Connecticut News

Started by Mergingtraffic, October 28, 2009, 08:39:49 PM

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abqtraveler

Quote from: Mergingtraffic on April 27, 2021, 03:17:23 PM

And don't forget CT was the LAST state to go to 65mph.  That right there speaks volumes.  The land of steady habits strikes again.

Not entirely accurate...Connecticut was the last state in the Continental US. Alaska raised their speed limit from 60 to 65 after Connecticut. Hawaii raised its maximum speed limit to 60 MPH (from 55 MPH) in 2017.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201


Roadgeekteen

Quote from: abqtraveler on April 27, 2021, 05:01:01 PM
Quote from: Mergingtraffic on April 27, 2021, 03:17:23 PM

And don't forget CT was the LAST state to go to 65mph.  That right there speaks volumes.  The land of steady habits strikes again.

Not entirely accurate...Connecticut was the last state in the Continental US. Alaska raised their speed limit from 60 to 65 after Connecticut. Hawaii raised its maximum speed limit to 60 MPH (from 55 MPH) in 2017.
Hawaii has been 60 since the early 2000s, Saddle Road was increased in 2017 I think.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

RobbieL2415

Quote from: Mergingtraffic on April 27, 2021, 03:17:23 PM
I think out of all the states CT has the most UNexpanded road network in relation to population.  One lane roads, lack of divided boulevards, 2-lane roads that drop down to one lane, lack of turn lanes, lack of channelized right turn lanes, lack of free flow movements, lack of expressways and freeways, lack of lanes in general.  Other roads in other states may have more congestion but as a state as a whole CT I think has the most unexpanded road network.

And don't forget CT was the LAST state to go to 65mph.  That right there speaks volumes.  The land of steady habits strikes again.

On another note:
Virtual public meetings are now on the CT DOT website.
One that got me was the public hearing on statewide road diets.  Ummmm based on these last few posts in this thread that is the last thing we need.
https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/General/CTDOT-VPIM-Library

I watched the Exit 27A I-95 one in Bridgeport.  They are adding a second lane for the off-ramp which is great.  However, NO new extruded aluminum warning signs saying how sharp the curve is.  None!  That's a big issue as the geometry is horrible on that loop ramp.

Oh look, proper option lane signage.

Quote from: shadyjay on April 27, 2021, 04:34:01 PM
Quote from: sharkyfour on April 27, 2021, 12:09:29 AM
I'm wondering if where they replaced the entire sign (which was most signs in the state), if it was out of necessity/end of useful life of the signs.  I have seen come 55 signs that got overlaid with a "6", such as these on I-95 in Old Lyme/Old Saybrook.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.31952,-72.3441222,3a,15y,229.56h,89.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGNhffNS-r3mVhB_FHKSB8w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192


That is one of only a few examples where they retained the existing sign and overlayed the "6".  But most everywhere else, the larger numerals came into being again, after having been phased out in the late 80s. 

An example of the 1998-replacement speed limit signs:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3285598,-72.3869402,3a,36.5y,349.16h,83.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEtBRYqe2hew5eZHTpqvSjQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

An example of the late 80s-1997 speed limit signs, which are now the standard once again for sign replacement projects, and have been for the past 10+ years:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5380165,-72.9696631,3a,40.1y,90.83h,87.48t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sW4Mb-3hMAKLpVMAFPe0uUQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

It is possible speed limit signs are on a more regimented replacement schedule than the rest of the signs.  If that's the case, they all were to go bad at the same time, hence the large scale replacement in 1998 just weeks before the speed limit change?  And that warranted the overlaying of "55" over the "65" if only for a couple weeks?

I checked my archives to find the photo I took in VT on I-91 way up in the Northeast Kingdom years ago, which had a typical VT Speed Limit 65/Minimum 40 post-exit sign, and the only part of the sign that was white was the "65".  Alas, I couldn't find it, but it and the signs of that era were back when button copy was still status quo north of White River Jct, mileage signs post-exit had Mile/KM, and onramp signs featured extruded aluminum signs, vs the present makeup of sheet aluminum markers & town blades.

ConnDOT is the worst with replacing any aluminum signage. Go look at I-84 in Manchester and Vernon. It's a cornucopia of signs from many different years. They don't care.

On another note, the first APL gantry for I-91 Exit 29 was being installed last light.

jp the roadgeek

#4403
Quote from: Mergingtraffic on April 27, 2021, 03:17:23 PM

I watched the Exit 27A I-95 one in Bridgeport.  They are adding a second lane for the off-ramp which is great.  However, NO new extruded aluminum warning signs saying how sharp the curve is.  None!  That's a big issue as the geometry is horrible on that loop ramp.


WHY WHY WHY does CTDOT continue to insist on putting CT 25 before CT 8?!? :banghead:  Aside from the fact that 25 is not even needed south of the 8/25 split, A. It's not MUTCD compliant to put the higher number before the lower number and B. Most people know the road as Route 8 anyway, so why put the lesser known number first (at least when MassDOT used to do it for 95/128, they put the interstate before the state route. although most Bostonians still refer to the road as 128)?
Interstates I've clinched: 97, 290 (MA), 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 293, 295 (DE-NJ-PA), 295 (RI-MA), 384, 391, 395 (CT-MA), 395 (MD), 495 (DE), 610 (LA), 684, 691, 695 (MD), 695 (NY), 795 (MD)

Alps

Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 28, 2021, 02:30:01 PMA. It's not MUTCD compliant to put the higher number before the lower number
(citation needed)
05 Route systems shall be given preference in this order: Interstate, United States, State, and county. The preference shall be given by installing the highest-priority legend on the top or the left of the sign.

connroadgeek

Why is the 25-8 text not centered on its section of the sign? I'd rather have the control cities be Waterbury and Torrington if there have to be two, though just having Waterbury makes the sign symmetrical. Shelton is bigger than both Torrington and Trumbull as well so that could be a better control city.

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: connroadgeek on April 28, 2021, 09:23:30 PM
Why is the 25-8 text not centered on its section of the sign? I'd rather have the control cities be Waterbury and Torrington if there have to be two, though just having Waterbury makes the sign symmetrical. Shelton is bigger than both Torrington and Trumbull as well so that could be a better control city.
I wouldn't use Torrington as it's past Waterbury and smaller.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

jp the roadgeek

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 28, 2021, 10:18:25 PM
Quote from: connroadgeek on April 28, 2021, 09:23:30 PM
Why is the 25-8 text not centered on its section of the sign? I'd rather have the control cities be Waterbury and Torrington if there have to be two, though just having Waterbury makes the sign symmetrical. Shelton is bigger than both Torrington and Trumbull as well so that could be a better control city.
I wouldn't use Torrington as it's past Waterbury and smaller.

The reason why Trumbull and Waterbury are used is that Trumbull is the control for CT 25 and Waterbury for CT 8 north of the split.  But CT 8 should come first before CT 25 on the signage (and moving beyond MUTCD) because A. Reassurance signs on the concurrency have CT 8 shields on top of CT 25 shields; B. Enhanced mile markers use the CT 8 shield on them; C. The CT Highway Log inventories it under CT 8, and D. Traffic reporters refer to it as the "825 connector".  So yes, CT 8 is indeed the more prominent route and should be on the left with CT 25 on the right.  In that case, Waterbury would be first and Trumbull second. 
Interstates I've clinched: 97, 290 (MA), 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 293, 295 (DE-NJ-PA), 295 (RI-MA), 384, 391, 395 (CT-MA), 395 (MD), 495 (DE), 610 (LA), 684, 691, 695 (MD), 695 (NY), 795 (MD)

Alps

Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 28, 2021, 11:24:42 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 28, 2021, 10:18:25 PM
Quote from: connroadgeek on April 28, 2021, 09:23:30 PM
Why is the 25-8 text not centered on its section of the sign? I'd rather have the control cities be Waterbury and Torrington if there have to be two, though just having Waterbury makes the sign symmetrical. Shelton is bigger than both Torrington and Trumbull as well so that could be a better control city.
I wouldn't use Torrington as it's past Waterbury and smaller.

The reason why Trumbull and Waterbury are used is that Trumbull is the control for CT 25 and Waterbury for CT 8 north of the split.  But CT 8 should come first before CT 25 on the signage (and moving beyond MUTCD) because A. Reassurance signs on the concurrency have CT 8 shields on top of CT 25 shields; B. Enhanced mile markers use the CT 8 shield on them; C. The CT Highway Log inventories it under CT 8, and D. Traffic reporters refer to it as the "825 connector".  So yes, CT 8 is indeed the more prominent route and should be on the left with CT 25 on the right.  In that case, Waterbury would be first and Trumbull second. 
You may see it yet. I take it the signs below are designed based on the existing legend showing 25-8. (Unless that is in error.) There's a chance for ConnDOT to review and advise.

RobbieL2415

Also, that image doesn't appear to come from any sort of official contract plans.

Duke87

Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 28, 2021, 02:30:01 PM
WHY WHY WHY does CTDOT continue to insist on putting CT 25 before CT 8?!?

Habit. People are used to referring to it as the "25-8 connector". And while 8 is the longer route, 25 is the favored movement where they split.
If you always take the same road, you will never see anything new.

kurumi

Quote from: Duke87 on April 30, 2021, 08:56:22 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 28, 2021, 02:30:01 PM
WHY WHY WHY does CTDOT continue to insist on putting CT 25 before CT 8?!?

Habit. People are used to referring to it as the "25-8 connector". And while 8 is the longer route, 25 is the favored movement where they split.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the DOT, city of Bridgeport, et al. were calling the proposed expressway "Route 25". The Route 8 concept arrived a little later. (Before 1951, Route 8 didn't even go to Bridgeport as a surface route.)

Land of Steady Habits and all.
My first SF/horror short story collection is available: "Young Man, Open Your Winter Eye"

abqtraveler

Quote from: kurumi on May 01, 2021, 02:05:41 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on April 30, 2021, 08:56:22 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 28, 2021, 02:30:01 PM
WHY WHY WHY does CTDOT continue to insist on putting CT 25 before CT 8?!?

Habit. People are used to referring to it as the "25-8 connector". And while 8 is the longer route, 25 is the favored movement where they split.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the DOT, city of Bridgeport, et al. were calling the proposed expressway "Route 25". The Route 8 concept arrived a little later. (Before 1951, Route 8 didn't even go to Bridgeport as a surface route.)

Land of Steady Habits and all.
It goes back to when Route 25 was proposed to be a freeway from I-95 to I-84 in Newtown. Of course, opposition from residents in Monroe and Newtown halted construction of the Route 25 freeway north of Route 111, save for the freeway stub and oversized interchange on I-84 at Route 34. At the time, Route 8 ended in Stratford, following what is now Route 110 from Shelton to I-95/US-1 in Stratford. Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton was previously Route 65; the Route 8 designation was shifted to Bridgeport Avenue around when they started building the Route 8 freeway between Bridgeport and Shelton, and Route 110 took over the former Route 8 alignment between Shelton and Stratford.

The point being, planning for the Route 25 freeway began before they came up with the idea of building a freeway for Route 8 that would connect what is now the 25/8 Connector to the Commodore Hull Bridge. But once the 25 freeway got going, it was a logical conclusion to extend a freeway along the Bridgeport Avenue corridor from the Commodore Hull Bridge to meet the new 25 freeway and I-95.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201

zzyzx

Looks like the 5/15 Charter Oak Bridge project will be getting some new signs soon, according to interstatesignways on Tik-Tok (don't judge, there's actually quite a few road geek related content on there):


jp the roadgeek

Quote from: zzyzx on May 04, 2021, 07:14:49 PM
Looks like the 5/15 Charter Oak Bridge project will be getting some new signs soon, according to interstatesignways on Tik-Tok (don't judge, there's actually quite a few road geek related content on there):



That looks like new signage for CT 2 Exit 4 (future 1E) westbound
Interstates I've clinched: 97, 290 (MA), 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 293, 295 (DE-NJ-PA), 295 (RI-MA), 384, 391, 395 (CT-MA), 395 (MD), 495 (DE), 610 (LA), 684, 691, 695 (MD), 695 (NY), 795 (MD)

RobbieL2415

Looks like ConnDOT will be undertaking a resurfacing project on I-84 in Windham County, the same type of project they performed on the 12-lane stretch in East Hartford.
Basically, they're going to perform traditional crack sealing and then apply a special bonding epoxy over the entire surface.
I'm assuming they will also do line scoring and painting.

https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Construction-News-from-the-Connecticut-Department-of-Transportation/2021/Pavement-Preservation-Project-on-I-84-in-Willington-Ashford-Union

Tilcon did the East Hartford job, this time its Palmer Paving Corp.

And it looks like I-84 WB between Exit 66 and 62 will FINALLY be getting permanent lines.

https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Construction-News-from-the-Connecticut-Department-of-Transportation/2021/Pavement-Marking-Project-on-Various-State-Routes

jp the roadgeek

#4416
The first new sign is up on CT 72.  It was raining, but I did not get a shot.  Single chorded truss for the Westbound 1/2 mile advance for CT 372 (Corbin Ave) with the new Exit 2 tab.  All other signage refers to it as Exit 7, but it looks like the changeover is under way.

UPDATE: The Exit Now sign for the same exit has been changed over.  Seems they may be doing it the opposite of MA and starting at the South/East end and working their way up, then doubling back toward New Britain.  Will be curious to see what happens with the signage for current Exit 2, and whether we get the 33 A/B treatment on 84 (the New Britain Ave exit should really be CT 72 Exit 4 and not an I-84 exit).
Interstates I've clinched: 97, 290 (MA), 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 293, 295 (DE-NJ-PA), 295 (RI-MA), 384, 391, 395 (CT-MA), 395 (MD), 495 (DE), 610 (LA), 684, 691, 695 (MD), 695 (NY), 795 (MD)

connroadgeek

How did that girl get into the sign shop? Crazy how that sign is way bigger than she is. Wish the 15 in the CT-15 shield was the same font size as the 5 in the US-5 shield next to it.

storm2k

Quote from: connroadgeek on May 06, 2021, 11:14:48 AM
How did that girl get into the sign shop? Crazy how that sign is way bigger than she is. Wish the 15 in the CT-15 shield was the same font size as the 5 in the US-5 shield next to it.

She works there. I believe it was the official TikTok for the company.

abqtraveler

Quote from: jp the roadgeek on May 05, 2021, 06:45:03 PM
The first new sign is up on CT 72.  It was raining, but I did not get a shot.  Single chorded truss for the Westbound 1/2 mile advance for CT 372 (Corbin Ave) with the new Exit 2 tab.  All other signage refers to it as Exit 7, but it looks like the changeover is under way.

If they're taking the same approach on Rt 72 as they did on I-395, you'll probably see the new exit numbers overlaid on the existing signage soon to avoid confusion with a mix of signs showing old and new exit numbers.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201

connroadgeek

For mileage based exit numbers what happens when you add mileage before exit 1? Do they have to renumber every exit in that case? Also think the "OLD EXIT XX" signs are a waste because exits can be referred to by the destination (i.e. route or street name) so people aren't going to be that confused.

abqtraveler

Quote from: connroadgeek on May 06, 2021, 12:32:09 PM
For mileage based exit numbers what happens when you add mileage before exit 1? Do they have to renumber every exit in that case? Also think the "OLD EXIT XX" signs are a waste because exits can be referred to by the destination (i.e. route or street name) so people aren't going to be that confused.
If they added mileage before Exit 1, you'd have to renumber exits to add the new mileage to the existing exit numbers. Point in fact, the exits on I-69 between Indy and the Michigan state line had to be renumbered when the first sections of the extension to Evansville opened.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201

DJStephens

Quote from: RobbieL2415 on April 28, 2021, 08:51:23 AM
ConnDOT is the worst with replacing any aluminum signage. Go look at I-84 in Manchester and Vernon. It's a cornucopia of signs from many different years. They don't care.

Believe me, there is worse.  New Mexico - and Texas.  New Mexico, while it doesn't largely embrace clearview is having problems with the surface of sheet signage actually burning and turning black/brown from the suns' heat.  Texas has spent literally billions on clearview waste and sign clutter. 

abqtraveler

Quote from: DJStephens on May 07, 2021, 08:17:26 AM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on April 28, 2021, 08:51:23 AM
ConnDOT is the worst with replacing any aluminum signage. Go look at I-84 in Manchester and Vernon. It's a cornucopia of signs from many different years. They don't care.

Believe me, there is worse.  New Mexico - and Texas.  New Mexico, while it doesn't largely embrace clearview is having problems with the surface of sheet signage actually burning and turning black/brown from the suns' heat.  Texas has spent literally billions on clearview waste and sign clutter.

NMDOT has already replaced the signs at the Big-I that were only abut 10 years old because of the "burning" of the signs' surfaces from the sun. The new signs that have been up for about 5 or 6 years appear to be holding up a lot better than the previous signs. But...when you decide to do things on the cheap, you get what you pay for.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201

jp the roadgeek

Was able to snap a couple of pics of the aforementioned new signage on CT 72 (forgive the raindrops).  The 1 mile advance and the gore sign still refer to Exit 7



Interstates I've clinched: 97, 290 (MA), 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 293, 295 (DE-NJ-PA), 295 (RI-MA), 384, 391, 395 (CT-MA), 395 (MD), 495 (DE), 610 (LA), 684, 691, 695 (MD), 695 (NY), 795 (MD)



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