Connecticut News

[shadyjay]

Got some shots of the new CT 2 & CT 11 exit numbers today.  They're on my FLICKR page.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shadyjay/

New exit numbers are posted on CT 2 from Norwich up to (at least) Colchester... most likely farther northwest.   CT 11 is done as well. 

(As of Friday 1/17, there were still tarped numbers on the Founder's Bridge in Hartford)

[Great Lakes Roads]

Next few signage replacement projects coming to Connecticut-

Service Plaza Mainline Sign and Sign Support Replacement on I-95 & I-395 (STATEWIDE)

Replace Highway Signs and Supports on I-91/CT 190 (DISTRICT 1)

[shadyjay]

Yesterday I was able to travel the Route 8 corridor (Bridgeport to Thomaston) to check on the status of the "Exit Renumbering & Spot Sign Replacement" project.  Of course, the exits were renumbered last year... for the most part.  Two exits were skipped... the I-95 Jct (which is supposed to become Exits 1A & 1B) and the CT 25 exit northbound.  Hopefully they have second thoughts on this one, as its actually Route 8 which exits the mainline and since CT 8 and 25 are cosigned south of the jct and that north of the jct, CT 25 mile markers continue the CT 8 sequence, I think the jct should remain unnumbered.  But, we'll see.

As far as signs go, all overheads in Bridgeport that were not replaced in previous projects have been replaced.  There are two new 4-chord cantilevers for Exits 2A (->) and 2B (1/2 mile) as well as a monotube bridge for Exit 2A SB.  In Derby, two overheads were replaced.  However, the truss spanning the south end of the Commodore Hull Bridge (at Exit 12-A) remains, complete with button copy signage in each direction.  This gantry is not in the contract, so it'll most likely be the last Route 8 corridor button copy remaining.

Continuing north, one of two gantries in Naugatuck has been replaced.  Uprights are in for the 2nd one. 

From Waterbury/I-84 jct to Thomaston, the project involves complete sign replacement.  This is essentially complete, except for one overhead in each direction.  And one spot replacement from long ago that I believe is just having a sign replaced on it.

For those playing along at home, here's a link to my CT 8 album complete with the new photos added:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shadyjay/albums/72157670186371584/

[jp the roadgeek]

1000% agree that the 8/25 split should renain unnumbered because it is a mainline split.  However, CTDOT recognizes the 8/25 connector as CT 8 in both the route log and the enhanced mile markers. 

As for the I-91/CT 190 project, I have to wonder if that includes new signage and mileage based exit numbers for the Bradley Connector (CT 20).  I'm guessing it replaces all of the button copy signage between I-84 and the MA line.

[shadyjay]

I doubt it reaches down that far... I'd guess we'll get from the state line down to the Dexter Coffin Bridge.  This section has the oldest section of signage on I-91, dating back to (at least) 1989.

There's still a good chunk of I-91 left to change out signage... everything north of Exit 18 right now (outside of some spot sections here n' there, like Exits 26-29 and such. 

[Great Lakes Roads]

Coming in 2026-

Advertising Date: 1/21/2026

0042-0328
VARIOUS SIGNING
Replace Highway Signs & Renumber Exits I-84

A letting to replace the remaining signage as well as renumbering the exits to mile-based along I-84 through Connecticut.

[The Ghostbuster]

Is it too soon for bob7374 to update his New England Exit Renumbering Central to include the new exit numbers for Interstate 84? I reckon Exits 3-8 might not be renumbered, since they are pretty much what their mileage-based numbers would be anyway.

[shadyjay]

Interesting.  So for signage on I-84 that could possibly be replaced, I'd guess the 2000s-era from Exits 13-18 in Southbury/Middlebury and the oldest-of-the-old from Exits 57-65 in East Hartford/Manchester.

[bob7374]

Is it too soon for bob7374 to update his New England Exit Renumbering Central to include the new exit numbers for Interstate 84? I reckon Exits 3-8 might not be renumbered, since they are pretty much what their mileage-based numbers would be anyway.

May be a little too soon. The plans with the official numbers won't be published until the project is advertised next January. One could create a potential list using the exit list milepost information in the AARoads Wiki I-84 in CT entry and the exit numbering rules on the CTDOT Exit Renumbering project FAQ page. It might make sense not to renumber the exits through Danbury since they are close to the milepost numbers, but we'll see.

[jp the roadgeek]

Here's what I gather for the renumbering.  I fudged I-691 down to 39 and put the I-91 exits for the destination (62C for SB and 62D for NB).  Also added some wishful thinking signage (CT 173 shields for South Main St, Flatbush Ave being the better way to New Park Ave WB, West Blvd on Sisson Ave, TO US 44 WEST on EB signage for Main St)

[MikeTheActuary]

Fox61 just ran a story on state Senate Bill 1375.

The news story focused on actually making left lane blocking illegal, although most of the public comment on the bill apparently has been in regards to a provision that would require motorcyclists to wear helmets.

Another provision in the bill that might interest folks here (but was not covered in the news story): a requirement for the state to use paint with retroreflective beads for lane markers.

[shadyjay]

Has anyone noticed lately the increase in the number of drivers swerving in and out of the HOV lane on I-91?  I sure have.  In fact, Sunday afternoon I observed a vehicle cross between the main travel lanes and the HOV lane some 4 times in an attempt to recklessly pass any motorist that got in his way. 

Which begs the question...

Is it feasible for some sort of barrier in the divider?  I get it... you need emergency vehicle access.  But how about jersey barriers (with random gaps) or those plastic pylons?  Or something?

And since we're talking HOV lanes, approaching Exit 33 southbound seems to slow down every day.  Culprit #1 is traffic trying to get to I-84 West (Exit 32).  Culprit #2 is the fact that the end of the HOV lane requires a merge from the left, rather than having its own lane.  The ideal solution here would be to have an additional lane to eliminate the HOV lane merge, which would then continue to Exit 30, becoming an EXIT ONLY lane there.  Not sure if there's a way to sneak in another lane.  Maybe State St/Exit 31 shouln't have its own exit lane and there's your space.

Thoughts?

[Rothman]

Has anyone noticed lately the increase in the number of drivers swerving in and out of the HOV lane on I-91?  I sure have.  In fact, Sunday afternoon I observed a vehicle cross between the main travel lanes and the HOV lane some 4 times in an attempt to recklessly pass any motorist that got in his way. 

Which begs the question...

Is it feasible for some sort of barrier in the divider?  I get it... you need emergency vehicle access.  But how about jersey barriers (with random gaps) or those plastic pylons?  Or something?

And since we're talking HOV lanes, approaching Exit 33 southbound seems to slow down every day.  Culprit #1 is traffic trying to get to I-84 West (Exit 32).  Culprit #2 is the fact that the end of the HOV lane requires a merge from the left, rather than having its own lane.  The ideal solution here would be to have an additional lane to eliminate the HOV lane merge, which would then continue to Exit 30, becoming an EXIT ONLY lane there.  Not sure if there's a way to sneak in another lane.  Maybe State St/Exit 31 shouln't have its own exit lane and there's your space.

Thoughts?

Heh.  There's so much junk in that area between the HOV lane and travel lanes that you'd think few tires would survive the trip across.

The traffic has been congested from downtown out to the HOV merge since the thing was built when I was a kid.  I'd be surprised if any solution to Hartford's perpetual snarl downtown will ever be found.

At this point, finding solutions is more fictional than "Connecticut News."

[MikeTheActuary]

Realignment of I-84 might help a little with the perpetual snarl if it were accompanied by the construction of a better I-84 / I-91 interchange and if some of the design deficiencies of I-84 were addressed... but that project is one that I'll believe when I actually see it getting done.

[Rothman]

Realignment of I-84 might help a little with the perpetual snarl if it were accompanied by the construction of a better I-84 / I-91 interchange and if some of the design deficiencies of I-84 were addressed.

Oh, is that all? ;D

[RobbieL2415]

Has anyone noticed lately the increase in the number of drivers swerving in and out of the HOV lane on I-91?  I sure have.  In fact, Sunday afternoon I observed a vehicle cross between the main travel lanes and the HOV lane some 4 times in an attempt to recklessly pass any motorist that got in his way. 

Which begs the question...

Is it feasible for some sort of barrier in the divider?  I get it... you need emergency vehicle access.  But how about jersey barriers (with random gaps) or those plastic pylons?  Or something?

And since we're talking HOV lanes, approaching Exit 33 southbound seems to slow down every day.  Culprit #1 is traffic trying to get to I-84 West (Exit 32).  Culprit #2 is the fact that the end of the HOV lane requires a merge from the left, rather than having its own lane.  The ideal solution here would be to have an additional lane to eliminate the HOV lane merge, which would then continue to Exit 30, becoming an EXIT ONLY lane there.  Not sure if there's a way to sneak in another lane.  Maybe State St/Exit 31 shouln't have its own exit lane and there's your space.

Thoughts?

I asked on this thread why they couldn't design the HOV lanes with Jersey barriers and got no answer.

But there's two reasons I can think of why they weren't.

One is that it would not have been able to accommodate the drain culverts in the median.
Another is that adding a barrier would remove space for a shoulder for the HOV lane. The HOV median is much narrower on I-84 through East Hartford and can barely hold a disabled vehicle.

Other ways to discourage scofflaws could be congestion-based open-road tolling, video enforcement, or roughing up the surface of the median.

[Plutonic Panda]

Orange County in California is moving to making the HOV lanes continuously open. In my opinion, it's better to allow people to freely an enter an exit the HOV lanes whenever. IMO the only time there should be barriers or for express or toll Lane.