Meanwhile in NY, the next state over, the exact same type of road would be signed at 55, while CT would have it at 40. Look at NY-55 to CT-55.

CT speed limits are ridiculously low.  Residential area in CT that is 25 would be 40 in NYS.  I remember when the speed limit on I-84 through downtown Hartford was 40.  If you did 40 on that highway, you'd be run over like an old lady. 

I think stretches of CT 79, CT 80, and CT 81 are 50.  Seem to recall them going to Hammonasset and the Clinton Outlets.

[dgolub]

CT speed limits are ridiculously low.  Residential area in CT that is 25 would be 40 in NYS.  I remember when the speed limit on I-84 through downtown Hartford was 40.  If you did 40 on that highway, you'd be run over like an old lady. 

I think stretches of CT 79, CT 80, and CT 81 are 50.  Seem to recall them going to Hammonasset and the Clinton Outlets.

To be fair, rural state routes in Connecticut tend to be narrower than their New York counterparts.

[KEVIN_224]

The CT Route 72 sign on Christian Lane in Berlin IS still there. It faces traffic heading north/east. That was as of 11:40 am Eastern on Memorial Day.

[RobbieL2415]

It's peculiar because state law allows for them to sign 2-lane highways up to 55.

[jp the roadgeek]

It's peculiar because state law allows for them to sign 2-lane highways up to 55.

I would've thought CT 82 from CT 9 to CT 154 would be 55, but it's 50.  A stretch like that in most other states would be 55 or even 60 (wish CT would consider 60 for a couple of stretches of 84 between Waterbury and Hartford, or even CT 25 or the Parkway).

[Mergingtraffic]

http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-tolls-highways-connecticut-20170531-story.html

Interesting tid-bit: 

The federal government prohibits states from implementing tolls solely along state borders. Federal policy also dictates that all money generated through tolls must be used for road improvements, Guerrera said. "No ifs ands or buts about it,'' he told reporters this morning. "If we try and divert even one penny of it, we jeopardize our federal funding. No one in this building would ever want to do that."

So does the state really need a lock box?

[Mergingtraffic]

It's peculiar because state law allows for them to sign 2-lane highways up to 55.

I would've thought CT 82 from CT 9 to CT 154 would be 55, but it's 50.  A stretch like that in most other states would be 55 or even 60 (wish CT would consider 60 for a couple of stretches of 84 between Waterbury and Hartford, or even CT 25 or the Parkway).

Because people would complain and we're the land of steady habits.  Every time there is a crash people petition to take away passing zones on 2-lane roads.  Look at how many passing zones have been eliminated over the years.

[PHLBOS]

http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-tolls-highways-connecticut-20170531-story.html

Interesting tid-bit: 

The federal government prohibits states from implementing tolls solely along state borders. Federal policy also dictates that all money generated through tolls must be used for road improvements, Guerrera said. "No ifs ands or buts about it,'' he told reporters this morning. "If we try and divert even one penny of it, we jeopardize our federal funding. No one in this building would ever want to do that."

So does the state really need a lock box?

Short answer: Yes!

Especially given CT's past history w/toll road maintenance (1983 Mianus River Bridge collapse, anyone?).

Truth be told, there are also other states (hello PA!) that could use a proverbial lock box as well.

[vdeane]

Plus I presume the lock box wouldn't just be for tolls; gas tax revenue needs to be protected too.  And the federal policy applies only to putting new tolls on existing interstates, and CT has quite a few non-interstates - plus it might go away if the prohibition on tolls is fully lifted!

[PHLBOS]

Plus I presume the lock box wouldn't just be for tolls; gas tax revenue needs to be protected too.

As it should be.  I'm not sure about today; but during the mid-1980s, both CT's & RI's gas taxes went into a general fund as opposed to a highway or even transportation fund.  Big mistake right there.

[jp the roadgeek]

Tolls are dead...for now. 

http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=46268


And yes, I did see the CT 72 sign on Christian Lane was still there.  Was looking too hard at the BGS on the bridge that was about 3 feet beyond it.

[Mergingtraffic]

http://m.newstimes.com/local/article/State-to-Danbury-tell-us-how-to-make-I-84-better-11209279.php

I will do just that.  I plan going and will recommend make I-84 EB exit 7 a right hand exit. Exit 3 as well.

I know it won't happen Bc I have s nagging feeling this will be done on the cheap. Even though it shouldn't be Bc it's already scaled down

[jp the roadgeek]

http://m.newstimes.com/local/article/State-to-Danbury-tell-us-how-to-make-I-84-better-11209279.php

I will do just that.  I plan going and will recommend make I-84 EB exit 7 a right hand exit. Exit 3 as well.

I know it won't happen Bc I have s nagging feeling this will be done on the cheap. Even though it shouldn't be Bc it's already scaled down

Priority #1: Get rid of the dangerous crossing traffic situation for Exit 4 Eastbound having to dart through 2 lanes of US 7 traffic to reach the ramp.

[abqtraveler]

http://m.newstimes.com/local/article/State-to-Danbury-tell-us-how-to-make-I-84-better-11209279.php

I will do just that.  I plan going and will recommend make I-84 EB exit 7 a right hand exit. Exit 3 as well.

I know it won't happen Bc I have s nagging feeling this will be done on the cheap. Even though it shouldn't be Bc it's already scaled down

Priority #1: Get rid of the dangerous crossing traffic situation for Exit 4 Eastbound having to dart through 2 lanes of US 7 traffic to reach the ramp.

Collector-distributor roads for Exits 5 and 6.  Add a lane on the Route 7 southbound ramp where it merges into I-84 west; I recall traffic always seemed to bottleneck there with Southbound Route 7 splitting into single-lane ramps for both east and west 84, and the onramp from Federal Road to Route 7 southbound immediately following. 

[JJBers]

What's the current status on the state exit renumbering? I know that I-395 is done, but is there any others coming soon?

[jp the roadgeek]

What's the current status on the state exit renumbering? I know that I-395 is done, but is there any others coming soon?

CT 2A is also done.  CT 184 and CT 349 are getting mileage based numbers (whoppee) as part of an I-95 signing project.  I'd imagine CT 8 and CT 25 would be next in line.

[dgolub]

What's the current status on the state exit renumbering? I know that I-395 is done, but is there any others coming soon?

CT 2A is also done.  CT 184 and CT 349 are getting mileage based numbers (whoppee) as part of an I-95 signing project.  I'd imagine CT 8 and CT 25 would be next in line.

CT 184?  I thought that was a surface road?