Connecticut News

[jp the roadgeek]

Speaking of SR 571 and the whole signing project, I see CTDOT corrected some of the signage plans for CT 72 and labeled the Downtown New Britain (Cedar St/Columbus Blvd) exit as 1B and CT 71 as 1A, and corrected Elm St to Main St (as it is now).  Looked strange having 1A before 1B as the exit numbers descended.  Still don't get why the CT 372 exit westbound in Plainville has an I-84 exit number despite being on CT 72 (should really be Exit 4, or at least make it 34 to match the Crooked St exit it replaced; yes, I know 33 will eventually become 49A and 34/33B will become 49B when I-84 is renumbered). 

[KEVIN_224]

Very near that exit was a grizzly and fatal pedestrian accident southbound on Wednesday morning. The victim turned 54 that day. What the woman was doing on the highway remains a mystery. She was hit multiple times. The rest of it would be graphic. The one key thing which no story has mentioned:

From the Berlin Turnpike (US 5/CT 15) north and west up to Exit 24 northbound, you have a big streetlight replacement project going on. That stretch of nearly two miles is nearly pitch black at night. The lights won't be on until the project is finished.

https://goo.gl/maps/sPGuCqSnHKxdxhnn7

[odditude]

grizzly [...] accident

"grisly" is the word you're looking for - at first, i thought you were going to say someone got mauled by a bear there!

[KEVIN_224]

No...but the poor woman was hit more than once. Some people thought it was a deer in the low light. Nope! 

[Mergingtraffic]

Just curious...are there any CAMPING logo signs in the state besides the one I saw recently for I-95 SB at Exit 92?

[connroadgeek]

I hate that they are cutting down all of these trees. I can understand taking down the weaker, older, and sick trees along the parkway because those are real hazards, but along the other highways doesn't make sense. The trees along 95 and 84 weren't bothering anybody. If they were planning on widening the highway, then fine, but it appears they are cutting most of these trees down for no good reason.

[Alps]

I hate that they are cutting down all of these trees. I can understand taking down the weaker, older, and sick trees along the parkway because those are real hazards, but along the other highways doesn't make sense. The trees along 95 and 84 weren't bothering anybody. If they were planning on widening the highway, then fine, but it appears they are cutting most of these trees down for no good reason.

They're cutting it down for clear zone design so that there's nothing that can be struck within 30' of the traveled way.

[shadyjay]

Just curious...are there any CAMPING logo signs in the state besides the one I saw recently for I-95 SB at Exit 92?

Yup...

CT 11 Exit 5 in Salem, for one:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5004331,-72.3004553,3a,23.9y,36.53h,85.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stFdONUifL30we8hmvBmOnQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656


I-95 Exit 74 in East Lyme:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3594594,-72.2107517,3a,30.3y,52.84h,90.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjEd0Aq9lEBSoNbwXUAYtcw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I-95 Exit 72 in East Lyme:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3177403,-72.2457045,3a,19.7y,198.07h,83.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRF5FolpU3t8nANWkUiylMQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Most likely some more on I-395. 

I believe "CAMPING" is one of those exit services that is usually shown on ramp signage with a logo, vs text.  Hospitals are another.   I-95 Exit 72 example linked above shows what I mean. 

[connroadgeek]

I hate that they are cutting down all of these trees. I can understand taking down the weaker, older, and sick trees along the parkway because those are real hazards, but along the other highways doesn't make sense. The trees along 95 and 84 weren't bothering anybody. If they were planning on widening the highway, then fine, but it appears they are cutting most of these trees down for no good reason.

They're cutting it down for clear zone design so that there's nothing that can be struck within 30' of the traveled way.

How many cars are driving into trees in this state? Plus Connecticut is practically bankrupt and should not be wasting money on this project. If they won't give us extra lanes, at least they can let us have something nice to look at like the trees while sitting in traffic.

[Alps]

I hate that they are cutting down all of these trees. I can understand taking down the weaker, older, and sick trees along the parkway because those are real hazards, but along the other highways doesn't make sense. The trees along 95 and 84 weren't bothering anybody. If they were planning on widening the highway, then fine, but it appears they are cutting most of these trees down for no good reason.

They're cutting it down for clear zone design so that there's nothing that can be struck within 30' of the traveled way.

How many cars are driving into trees in this state? Plus Connecticut is practically bankrupt and should not be wasting money on this project. If they won't give us extra lanes, at least they can let us have something nice to look at like the trees while sitting in traffic.

I've seen a ton during snowstorms. It's modern design being applied to old roadways. I-84 was just given extra lanes east of Waterbury. I-95 was given extra lanes through New Haven.

[shadyjay]

Tonight on Jeopardy!

http://20191009_192133 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

http://20191009_192133b by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

[RobbieL2415]

Tonight on Jeopardy!

http://20191009_192133 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

http://20191009_192133b by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

"America's Oldest Continuously Published Newspaper".

[kurumi]

Another fun fact: the Main Street Bridge over the Conland Highway was built in 1832.

[Alps]

Another fun fact: the Main Street Bridge over the Conland Highway was built in 1832.

That's a generic street name. Which Main Street where?

[Magical Trevor]

What is Hartford?

This Main Street bridge, constructed over the Park River which was eventually converted into a giant culvert and capped by the Conland-Whitehead Highway.

[KEVIN_224]

The Hartford Public Library sits over said highway as well. I believe that roadway was supposed to be a portion of an expressway under Bushnell Park and connect to I-84.

[Alps]

What is Hartford?

This Main Street bridge, constructed over the Park River which was eventually converted into a giant culvert and capped by the Conland-Whitehead Highway.

I never knew the Whitehead was the Conland, and Jeopardy made it sound like I-91 itself is the Conland. There you go then.

[shadyjay]

If I'm reading this right, according to kurumi.com, the Conduit Highway, when built, was from the Charter Oak Bridge to Pulaski Circle.  This was later renamed the Whitehead Highway, or Conland Highway, hence the Conland-Whitehead Highway.  I have heard reference to the Conland/Whitehead Highway back in old school traffic reports on WFSB in the 80s/90s, but always thought this referred to the "Capitol Area Connector" portion.  I don't believe there is a public naming of the portion of I-91 between Exits 29-29A-32.  The section from Exit 29-29A may internally still be named the Conland-Whitehead Highway.  I do know Veterans Highway runs from Exit 32 up to Exit 34, and the stretch from Exit 27-29 is the Governors Foot Guard Memorial Highway. 

There is a sign at the western end of the Capitol Area connector naming it as the "Whitehead Highway".  I didn't see one on Google Streetview in the western direction where it leaves I-91.  Perhaps because you're already on the Whitehead? 

So if I-91 is actually still named the "Conland-Whitehead Highway" between Exits 29-29A, then it really was a "lesser-known name on the road", for sure. 

[jp the roadgeek]

I've often heard it referred to as the Whitehead Highway on local traffic reports.  It was the northern piece of the South Meadows Expressway, which comprised this, I-91 to Exit 27, and the CT 15 expressway to the Berlin Turnpike.  In the early to the mid-70's, the highway was proposed to become I-484, and to be extended under Bushnell Park to the Capitol Ave ramps as a de facto highway connection between I-84 and I-91 (which took until 1990 to complete).  It is now known internally as SR 598. 

[RobbieL2415]

Update on I-91 Hartford project for the past week;

-Exit 86, CT 15 long term closure has started

-Two distinct areas of clearing have emerged, one between exit 87 and I-91N (where the new Exit 29 flyover will be located, the other in between exit 86 CT 15 NB and I-91 N (where the new CT 15 approach will be)

-Moulding for new bridge underpasses are being installed.

-Grading on 91 NB continues.

I Don't understand, though, why a lane isn't being added to Exit 87 SB off the bridge.  There's nothing about it in the plans.

[Mergingtraffic]

I Don't understand, though, why a lane isn't being added to Exit 87 SB off the bridge.  There's nothing about it in the plans.

You mean Exit 86 to I-91?  IDK. that's Connecticut for ya. The ship never fully comes in.

PS.

New warning and regulatory signage appearing on CT-8 in the Derby-Waterbury signing contract.  New mileage markers with an 8 shield also appearing. Metal seems flimsy on the merge and speed limit signs as some look like the metal is already warping based the way it looks on the poles.

The curse of signs being constructed on computers strikes again as on the new CT-8 SB pull through sign at Exit 30, the arrows look too thick.  And some signs such as the Exit 30 NB signage, not enough spacing between words.  IDK how things like that can happen with all this new technology to make signs.

[jp the roadgeek]

CTDOT considering a roundabout for the Fenn Rd/Ella Grasso Blvd intersection in Newington

[kurumi]

Truculent satire about ConnDOT planning: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20191015_op-ed_the_transportation_plan_we_deserve/

[RobbieL2415]

I Don't understand, though, why a lane isn't being added to Exit 87 SB off the bridge.  There's nothing about it in the plans.

You mean Exit 86 to I-91?  IDK. that's Connecticut for ya. The ship never fully comes in.

PS.

New warning and regulatory signage appearing on CT-8 in the Derby-Waterbury signing contract.  New mileage markers with an 8 shield also appearing. Metal seems flimsy on the merge and speed limit signs as some look like the metal is already warping based the way it looks on the poles.

The curse of signs being constructed on computers strikes again as on the new CT-8 SB pull through sign at Exit 30, the arrows look too thick.  And some signs such as the Exit 30 NB signage, not enough spacing between words.  IDK how things like that can happen with all this new technology to make signs.

Oh, man, you need to see some of the ugly temp shields on the I-84 Exit 63 signage.

[wytout]

Those shields are current standard. FHWA type D font on 2D shields w conn black border. Bordered shields are showing up on new signing contracts quite often. not sure what's wrong with them, other than the fact that they're absolutely huge to replace the former absolutely huge shields that were worn out.