Connecticut News

[kurumi]

The article gets cut off for me.

I had to copy the headline and paste into Google News search. The resulting link brought up the entire article. I think WSJ is checking referrer in the header, so providing a direct link here won't work.

[shadyjay]

I just hope they improve access to Union Station with this project - most likely with the extension of South Orange Street.  That hairpin turn as soon as you get off the highway has driven me crazy for years. 

So if I had to guess, the present expressway would hold together until after crossing the railroad yard, then the two carriageways would split into the present North/South Frontage Road alignment, with the first signalized intersection being South Orange Street.

As much as I hate to see an expressway torn down, I would have to agree with this project.  It's a shame they couldn't extend the expressway out to at least the Boulevard... up until a few years ago, all the land was still available and I'm sure they could've gone through the ground floor of the parking garage.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  It all means nothing now.

So if we're going to tear down an expressway stub and pretend like it never existed, then maybe that's the solution for CT 11.  Decomission it, close it, bury it, end of story.  Noone would even remember it existed.  That's what they did to the I-291 ramps and overpasses on I-91 in Rocky Hill. 

[Duke87]

The article gets cut off for me.

I had to copy the headline and paste into Google News search. The resulting link brought up the entire article. I think WSJ is checking referrer in the header, so providing a direct link here won't work.

Tried that, still doesn't show. But forging the referrer so it sends wsj.com works. So yeah, they are checking the referrer.

[agentsteel53]

Tried that, still doesn't show. But forging the referrer so it sends wsj.com works. So yeah, they are checking the referrer.

how does one forge a referer?  I think NY Times works the other way; they paywall you if you click from within their own site, but if you come in from outside, they show you the whole thing.

[shadyjay]

Shouldn't this work?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443659204577571203607650934.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[Duke87]

how does one forge a referer?

With a FF Add-on.

[southshore720]

So if we're going to tear down an expressway stub and pretend like it never existed, then maybe that's the solution for CT 11.

I'm still rooting for CT 11 - the TRUE "Road to Nowhere!"  Hell, I'm still rooting for the completion of highways for CT 25 and US 7 - even though I know pigs will fly and hell will freeze over before they are finally realized!

[Alps]

So if we're going to tear down an expressway stub and pretend like it never existed, then maybe that's the solution for CT 11.

I'm still rooting for CT 11 - the TRUE "Road to Nowhere!"  Hell, I'm still rooting for the completion of highways for CT 25 and US 7 - even though I know pigs will fly and hell will freeze over before they are finally realized!

Of all the unbuilt freeways in CT, 11 is the only one still alive, even if it's in a coma on life support.

[Mergingtraffic]

See my rant on this project on this thread.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=7323.0

[NE2]

See my rant on this project on this thread.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=7323.0

*yawn*

[Mergingtraffic]

See my rant on this project on this thread.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=7323.0

*yawn*

you made your point clear on the other post.

[NE2]

As did you?

[Alps]

NE2, he's within his rights to refer people in this thread to another thread. Sometimes two threads align with each other, especially where one is a catch-all like this.

[shadyjay]

So just got back from a trip to CT to see the family.  I decided against driving and took the train, which made me forgo my road trip adventures that were planned for Friday (I-84 west of Waterbury, US 7, and Milford Parkway to see the new signage, Conn Turnpike to check out the new Milford service area and the new Q Bridge, etc). 

Does anyone know the exit number listing for the Milford Pkwy?  Any pictures?  I was down in the area this past week, but didn't get a chance to go on the connector.

No numbering. www.alpsroads.net/roads/ct/milford

So we finally have field confirmation of exit numbers on the Milford Parkway, courtesy of the ConnDOT traffic cameras:



On the far right assembly, we can see the ramp to CT 15 North is Exit 3A.  The assembly in the foreground is the first advance signs for the turnpike and an exit tab is shown, presumably for Exit 2 (or 2A or 2B).  US 1, the southern end of the Milford Parkway, is Exit 1.

[southshore720]

Interesting...they removed the Merritt Pkwy and Wilbur Cross Pkwy distinctions from the signs and went solely with the destinations.  I wonder if there is a secondary assembly prior to the exits distinguishing the two?  Also, there is the exit for Wheelers Farm Road right before the 15S merge.  I wonder if this is Exit 4, or if it will remain un-numbered and be considered a spur of the new Exit 3B?

[Duke87]

Interesting...they removed the Merritt Pkwy and Wilbur Cross Pkwy distinctions from the signs and went solely with the destinations.

For the sake of MUTCD compliance. You're not supposed to have both the name of a road and the name of a place on the same sign. ConnDOT is obeying this with all new signs now.

[shadyjay]

Interesting...they removed the Merritt Pkwy and Wilbur Cross Pkwy distinctions from the signs and went solely with the destinations.  I wonder if there is a secondary assembly prior to the exits distinguishing the two?  Also, there is the exit for Wheelers Farm Road right before the 15S merge.  I wonder if this is Exit 4, or if it will remain un-numbered and be considered a spur of the new Exit 3B?

I was sent a copy of the signing plans for the Milford Parkway a few months ago.  Somehow, they went up missing on my computer.  I don't recall any ground-mounted or secondary signage distinquishing the two parkways.  Since the turnpike signs list no destinations but just "Merritt & W Cross Pkwys", it would make sense to see some sort of sign prior to the split. 

[Lyle]

For the sake of MUTCD compliance. You're not supposed to have both the name of a road and the name of a place on the same sign.

Why is that? Sounds like a stupid rule to me!

[shadyjay]

For the sake of MUTCD compliance. You're not supposed to have both the name of a road and the name of a place on the same sign.

All the more reason why the parkway trailblazers should be posted on BGSs!  Or is that now illegal, too?  (thanks MUTCD)

Then again, there's only a handful of WCP trailblazers out in the wild - if you've never seen one, they're pretty much identical to the Merritt's, but without the mountain laurel and on a lighter blue background.

[Roadsguy]

I think you messed up your quoting code. Is all the text in the bottom quote except the last line your post?

[shadyjay]

I think you messed up your quoting code. Is all the text in the bottom quote except the last line your post?

Fixed

[ctsignguy]

For the sake of MUTCD compliance. You're not supposed to have both the name of a road and the name of a place on the same sign.

All the more reason why the parkway trailblazers should be posted on BGSs!  Or is that now illegal, too?  (thanks MUTCD)

Then again, there's only a handful of WCP trailblazers out in the wild - if you've never seen one, they're pretty much identical to the Merritt's, but without the mountain laurel and on a lighter blue background.

Wilbur Cross.....


Old Merrittt....


Current Merritt


Seen a couple of odd-shaped WC markers, but failed to get piccys of either of them...

[kurumi]

The mods might argue that any highway plan in CT will never be built, and thus belongs in Fictional Highways, but: here's an interesting proposal for an interchange at US 44 and CT 10 (eastern split) in Avon.



Link to PDF: http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/deng/Improvement_Overview_Avon_10_44.pdf

The intersection is at the bottom of a long hill on US 44 westbound -- the site of several accidents. ConnDOT explored a few alternatives for grade separation, to eliminate the need for US 44 traffic to stop.

The first looked very much like a conventional freeway interchange, with gradually curving ramps and a commuter parking lot.

The preferred alternative (pictured) looks more like a Merritt Parkway solution, but modern and safer. The connecting roads act like ramps, but don't look like them; and the entries and exits to US 44 are for lower speeds. It seems they want to make clear that US 44 is not a freeway through the area. (It looks like there are curb cuts to a hotel and restaurant at right.) There are a lot of traffic lights, but none on 44.

Overall, I like the plan, and would like to see more non-freeway solutions like this (these are rare in CT). Add a pedestrian bridge east of the 44 WB offramp (between hotel and restaurant) and this could start to stitch together a nice village center that gets the benefits of a main traffic artery without all the drawbacks.

[KEVIN_224]

Can I ask what interchange is pictured here? I haven't been to Avon in years and never have to deal with US Route 44. (I have been on the nasty hill that is Rattlesnake Mountain and US Route 6, though.)

[kurumi]

Can I ask what interchange is pictured here? I haven't been to Avon in years and never have to deal with US Route 44. (I have been on the nasty hill that is Rattlesnake Mountain and US Route 6, though.)

It's unbuilt. Current intersection is a 4-way between US 44 east, CT 10 south, US 44/CT 10 overlap to the west, and Nod Road to the north.