Connecticut News

[MikeTheActuary]

Yes, out-of-state drivers make up a huge portion of vehicles on Connecticut's roads, and many of them don't pay a nickel for upkeep of the state's roads as Connecticut is small enough to drive through on a single tank of gas. The question has always been is how do you get these out-of-state motorists, who inherently contribute to the wear and tear on Connecticut's highways, to pay their fair share. No one has yet come up with a solution to that problem that doesn't involve tolls.

Isn't the bulk of the wear-and-tear caused by trucks and other heavy vehicles subject to apportionment of fuel taxes?

[abqtraveler]

Yes, out-of-state drivers make up a huge portion of vehicles on Connecticut's roads, and many of them don't pay a nickel for upkeep of the state's roads as Connecticut is small enough to drive through on a single tank of gas. The question has always been is how do you get these out-of-state motorists, who inherently contribute to the wear and tear on Connecticut's highways, to pay their fair share. No one has yet come up with a solution to that problem that doesn't involve tolls.

Isn't the bulk of the wear-and-tear caused by trucks and other heavy vehicles subject to apportionment of fuel taxes?

That's true for semis, but there are a lot of out-of-state passenger vehicles using Connecticut's highways and not paying the state's fuel taxes as well. That's what I'm getting at. The states surrounding Connecticut at least have the sense to toll the major highways that are most heavily used by out-of-state motorists so they end up paying their fair share for the highways' upkeep.

[Alps]

However, some of the 0.2 mile marker placements are slightly different; the 43.8 marker is about 20 feet before MP 44, then 44.2 is only about 100 feet after that. Seems they're doing the northbound side first, then working back south.

That's not slightly different. That's ludicrous. What happened to I-84 that it needs to make up 0.4 miles in 120 feet?

[abqtraveler]

However, some of the 0.2 mile marker placements are slightly different; the 43.8 marker is about 20 feet before MP 44, then 44.2 is only about 100 feet after that. Seems they're doing the northbound side first, then working back south.

That's not slightly different. That's ludicrous. What happened to I-84 that it needs to make up 0.4 miles in 120 feet?

Is the location on a curve? I know some states calculate mileage from the centerline of the two carriageways (which creates interesting issues at points where the two carriageways are widely spaced, like I-84 in Massachusetts).

Or is one of the three signs mentioned old and the others are new?

[storm2k]

Yes, out-of-state drivers make up a huge portion of vehicles on Connecticut's roads, and many of them don't pay a nickel for upkeep of the state's roads as Connecticut is small enough to drive through on a single tank of gas. The question has always been is how do you get these out-of-state motorists, who inherently contribute to the wear and tear on Connecticut's highways, to pay their fair share. No one has yet come up with a solution to that problem that doesn't involve tolls.

This is silly flawed logic though. Sure, you can drive through CT without buying gas, but that doesn't mean everyone does. As much as people fuss over gas prices, the reality is that the majority of people the majority of the time will get gas when they need gas, wherever they happen to be when that happens. Besides, gas in CT is currently cheaper than it is in downstate NY, so if anything anyone driving here and not passing through to MA/RI or beyond (which is a large chunk of out of state drivers) has an incentive to fill up while here.

"Out of state drivers aren't paying their fair share" isn't a real problem, it's just a thing that's politically convenient to believe in order to rationalize policies to "make other people pay for things, not me"

It for sure depends where you're going and where you're coming from. I can tell you that I did four drives from EWR (to pick up a rental) to just outside of Boston this past fall, and I can for sure get from one end of that trip to the other on one tank of gas, and this was in cars like a Nissan Rogue that aren't the best of gas mileage. So yeah, I can buy that a large number of out of state drivers aren't stopping for gas, though you do see plenty of cars lined up as the service plazas on the Merritt/Wilbur Cross.

[kernals12]

Yes, out-of-state drivers make up a huge portion of vehicles on Connecticut's roads, and many of them don't pay a nickel for upkeep of the state's roads as Connecticut is small enough to drive through on a single tank of gas. The question has always been is how do you get these out-of-state motorists, who inherently contribute to the wear and tear on Connecticut's highways, to pay their fair share. No one has yet come up with a solution to that problem that doesn't involve tolls.

This is silly flawed logic though. Sure, you can drive through CT without buying gas, but that doesn't mean everyone does. As much as people fuss over gas prices, the reality is that the majority of people the majority of the time will get gas when they need gas, wherever they happen to be when that happens. Besides, gas in CT is currently cheaper than it is in downstate NY, so if anything anyone driving here and not passing through to MA/RI or beyond (which is a large chunk of out of state drivers) has an incentive to fill up while here.

"Out of state drivers aren't paying their fair share" isn't a real problem, it's just a thing that's politically convenient to believe in order to rationalize policies to "make other people pay for things, not me"

The vast majority of road wear is caused by weather, not by traffic.

[MATraveler128]

Speaking of road wear, what is the deal with I-84 from East Hartford to the Massachusetts border? That road is falling apart with the lane lines being a long series of cracks. Probably one of the worst maintained stretch of highway Connecticut has maintenance wise.

[KEVIN_224]

Update on CT 9: nothing done north of CT 72 except a couple new overheads northbound for CT 175.  Came back southbound and saw that 28 and 28A (CT 72/East Main St) will be 37 A/B and Chestnut St will be 36.  So it looks like CT 175 will indeed be 38, CT 71 will be 39, and I-84 will either be 40 A/B or 40-41.  Also, looks like supports are in place to replace the 1/2 mile Columbus Blvd and 1 mi CT 71 gantry on CT 72 East.

My question is for the existing southbound gantry just after the Webster Square Road bridge in Berlin. There are two support poles up on the side. It looks like there will be a new sign going onto them shortly. However, the overhead gantry has TWO signs on it now. Hmmm!

[shadyjay]

That existing overhead gantry (Exit 22 -> / Exit 21 1/4 mile) will be removed and not replaced.  Instead, there will be a ground-mount Exit 22 -> sign.  No sign will be present at that location for Exit 21. 

In other news.... we now know (roughly) what the new Route 8 exit numbers will be and what's involved in the Route 8 sign contract Bridgeport-to-Winchester due to be released this spring. 
https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Construction-News-from-the-Connecticut-Department-of-Transportation/2022/Traffic-Sign-Replacement-and-Renumbering-Route-8-in-Waterbury-and-Watertown

Looks like the signs in Waterbury-Watertown will be replaced (those date from the early 2000s IIRC).  There were a few random gantries that did not get replaced in Naugatuck and in Bridgeport and it looks like those will also be replaced.  And of course, new exit numbers.  While the press release doesn't state it, I wonder if CT 25 will get renumbered as well at the same time?  Would make sense, so probably no.

[jp the roadgeek]

Looks like the trend of numbering the endpoint exits (see also: CT 9) continues.  However, I disagree with the northbound split of CT 25 getting numbered, as it is a mainline split and not truly an exit.  If this is the case, CTDOT should just truncate CT 25 to the split, as many people (and CTDOT) refer to the highway south of there at CT 8 anyway.  The CT 25 designation south of the split only exists as a legacy to when 25 used to follow Main St into downtown.  That was over 50 years ago, so it's time to let go.  And yes, I know MA 128 still exists along I-95, but that's a cultural thing; this is not.  I do see some opportunity for some fudging of the numbers in the Derby/Ansonia and Waterbury areas if the CT 9 fudging at I-91 and in New Britain is any indication. 

[MATraveler128]

I see that the northern end of the CT 8 freeway is not getting a number, which I'm glad to see because the south end of the Bronx River Parkway in New York City has one and that is rather unnecessary. I'm overall happy to see Connecticut renumber another highway to mile based exits, but the I-95 exit should just be exit 0 instead of a 1A-B-C-D setup.

[jp the roadgeek]

I see that the northern end of the CT 8 freeway is not getting a number, which I'm glad to see because the south end of the Bronx River Parkway in New York City has one and that is rather unnecessary. I'm overall happy to see Connecticut renumber another highway to mile based exits, but the I-95 exit should just be exit 0 instead of a 1A-B-C-D setup.

The difference is that CT 8 continues beyond Winsted (to Searsburg, VT), where the BRP ends there.  So since it's mainline CT 8, there shouldn't be a number.  And most states don't use Exit 0.  Other than the southern end of the GSP, the closest state to use it was DE but they've since removed the number from the interchange (I-495 South to I-295 North)

[relaxok]

Yes, but not until 2028 or so.  CT 2, 3, 9 (with OLD and NEW Exit supplemental signage going up now), 11, 17, 72, and (FWIW) 82 have projects.  I believe the next ones after that are CT 8 and I-691.  The heavy hitters (84, 91, 95, and Route 15) are among the last on the list.  Like NY, CT is dragging its arse.

Is it crazy that this makes me sad?  I'm no longer in the area but the actual exit numbers themselves bring up so many memories for me and it's nice to go back every once in a while to visit and they're the same - obviously the exits aren't being removed but there's something about like exit 10 or exit 16 meaning something when you take them, the same as it was when i was a kid 30-40 years ago.  Ah well.

[Alps]

Yes, but not until 2028 or so.  CT 2, 3, 9 (with OLD and NEW Exit supplemental signage going up now), 11, 17, 72, and (FWIW) 82 have projects.  I believe the next ones after that are CT 8 and I-691.  The heavy hitters (84, 91, 95, and Route 15) are among the last on the list.  Like NY, CT is dragging its arse.

Is it crazy that this makes me sad?  I'm no longer in the area but the actual exit numbers themselves bring up so many memories for me and it's nice to go back every once in a while to visit and they're the same - obviously the exits aren't being removed but there's something about like exit 10 or exit 16 meaning something when you take them, the same as it was when i was a kid 30-40 years ago.  Ah well.

The part that makes me sad is that exit number replacement is leading to all the button copy disappearing.

[MATraveler128]

I wouldn't be surprised if when exit renumbering is complete if button copy won't exist anymore in the state. Connecticut is one of the best states for old signage and it will be a shame to see some old signs from the 60s and 70s get removed.

[zzyzx]

There are some scrapyards with old signage. I saw this at Pachaug Picker in Griswold back in the fall. Maybe someone on here might want it bad enough for their collection?


iPhone

[MATraveler128]

Interesting to see an I-86 shield from back in the day. What is the US 44 overlay supposed to be covering up?

[shadyjay]

That US 44 shield is not covering anything up... when US 44 was rerouted in the 1980s from Manchester to Willington, what is today US 44 was US 44A and CT 74 was US 44.  So there was a CT 74 shield slapped over the US 44 one, and there was an I-84 shield over the I-86 shield. 

[shadyjay]

The theme for today's SW CT drive is

"Still Waiting"


I could've sworn this exit was open already... guess that ceremony was just for the onramp!  I-95 SB at Moses Wheeler Bridge/Milford-Stratford...
DSC03731 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

Hey, you're new!  CT 8/25 NB in Bridgeport...oh wait... you're not part of the CT 8 resigning project (a spot replacement instead, just happens to be on CT 8 within confines of a blanket resigning)...
DSC03757 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

And... surprise... outside of two gantries... nothing new on CT 8's Bridgeport-to-Stratford sign replacement project.  But.... all (or at least most) vertical supports for overhead signs and supports for ground signs are up.  Now we're just waiting on the horizontals to be installed for the overheads, and some signs.  With the ground supports all in, maybe this project will continue through the winter...
DSC03759 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

CT 8 through the Naugatuck Valley... it's almost like another state....
DSC03765 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

CT 8 NB in Waterbury is back on its original roadway, with the temporary bypass being removed.  The I-84 West ramp has reopened... eastbound traffic still has to use the u-turn at Exit 35.
DSC03768 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

And there's more on my FLICKR... check the sig for the link

[jp the roadgeek]

Since when is Disney World in Farmington?!?  Just saw this old article in my FB feed (read the headline in the article:

https://www.wfsb.com/news/vehicle-fire-closes-i-84-east-in-farmington/article_9307808c-6348-11ec-a43e-df555359a313.html

Another observation from the proposed Route 8 numbers: they've gone to rounding down again.  Once again, TOTAL inconsistency on rounding (Exit 51 is at MP 51.81).

[abqtraveler]

Since when is Disney World in Farmington?!?  Just saw this old article in my FB feed (read the headline in the article:

https://www.wfsb.com/news/vehicle-fire-closes-i-84-east-in-farmington/article_9307808c-6348-11ec-a43e-df555359a313.html

Another observation from the proposed Route 8 numbers: they've gone to rounding down again.  Once again, TOTAL inconsistency on rounding (Exit 51 is at MP 51.81).

Can you post the link to the proposed exit numbers for Route 8? Thanks.

[shadyjay]

I just posted it two days ago... scroll up a few posts and see the link. 

[abqtraveler]

I just posted it two days ago... scroll up a few posts and see the link.

Okay, I see it now. Thanks.
I will be interesting if they renumber exits on Route 25 north of its split with Route 8. Logic would say they would convert Route 25's exit numbers as part of this contract, but I rarely see Connecticut do anything that's logical.

[Scott5114]

Looks like the trend of numbering the endpoint exits (see also: CT 9) continues.  However, I disagree with the northbound split of CT 25 getting numbered, as it is a mainline split and not truly an exit.

I see that the northern end of the CT 8 freeway is not getting a number, which I'm glad to see because the south end of the Bronx River Parkway in New York City has one and that is rather unnecessary. I'm overall happy to see Connecticut renumber another highway to mile based exits, but the I-95 exit should just be exit 0 instead of a 1A-B-C-D setup.

Every ramp should have an exit number, no matter whether it's a split, endpoint, or whatever, because for some people it's easier to remember "take exit 125A" instead of a route number and direction or control city. Most motorists straight up do not know or care whether a given interchange is a split or an endpoint or whatever, so it just gives them one less navigational aid for a reason that doesn't matter to them.

Is it crazy that this makes me sad?  I'm no longer in the area but the actual exit numbers themselves bring up so many memories for me and it's nice to go back every once in a while to visit and they're the same - obviously the exits aren't being removed but there's something about like exit 10 or exit 16 meaning something when you take them, the same as it was when i was a kid 30-40 years ago.  Ah well.

Mileage-based exits mean exactly the same thing when you take them, and they'll eventually have just the same associations as you get used to them. When I go see my grandma, Kansas's exits 127 and 222B are just as nostalgic to me as 10 and 16 are to you, and once you get that attachment to them, there's the added benefit of knowing exactly how far away you are from home.

[Alps]

There are some scrapyards with old signage. I saw this at Pachaug Picker in Griswold back in the fall. Maybe someone on here might want it bad enough for their collection?


iPhone

Yes. Yes I do. How much.