Connecticut News

[jp the roadgeek]

Apparently, there's a new idea to commemorate the former I-84/ I-86 junction:

http://cour.at/1QqPgFb

[JakeFromNewEngland]

I saw a sign replacement for the Exit 43 BGS on I-95 northbound today. Instead of saying "Downtown West Haven" it's listed as "Campbell Avenue" with a white "No Trucks" panel beneath it.

[Pete from Boston]

What's this on the door frame of Milford South rest area?  Inventory tag?

[Mergingtraffic]

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Stevenson-Dam-repairs-require-road-closure-6225478.php

CT-34 Stevenson Dam closure. The article points out a 1979 widening.  What widening? It seems narrow today. How was it before?

[Pete from Boston]

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Stevenson-Dam-repairs-require-road-closure-6225478.php

CT-34 Stevenson Dam closure. The article points out a 1979 widening.  What widening? It seems narrow today. How was it before?

The imagery isn't really good enough on Historicaerials.com to tell.

This article from 2010:

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Stevenson-A-bridge-too-far-815223.php

doesn't shed much light on the answer to that question but does go into more detail on the trouble with building a bridge there. 

[JakeFromNewEngland]

More sign replacement news:

I noticed there are all new signs for Exit 43 on I-95 now. It's now listed as "Campbell Avenue". They also added a new "No Trucks" sign on the bridge before the exit ramp.

Also, there are some businesses being put up on the new attraction signs on I-95 in between Milford and West Haven.

[Mergingtraffic]

Some news articles on Malloy's transportation initiative and the lock-box saga for the transportation fund.

1) Article on the Republican's version of Malloy's (D) plan for transportation.  Malloy's plan was supposed to be a way to change CT's historically small thinking of roads etc.  Republican's funding is smaller than Malloy's and talks about "living within our means and prioritizing projects" which means the SAME OLD THINKING and HABITS.

http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/GOP-proposal-halves-money-for-Malloy-s-6271769.php

Malloy wants to pass a lock-box bill that will prevent lawmakers from raiding the transportation fund like they currently do for other non-transportation uses.   Malloy's bill would be no exceptions but the Senate wants an "escape clause" with means they can use the money in the transportation clause for other uses in an emergency if a certain number of lawmakers vote for it....which means MORE OF THE SAME OLD THINKING and HABITS.

http://www.heraldonline.com/news/business/article20529348.html

Just annoying.

[connroadgeek]

Connecticut road building is dead. Not sure what people are expecting, especially in such a small and over-developed state. The way it is today, is the way it will be in 10, 20, and 50 years from now. Well maybe traffic will be a bit worse, but in terms of lane-miles, it will be virtually unchanged. If anything, the most exciting thing we will see happen is ramp closures since that seems to be the DOT's lean to "solving problems." I was thinking about the state caving and allowing emergency lane use during at least rush hour, but then I remembered that in Connecticut emergency lanes aren't consistent - one minute they are there, and the next the lanes are penned in pretty tightly by jersey barriers.

[PHLBOS]

Malloy wants to pass a lock-box bill that will prevent lawmakers from raiding the transportation fund like they currently do for other non-transportation uses.   Malloy's bill would be no exceptions but the Senate wants an "escape clause" with means they can use the money in the transportation clause for other uses in an emergency if a certain number of lawmakers vote for it....which means MORE OF THE SAME OLD THINKING and HABITS.

http://www.heraldonline.com/news/business/article20529348.html

I'm not able to open the above-link.  Nonetheless, the idea of putting a lock-box to prevent raiding the transportation fund for non-transporation uses should've been done a long time ago.

[Zeffy]

Malloy wants to pass a lock-box bill that will prevent lawmakers from raiding the transportation fund like they currently do for other non-transportation uses.   Malloy's bill would be no exceptions but the Senate wants an "escape clause" with means they can use the money in the transportation clause for other uses in an emergency if a certain number of lawmakers vote for it....which means MORE OF THE SAME OLD THINKING and HABITS.

http://www.heraldonline.com/news/business/article20529348.html

I'm not able to open the above-link.  Nonetheless, the idea of putting a lock-box to prevent raiding the transportation fund for non-transporation uses should've been done a long time ago.

IMO, transportation money should NEVER be used for any other purposes, mainly because transportation is a critical part of our infrastructure. Better yet, what constitutes as an "emergency" here? Are we talking about a major terrorist attack or invasion by another country, or are we talking about damages from natural disasters?

[vdeane]

I wouldn't be surprised if "emergency" meant "whenever we want to use the money for something else".

[jp the roadgeek]

The problem with a lot of the so-called sin taxes, and many other taxes for that matter, are funneled into the state's general fund, which can be used for anything, including lavish dinners for politicians.  The lottery was started to fund education, but mostly funds the general fund.

[kurumi]

ConnDOT is planning a slight traffic shift on the I-95 NB to I-91 NB ramp in New Haven. It's a fairly trivial change (still a left exit), preparing for a future move to right-hand exit.

Still, the project guys have uploaded a video simulation of a drive along the new ramp, and it looks gorgeous. I hope to see more of these in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_cOVmaYI2g

[yakra]

I like the under-construction overpass visible at 1:08. Nice touch.

Although, Wouldn't more traffic be bound for Hartford/Springfield/Boston than Providence and the rest of I-95 proper? Making a Left Exit still somewhat appropriate? Or is that just my Portland<->NYC bias speaking here?

[connroadgeek]

How did they make that video so realistic? They even got the signs and the little quirks that exist on them right (such as the skinny exit tabs, yellow exit only on one sign but not there on the next). I assumed for a computer simulation they wouldn't waste time on that kind of detail.

[Roadsguy]

There's a random floating merge sign off to the right at 2:08.

[Mergingtraffic]

Look at this old I-84 on GSV.  2011 tho. 

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.763401,-72.692708,3a,75y,238.46h,72.09t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1soUFgkEJfwchHKFHpH7rJlA!2e0!5s20110601T000000

[ctsignguy]

Love that 'cute shield'.....doubt it is still there now, however.....

[Mergingtraffic]

The I-91 Exit to the Charter Oak Bridge and I-84 will be widened from 1 lane to 2.  BUT.....the right exit will now be a left exit. 

http://wtnh.com/2015/06/09/traffic-relief-coming-to-notorious-interchange/

http://www.ctnow.com/news/hc-charter-oak-bridge-0610-20150609,0,199854.story

CT just can't let go of left exits. Again, people will be paying for this in time b/c it won't be done right.  TX , TN or any other state would've done what they could to make it a right hand exit.

Also CT DOT says in other articles they are committed to speeding up projects...but 3 years to design and then start to build.  Yikes.

[southshore720]

Also CT DOT says in other articles they are committed to speeding up projects...but 3 years to design and then start to build.  Yikes.

This is great news...but a 2018 start date?  This is a project definitely worthy of a fast track, considering the acknowledged traffic snarls and substandard ramp design.

[Alps]

The I-91 Exit to the Charter Oak Bridge and I-84 will be widened from 1 lane to 2.  BUT.....the right exit will now be a left exit. 

http://wtnh.com/2015/06/09/traffic-relief-coming-to-notorious-interchange/

http://www.ctnow.com/news/hc-charter-oak-bridge-0610-20150609,0,199854.story

CT just can't let go of left exits. Again, people will be paying for this in time b/c it won't be done right.  TX , TN or any other state would've done what they could to make it a right hand exit.

Also CT DOT says in other articles they are committed to speeding up projects...but 3 years to design and then start to build.  Yikes.

Can they widen the 15S-91S ramp to two lanes while they're at it?

[Mergingtraffic]

The I-91 Exit to the Charter Oak Bridge and I-84 will be widened from 1 lane to 2.  BUT.....the right exit will now be a left exit. 

http://wtnh.com/2015/06/09/traffic-relief-coming-to-notorious-interchange/

http://www.ctnow.com/news/hc-charter-oak-bridge-0610-20150609,0,199854.story

CT just can't let go of left exits. Again, people will be paying for this in time b/c it won't be done right.  TX , TN or any other state would've done what they could to make it a right hand exit.

Also CT DOT says in other articles they are committed to speeding up projects...but 3 years to design and then start to build.  Yikes.

Can they widen the 15S-91S ramp to two lanes while they're at it?

you would think? But not CT DOT.  They think small inside the box up here. 

[Duke87]

I can totally see how making 91N-15N a left exit would potentially improve flow since it allows the ramp to be near level rather than uphill. But, the 15N-91N ramp currently occupies that space. What does ConnDOT intend to do with that? Build a new flyover somewhere to the south?

At the very least, 91 will gain a left exit but lose a left entrance.

[MikeTheActuary]

Here's a synopsis of the interchange reconfiguraiton from an older version of the project: http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/63-703_Project_Description.pdf

Assuming the concept hasn't been changed, they're planning on adding a through-lane on the 91 mainline. The extra width presumably complicates the geometry for a right-hand exit.

[Pete from Boston]

The I-91 Exit to the Charter Oak Bridge and I-84 will be widened from 1 lane to 2.  BUT.....the right exit will now be a left exit. 

http://wtnh.com/2015/06/09/traffic-relief-coming-to-notorious-interchange/

http://www.ctnow.com/news/hc-charter-oak-bridge-0610-20150609,0,199854.story

CT just can't let go of left exits. Again, people will be paying for this in time b/c it won't be done right.  TX , TN or any other state would've done what they could to make it a right hand exit.

Also CT DOT says in other articles they are committed to speeding up projects...but 3 years to design and then start to build.  Yikes.

Can they widen the 15S-91S ramp to two lanes while they're at it?

From this same thread nearly a year ago, this particular design seems to have multiple lanes from 15 SB to 91 SB, but it's hard to tease out too many specifics given the complexity of the diagram and the size of my phone:

http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/I-91_to_Rte_15_Charter_Oak_Alt_8_B_wo_Cost_Est_%2807-08-14%29.pdf