Connecticut News

[shadyjay]

In the era of transparency, the bid board sucks.  makes it worse.  The same with the STA, its hard to see the new submissions. 

Exit 11 off-ramp will be two lanes until just before the stop light where it will be three lanes. the left lane will turn into two left-turn lanes and the right lane will be just a right-turn lane.  IDK why but the DOT gets it wrong every time! Wouldn't it make sense to make the right lane an option lane for the right-turn lane and for one of the left-turn lanes?  Instead of making drivers change lanes to access either  of the two left turn lanes?!?

The Exit 11 on-ramp will also have a APL sign before the east/west split.  The ramp curves won't be as sharp either especially on the off-ramp.  I'd link it but the new bid board doesn't allow you to.

Finally found it.  It irks me that you just can't search by "Transportation, Dept of" since that "organization" is greyed out.  You have to widdle the overall selection first, before you can select the organization.  I had to search and type "Route 34" and found it that way. 

While the Bid Board may not be the best user interface, we are lucky that they at least kept the downloading/viewing of contract plans available, without having to sign up, send for a CD, register as a contractor, etc, like some other states.


And... wow.... the new I-91 NB Exit 29 opening already?  They were able to make a lot of progress last year with reduced traffic levels.  Haven't been through the project area in a while, but Thursday I just may be heading up that way.

[Mergingtraffic]

I found another wooded sign in the wild.  Newington/West Hartford town line.  I forget which road it's on.

[jp the roadgeek]

Looks like CTDOT has put some overlays on the new signage on CT 72.  Drove it eastbound today and got this.  Looking in the rearview it looked like the westbound signage was overlain as well. 
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[abqtraveler]

Looks like CTDOT has put some overlays on the new signage on CT 72.  Drove it eastbound today and got this.  Looking in the rearview it looked like the westbound signage was overlain as well. 
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So they slapped the old exit number over the new one? Is that what I'm seeing in the picture?

[shadyjay]

Hmmm.... the contract plans show a flat-out changeover to mile-based exits on Rt 72, while the adjacent Rt 9 contract shows the existing numbers used, and the southern project will replace the tabs (the tabs.... not overlays).  It would make more sense to have the Rt 72 signs installed with the new numbers from the get-go, and have the Rt 9 northern projects have the new numbers, with the old ones overlayed.  But... you know...

[Mergingtraffic]

Hmmm.... the contract plans show a flat-out changeover to mile-based exits on Rt 72, while the adjacent Rt 9 contract shows the existing numbers used, and the southern project will replace the tabs (the tabs.... not overlays).  It would make more sense to have the Rt 72 signs installed with the new numbers from the get-go, and have the Rt 9 northern projects have the new numbers, with the old ones overlayed.  But... you know...

From the state that puts in new left exits.  IDC if you can put in a left exit and have the mainline on the right, if you switch it, it still takes up the same amount of space.  Looking at you Route 9 Middletown proposal. And I-91 too, to some degree.

[jp the roadgeek]

Looks like CTDOT has put some overlays on the new signage on CT 72.  Drove it eastbound today and got this.  Looking in the rearview it looked like the westbound signage was overlain as well. 
[/url]

So they slapped the old exit number over the new one? Is that what I'm seeing in the picture?

They did the same thing westbound.  They put 7's over the 2's on the signs in the other pics I took last week (I did ending up driving 72 westbound this evening).  Once again makes no sense (just like putting Hartford as a control for I-91 on the new COB APL when you're already across the city line).

[abqtraveler]

Hmmm.... the contract plans show a flat-out changeover to mile-based exits on Rt 72, while the adjacent Rt 9 contract shows the existing numbers used, and the southern project will replace the tabs (the tabs.... not overlays).  It would make more sense to have the Rt 72 signs installed with the new numbers from the get-go, and have the Rt 9 northern projects have the new numbers, with the old ones overlayed.  But... you know...

That what they did when they replaced signs on I-395. As new signs with new exit numbers started going up, they overlaid the new exit numbers on the old sign tabs. I sure hope that Connecticut is not using this as a way to shirk its way out of converting Route 72 to mile-based exit numbers.

[shadyjay]

A couple new ones from Route 9 South in Cromwell:

CT9SB-Exit20merge by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

CT9SB-Exit19-adv by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

The Exit 19 sign was put up in the past week or so, replacing a bridge-mount. 

[Mergingtraffic]

I noticed another signing project for CT-8 in Bridgeport.  "Replace highway signs and supports." Advertising will be in April of 2022.  What will it be?  The last of the old signs are being replaced now.

and this project on US-6 @ I-84 in Farmington.
https://www.farmington-ct.org/home/showpublisheddocument/17248/637081993574670000

[shadyjay]

I noticed another signing project for CT-8 in Bridgeport.  "Replace highway signs and supports." Advertising will be in April of 2022.  What will it be?  The last of the old signs are being replaced now.

There are a handful of signs/supports that don't seem to be in the contract for the present B'pt-Shelton project.  Its only one or two signs and I'm not sure if that warrants a whole other contract.... but it could be for full Route 8 exit renumbering to mileage.  Overlays don't seem to be ConnDOT's thing, for some reason, otherwise we would have had all our exits converted by now.  If the Route 9 central and northern sign replacement projects hold true, they will put up the new sign, then replace the perfectly-good exit tab with a new one with the new exit number. 

and this project on US-6 @ I-84 in Farmington.
https://www.farmington-ct.org/home/showpublisheddocument/17248/637081993574670000

Of course this project gets rid of another free-flow movement.  Actually, for someone who has used the South Road loop to get from Rt 4 East to Rt 9 South, the turn onto I-84 East is quite "sketch" with US 6 East traffic heading straight at you. 

I for one would like to see Rt 9 extended north to Farmington Ave, to make the 4->9 connection easier. 

[MikeTheActuary]

The new ramp for northbound I-91 exit 29 opens tomorrow:
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/after-years-of-traffic-new-i-91n-exit-29-in-hartford-opening-soon/2493256/

[abqtraveler]

I noticed another signing project for CT-8 in Bridgeport.  "Replace highway signs and supports." Advertising will be in April of 2022.  What will it be?  The last of the old signs are being replaced now.

There are a handful of signs/supports that don't seem to be in the contract for the present B'pt-Shelton project.  Its only one or two signs and I'm not sure if that warrants a whole other contract.... but it could be for full Route 8 exit renumbering to mileage.  Overlays don't seem to be ConnDOT's thing, for some reason, otherwise we would have had all our exits converted by now.  If the Route 9 central and northern sign replacement projects hold true, they will put up the new sign, then replace the perfectly-good exit tab with a new one with the new exit number. 

and this project on US-6 @ I-84 in Farmington.
https://www.farmington-ct.org/home/showpublisheddocument/17248/637081993574670000

Of course this project gets rid of another free-flow movement.  Actually, for someone who has used the South Road loop to get from Rt 4 East to Rt 9 South, the turn onto I-84 East is quite "sketch" with US 6 East traffic heading straight at you. 

I for one would like to see Rt 9 extended north to Farmington Ave, to make the 4->9 connection easier.

They'll never build anything north of The Stack. Too much opposition.

[Old Dominionite]

I found another wooded sign in the wild.  Newington/West Hartford town line.  I forget which road it's on.

Main St/South St. I grew up nearby. That sign is so old that it makes me wonder whether it might even date from the era of CT 176A...

[connroadgeek]

Anyone drive the new I-91 exit 29 today? Saw a quick glimpse on local news and saw what appeared to be a CT-5 shield instead of US-5. Don't know why CT has such a hard time differentiating between the two shields, but they've made this mistake with US-1 as well.

[Alps]

Anyone drive the new I-91 exit 29 today? Saw a quick glimpse on local news and saw what appeared to be a CT-5 shield instead of US-5. Don't know why CT has such a hard time differentiating between the two shields, but they've made this mistake with US-1 as well.

I plan to be there this weekend.

[MikeTheActuary]

YouTube video featuring I-91NB Exit 29:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm4vqd_-Kr8

(Not mine; found it on reddit)

[connroadgeek]

Nice video of the new ramp opening. Saw the CT-5 sign on the right side below a CT-2 sign at 5:53. Also kind of crazy how on Tuesday exit 90 looks normal, then the next day it suddenly looks like a new construction site had sprung up with barriers and overhead sign modifications. The construction crews did all that in one overnight period of work?

[mariethefoxy]

I noticed another signing project for CT-8 in Bridgeport.  "Replace highway signs and supports." Advertising will be in April of 2022.  What will it be?  The last of the old signs are being replaced now.

and this project on US-6 @ I-84 in Farmington.
https://www.farmington-ct.org/home/showpublisheddocument/17248/637081993574670000

That highway is named after my freind's great uncle. I wonder if theyre gunna keep the Henry Mucci Highway signs during the replacement

[shadyjay]

Anyone drive the new I-91 exit 29 today? Saw a quick glimpse on local news and saw what appeared to be a CT-5 shield instead of US-5. Don't know why CT has such a hard time differentiating between the two shields, but they've made this mistake with US-1 as well.

I've seen that CT 5 shield.  It's most likely a wooden construction-issued sign and I wouldn't be too worried about it staying for the long term.



In other CT 9 news...

The temporary ground sign at Exit 11 SB is now up.  It reads  "EXIT 11/ TO  17 / Durham / ->".  Its a sheet aluminum sign that is meant to be temporary since, according to the contract plans, the overhead support at Exit 11 is going to get removed ASAP.  The permanent replacement will be overhead.  What's interesting about the temporary sign is that the "17" is not in any shield and "155" was omitted.  "Randolph Rd" will no longer appear on the permanent signs, though I suggested to ConnDOT it should stay and put "TO 17 SOUTH/DURHAM" on a separate auxiliary sign. 

We shall see.

[jp the roadgeek]

Anyone drive the new I-91 exit 29 today? Saw a quick glimpse on local news and saw what appeared to be a CT-5 shield instead of US-5. Don't know why CT has such a hard time differentiating between the two shields, but they've made this mistake with US-1 as well.

I've seen that CT 5 shield.  It's most likely a wooden construction-issued sign and I wouldn't be too worried about it staying for the long term.

I'm more worried that the Hartford control for I-91 on the APL BGS's will remain DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE ALREADY CROSSED THE CITY LINE

[Old Dominionite]

Anyone drive the new I-91 exit 29 today? Saw a quick glimpse on local news and saw what appeared to be a CT-5 shield instead of US-5. Don't know why CT has such a hard time differentiating between the two shields, but they've made this mistake with US-1 as well.

I've seen that CT 5 shield.  It's most likely a wooden construction-issued sign and I wouldn't be too worried about it staying for the long term.

I'm more worried that the Hartford control for I-91 on the APL BGS's will remain DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE ALREADY CROSSED THE CITY LINE

I assume the "Hartford"  here refers to downtown, where most Hartford-bound traffic is heading. I think it makes sense to post either "Hartford"  or "Downtown Hartford"  at Exit 29 to point motorists in the right direction.

[Old Dominionite]

A couple new ones from Route 9 South in Cromwell:

CT9SB-Exit20merge by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

CT9SB-Exit19-adv by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

The Exit 19 sign was put up in the past week or so, replacing a bridge-mount.

I dislike the usage of a square shield for a three-digit route on a BGS. Is this becoming a statewide trend as signs are being replaced?

[jp the roadgeek]

I dislike the usage of a square shield for a three-digit route on a BGS. Is this becoming a statewide trend as signs are being replaced?

Different regions and projects tend to use different sign specs.  The signage for the CT 72 and CT 9 projects seem to be using this, including the ones Jay and I posted further up the page.  I'm not a fan either, but at least they're not using the black borders like they did on I-395 and the parts of CT 8 that have been completed.   

[shadyjay]

There doesn't seem to be any standard whatsoever with recent sign replacement projects.  With every one that comes out, something has changed over the previous, and a lot of it is in the name of cost cutting.  One prime example of this is the new town line signs, which are being replaced with sheet aluminum ones - the same style as you see on 2-lane roads in CT.  Unfortunately, the "service bar" being incorporated into the extruded signs themselves are being discontinued, in favor of the service symbols on a sheet aluminum (ConnDOT is blaming this on the extra space forcing a redesign in the sign as far as wind and the elements go).  Also gone are "TOWN ... NEXT ## EXITS"  and  " TOWN A .... # MILES / TOWN B ... ## MILES". 

You also have the brief attempt to make entrance guide signs of the sheet aluminum variety.  Looks like only CT 8 in the Naugatuck Valley got this treatment, and a few spot locations here n' there. 

Where the verdict lands on state shields remains to be seen.  Thick boardered reassurance shields appeared on upper CT 8 sign replacements but not lower CT 8.  The thick border appeared on I-395 guide signs, but now CT 9 and CT 372 projects seem to go back to normal shields without borders, and apparently without rectangles.  Then there are the spot sign replacements which have "Mass-style" outline shields. 

I saw no problem with the way signs were replaced on the I-395 projects, and I noted those signs when I contacted ConnDOT about the CT 9 resigning project.  The main issue, again, as to why some signs that were extruded are now sheet, is $$$.  But at least, can we standardize on a route shield?  Or maybe its time for a new route shield?  And that will take us back to cost...cost...cost....