Connecticut News

[Beeper1]

A poster on the Northeast Roads Facebook group says he traveled the northern section of I-395 this past week and that many of the exit numbers had been changed. He said the new numbers on the signs were in button copy. No photos though to confirm this.

Nope. No new BGS have gone up on the northern stretch (north of CT-138 at least).  Some of the new posts are still being installed, but no new actual signs yet.  The button copy is the existing signage which dates back to the early 1980s.     

[swbrotha100]

Are these I-395 shields still up? Abbreviated state name shields:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129630456@N08/19137023460/in/dateposted-public/

[JimmyI395]

NBC Connecticut did a story on the I-395 signing project.



http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/State-to-Renumber-I-395-Exits-311308481.html

[JimmyI395]

Yes they are still there. Walmart just relocated the entrance/exit and I think the contractor order the wrong signs.

Are these I-395 shields still up? Abbreviated state name shields:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129630456@N08/19137023460/in/dateposted-public/

[Pete from Boston]

I posted this many years ago on M.T.R and never got much in the way of a good explanation.

The HOV lanes on I-84 East were opened in the mid-1980s with advance signs stating "2 PERSON MINIMUM."  Then, about 10-15 years ago, the "-son" was removed from each or covered over (the ghost of the letters is still clearly there either way) so it says "2 PER MINIMUM."

Why?

When I emailed them, a lazy ConnDoT employee told me those three letters (and only those three) happened to fall off each sign.

Right.

Anyone understand the logic in the change?

[Mergingtraffic]

I posted this many years ago on M.T.R and never got much in the way of a good explanation.

The HOV lanes on I-84 East were opened in the mid-1980s with advance signs stating "2 PERSON MINIMUM."  Then, about 10-15 years ago, the "-son" was removed from each or covered over (the ghost of the letters is still clearly there either way) so it says "2 PER MINIMUM."

Why?

When I emailed them, a lazy ConnDoT employee told me those three letters (and only those three) happened to fall off each sign.

Right.

Anyone understand the logic in the change?

The HOV lanes used to be 3+ people but then changed to 2+ because nobody ever used them.

[Pete from Boston]

I posted this many years ago on M.T.R and never got much in the way of a good explanation.

The HOV lanes on I-84 East were opened in the mid-1980s with advance signs stating "2 PERSON MINIMUM."  Then, about 10-15 years ago, the "-son" was removed from each or covered over (the ghost of the letters is still clearly there either way) so it says "2 PER MINIMUM."

Why?

When I emailed them, a lazy ConnDoT employee told me those three letters (and only those three) happened to fall off each sign.

Right.

Anyone understand the logic in the change?

The HOV lanes used to be 3+ people but then changed to 2+ because nobody ever used them.

You're right, and I stand corrected, but I believe that happened years before the "SON" was removed, possibly as far back as the 1980s.  The odd sign edit was since 1999 or so.

[Mergingtraffic]

2 new signs S/B I-95 X46-45 saying "EXIT 45 IS NOW EXIT 44" with new overhead signs for X43 and the new 44. The new 44 ramp also has a signal at the end and there's a sign along the ramp saying that there's a new traffic light ahead. The signal also has the new style backing plate with the yellow border which seems to be going up in many places.

I thought I remembered seeing in the plans an BOS (Big Orange Sign) during a stage of construction SB, when traffic will split while construction of the new bridge/exit. I think it was also extruded aluminum.  If so, I'd want to get a pic of it.

[connroadgeek]

Is Connecticut installing automated license plate readers on the highways? I was stuck in traffic on, where else, I-95 this afternoon going northbound, and in my rear view mirror I noticed what appeared to be cameras over each lane mounted on the northern side of the Indian Field Rd (exit 4) overpass such that they would take pictures of the rear license plates as vehicles traveled north. I was a few hundred feet away when I noticed, so it could be radars or traffic counters, but it was definitely a permanent installation and new. I say they are cameras of some sort because it appeared there was an opening on the front of each unit that looked like a lens. I wish on my way back south I remembered to get a better look at them as I would be traveling towards them as opposed to looking backwards at them.

[shadyjay]

Was it something similar to this? 
(I-84 WB in Union CT)
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.995087,-72.168906,3a,66.8y,209.86h,76.48t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sLpeYAd7YAX1pI4yIybjr2w!2e0

This I believe was installed as part of a "weigh in motion" for the nearby weigh station.  I believe I read about a contract to do a similar system for the I-95 NB weigh station in Greenwich, which is down by Exit 4 (between Exits 2 & 3).  If so, that could be it.

[connroadgeek]

Was it something similar to this? 
(I-84 WB in Union CT)
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.995087,-72.168906,3a,66.8y,209.86h,76.48t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sLpeYAd7YAX1pI4yIybjr2w!2e0

This I believe was installed as part of a "weigh in motion" for the nearby weigh station.  I believe I read about a contract to do a similar system for the I-95 NB weigh station in Greenwich, which is down by Exit 4 (between Exits 2 & 3).  If so, that could be it.

No it wasn't that. What I saw almost looked like radar units as they were square and mounted directly to the bridge, but there was one over each lane and like I said appeared to have a lens.

[machias]

Was it something similar to this? 
(I-84 WB in Union CT)
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.995087,-72.168906,3a,66.8y,209.86h,76.48t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sLpeYAd7YAX1pI4yIybjr2w!2e0

This I believe was installed as part of a "weigh in motion" for the nearby weigh station.  I believe I read about a contract to do a similar system for the I-95 NB weigh station in Greenwich, which is down by Exit 4 (between Exits 2 & 3).  If so, that could be it.

No it wasn't that. What I saw almost looked like radar units as they were square and mounted directly to the bridge, but there was one over each lane and like I said appeared to have a lens.

E-ZPass tag readers to time travel distance by motorists with E-ZPass? No tolls or anything, just a data metric to post on VMSes, etc. "Exit XX -- XX miles in XX min".

[Mergingtraffic]

I noticed in Naugatuck, CTDOT added yield triangle pavement markings to the crosswalks on CT-63 near downtown.  There are the usual school crossing MUTCD compliant signage but no yield signs at all.

Will drivers know what the yield triangles mean or should they just have painted "YIELD" on the pavement?

I can see the DOT putting in the word "YIELD" or the triangles on some of the on-ramps on CT-8 in Derby or Waterbury that have no merge room.

[roadman]

NBC Connecticut did a story on the I-395 signing project.



http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/State-to-Renumber-I-395-Exits-311308481.html

Nice to see a positive news item regarding a transportation project for a change.  However, IMO they could have made it even more positive by noting that the signs were due for replacement anyway.

[bob7374]

NBC Connecticut did a story on the I-395 signing project.



http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/State-to-Renumber-I-395-Exits-311308481.html

Nice to see a positive news item regarding a transportation project for a change.  However, IMO they could have made it even more positive by noting that the signs were due for replacement anyway.

Wonder what we can expect from the media when exit number changes are announced in Mass.?

[spooky]

NBC Connecticut did a story on the I-395 signing project.



http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/State-to-Renumber-I-395-Exits-311308481.html

Nice to see a positive news item regarding a transportation project for a change.  However, IMO they could have made it even more positive by noting that the signs were due for replacement anyway.

Wonder what we can expect from the media when exit number changes are announced in Mass.?

Remember the stories about wasteful spending when the mile markers were updated? More of that.

The good thing is that based on the plan loosely outlined by roadman and others, it will be a gradual upgrade from smaller routes to larger routes and from west to east. The Boston media isn't going to care that mileage-based exit numbering is being introduced on I-291, I-395, I-84 or even I-91...and by the time they get to I-95, the rest of the state will already be done.

[Mergingtraffic]

How about a BBQ on the Q Bridge?
http://photos.newhavenregister.com/2015/07/17/photos-of-party-for-construction-workers-on-pearl-harbor-memorial-bridge/#1

[KEVIN_224]

A couple of things I noticed while on the road to/from midtown Manhattan on Monday, July 20th:

Paving is done on I-91 north in Wallingford. The side line striping was not, as those trucks were setting up on the roadside by 8 PM.

There are brand new mile marker signs, mostly on I-91 north from MM 1 in New Haven to about MM 19 in Meriden. That's north of the CT Route 15 drive-by (where 15 surrounds I-91 for about a mile), but before I-691/CT Route 66 crosses over. They have the I-91 shield on them. Like with Massachusetts, there are those weird little 2/10 MM signs. The lettering seems to resemble the little ramp signs you see on the highways in Manchester.

Lastly, maybe it's part of a construction project, but there are a bunch of these little bridge marker signs, mostly along I-95 south in Norwalk and Darien. One of them read "Br. 44", as in bridge #44.

[Mergingtraffic]

http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-bond-commission-approves-initial-funding-for-malloys-transportation-project-20150728-story.html

Say what you want about Gov Malloy but he does seem to be all about transportation, more so than others in the past.

He said today design will start on the new 4-level stack of I-84/CT-8 in Waterbury.  Also design on a new I-691, I-91, CT-15 interchange.  THAT I'd like to see as I didn't know it was even on the table.

[noelbotevera]

http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-bond-commission-approves-initial-funding-for-malloys-transportation-project-20150728-story.html

Say what you want about Gov Malloy but he does seem to be all about transportation, more so than others in the past.

He said today design will start on the new 4-level stack of I-84/CT-8 in Waterbury. 

no no no No NO! That Mixmaster is true history! A service to us would at least to simply remove the left exits, and do some fancy stuff. Because the Mixmaster...I just love that interchange like a son.
Although I've never seen the big thing before...

[Pete from Boston]

I don't know any statistics, but I'd have a new 15/91 interchange have 15N to 91N as the primary movement for 15N, and try to find room for a third lane each way there on 91 in order to keep the speed at 65.  I don't take 691 much so I have no strong opinions on it.

The rest of my thoughts there relate to comfort and convenience (e.g. straighter shot from 91S to 15S) and don't feel as critical.

[shadyjay]

Also design on a new I-691, I-91, CT-15 interchange.  THAT I'd like to see as I didn't know it was even on the table.

Yeah, I'd like to see that as well.  I don't see not much wrong with that "complex" that would require a new design.  Maybe I'd widen the SB ramp from 91SB to 691WB and the 15NB to 91NB ramp.  Outside of that, I think it works fine.  Drove through it for over 10 years.  A lot worse problems in the state than that area....COUGH... CT 9 in Middletown.... COUGH.....

[Zeffy]

http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-bond-commission-approves-initial-funding-for-malloys-transportation-project-20150728-story.html

Say what you want about Gov Malloy but he does seem to be all about transportation, more so than others in the past.

I think Connecticut may even be ahead of New Jersey in the roads regard, because it seems like all our governor wants to do is visit New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina to get more support for his presidential campaign. And as usual, we suffer, and so do our roads, which are already in horrible shape.

[JakeFromNewEngland]

http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-bond-commission-approves-initial-funding-for-malloys-transportation-project-20150728-story.html

Say what you want about Gov Malloy but he does seem to be all about transportation, more so than others in the past.

He said today design will start on the new 4-level stack of I-84/CT-8 in Waterbury. 

no no no No NO! That Mixmaster is true history! A service to us would at least to simply remove the left exits, and do some fancy stuff. Because the Mixmaster...I just love that interchange like a son.
Although I've never seen the big thing before...

That interchange badly needs to be redone. Yes, it's a part of the road history of the state, but it'd be better to see a new version. The current one is so classic 1960s engineering as well as the rest of the freeways in the Waterbury area.

[JakeFromNewEngland]

As for Malloy, I agree that his plan is really great. He actually wants to see most of these projects happen and it'd be nice to finally drive through New Haven and Hartford on new, modern freeways. It's a step in the right direction.