Questions about CT-8/25

[TMETSJETSYT]

Hey guys, so I just posted this topic for any questions about CT-8 and CT-25, as they are 2 very confusing roads, and I live in the area and I have clinched both routes, so any questions can go here, and don't be afraid to ask.

[kurumi]

You posted this on Aug. 25 (8/25 in American date format), so that's timely :-)

Could you start off with what you find confusing about the two routes?

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe TMETSJETSYT is confused why CT 8 and CT 25 are co-designated from Interstate 95 to their split at Exit 3/old Exit 6? Personally, I would terminate 25 at the split and just have 8 continue solo to Interstate 95.

[Alps]

Maybe TMETSJETSYT is confused why CT 8 and CT 25 are co-designated from Interstate 95 to their split at Exit 3/old Exit 6? Personally, I would terminate 25 at the split and just have 8 continue solo to Interstate 95.

I believe 25 is considered the main route and 8 would actually end at it.

[TMETSJETSYT]

Im not confused I was saying any questions for ME about the roads can go here.

[TMETSJETSYT]

Like YOU ask ME questions, not I ask YOO questions, lol.

[TMETSJETSYT]

But still, any questions for ME about the roads can go here, as I am a native to the area and I can answer them.

[SectorZ]

I'll bite, what makes them confusing?

[TMETSJETSYT]

They just end at intersections. I can explain why if you would like me too.

[southshore720]

I shake my fist at the NIMBYs who blocked CT 25 going to I-84.  What an absolute time saver that would have been.  There's nothing worse than getting stuck behind a slowpoke in that Monroe-Newtown stretch.

[TMETSJETSYT]

IKR!!!!!!! They started construction on the exit ramp of I-84, or the old terminus of what Route 25 would've been. Maybe this is a sign that they are gonna complete it????????

[cockroachking]

They just end at intersections. I can explain why if you would like me too.

I personally find roads that don't end at intersections to be more confusing... 

[SectorZ]

They just end at intersections. I can explain why if you would like me too.

You mean the freeways right? Would you rather CT 8 end underwater somewhere near the Mass border, because that can be arranged.

[jp the roadgeek]

Maybe TMETSJETSYT is confused why CT 8 and CT 25 are co-designated from Interstate 95 to their split at Exit 3/old Exit 6? Personally, I would terminate 25 at the split and just have 8 continue solo to Interstate 95.

I believe 25 is considered the main route and 8 would actually end at it.

Not true.  For CTDOT purposes, the "8/25 Connector"  is inventoried as CT 8. Enhanced mileposts bear only the CT 8 shield.  CT 25 is CT's version of MA 128: a legacy thing because CT 25 used to end at US 1 in Downtown Bridgeport after following Main St (the Trumbull portion of which is CT 111).  The fact that CTDOT is giving an exit number for the CT 25 movement means it's time to truncate CT 25 to the split (mainline splits should not be numbered).  And any signage on I-95 for the route should put 8 first, as it is standard
to put the lower number first when the routes are on equal footing (state-state).

[SectorZ]

And any signage on I-95 for the route should put 8 first, as it is standard
to put the lower number first when the routes are on equal footing (state-state).

Agreed. The I-290, MA 12, I-395 signs on I-90 in Auburn MA have bugged me for years. I know they harken back to 395 being MA 52 and that made sense then, but we've gotten two sign replacements since the change and they still won't fix it.

[shadyjay]

The "CT 8/25 Connector" I guess is CT's version of Rt 128.  There's really no need to sign the unnecessary route, but its always been that way, so why stop now.  The sign plans for the present I-95 NB Exit 27-A widening project continue to show "CT 25/8"... perhaps they're listed that way since CT 25 splits on the left and CT 8 on the right.  And since "Trumbull" continues to be used as a control city on the I-95 signs, then CT 25 I guess has a place. 

It is a shame that CT 25 never got finished through Monroe and Newtown.  I've only driven that stretch a handful of times, and there was heavy traffic on that 2-lane road.  Same for US 7 down in Wilton and Redding.  Same for (insert another dozen CT roads here with stub end freeways). 

I doubt any work at the I-84/would be 25 interchange taking place involves the reactivation of the CT 25 expressway extension.... you would have thought we all would have heard something about that.  Its most likely a staging area for another nearby construction project... they are modifying the connection with CT 34 there, I believe.  And years ago there was talk of dismantling the "high-speed" interchange and putting in something more "subdued".  Don't know if that would happen anytime within the next 10-20 years... would prefer to see an I-84 widening before that happens.

[abqtraveler]

The "CT 8/25 Connector" I guess is CT's version of Rt 128.  There's really no need to sign the unnecessary route, but its always been that way, so why stop now.  The sign plans for the present I-95 NB Exit 27-A widening project continue to show "CT 25/8"... perhaps they're listed that way since CT 25 splits on the left and CT 8 on the right.  And since "Trumbull" continues to be used as a control city on the I-95 signs, then CT 25 I guess has a place. 

It is a shame that CT 25 never got finished through Monroe and Newtown.  I've only driven that stretch a handful of times, and there was heavy traffic on that 2-lane road.  Same for US 7 down in Wilton and Redding.  Same for (insert another dozen CT roads here with stub end freeways). 

I doubt any work at the I-84/would be 25 interchange taking place involves the reactivation of the CT 25 expressway extension.... you would have thought we all would have heard something about that.  Its most likely a staging area for another nearby construction project... they are modifying the connection with CT 34 there, I believe.  And years ago there was talk of dismantling the "high-speed" interchange and putting in something more "subdued".  Don't know if that would happen anytime within the next 10-20 years... would prefer to see an I-84 widening before that happens.

The work being done at the end of the "stub" off I-84 that was originally intended for Route 25, will add turn lanes and realign intersections at Toddy Hill Road and Wasserman Way to streamline movements between the "stub" and Route 34. CTDOT has a long-term plan to eventually dismantle the freeway stub and high-speed interchange, and replace it with a diamond interchange. Wasserman Way would be extended north from its present intersection with Route 34 to the new interchange, and Route 34 would be realigned to follow this northward extension of Wasserman Way to end at the new interchange.  CTDOT also plans to construct a new rest area on the land that will be made available with the removal of the current interchange and freeway stub. But...there's no money to fully implement that plan.

[kurumi]

This proposal (2016) for I-84 exit 11 (the original CT 25 freeway terminus) would add a direct ramp from CT 34 WB to the freeway stub, providing I-84 access without 2 left turns; along with some minor widening (add a lane here and there on CT 34 and SSR 490, but only for a short distance): https://portal.ct.gov/CEQ/DOT/Scoping-Notice/Major-Intersection-Improvements---Newtown--Route-34

Checking more recent notices (https://portal.ct.gov/CEQ/DOT/Post-Scoping-Notice/Major-Intersection-Improvements-Route-34---Newtown and https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/CTDOT-Construction-Advisories/2021/Intersection-Improvements-on-Route-34-and-I-84-in-the-Town-of-Newtown) ... it looks like this is the work underway now.

As for questions for OP:
* do you have access to detailed plans for alternative alignments for the CT 25 freeway? These have been hard to find. (Probably easier if I lived in CT.)
* Also, do you have newspaper articles with opening dates?

[TMETSJETSYT]

They just end at intersections. I can explain why if you would like me too.

You mean the freeways right? Would you rather CT 8 end underwater somewhere near the Mass border, because that can be arranged.

\
Thats just you man.

[MATraveler128]

Also, CT 8 was proposed to continue past Torrington to end in either Massachusetts or Vermont and there was even talk on making CT 8 an Interstate at one point. Is this accurate? Here it is on Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Route_8

[TMETSJETSYT]

It was proposed to end at I-90/Mass Pike

[abqtraveler]

It was proposed to end at I-90/Mass Pike

Connecticut and Massachusetts applies for an interstate designation for Route 8 in 1972, which was rejected by the FHWA and AASHTO. Around 2000, CTDOT performed a Deficiency and Needs Study to identify what work would need to be done to bring Route 8 up to interstate standards in preparation for a future interstate designation. Needless to say, that study identified a lot of work would be required, particularly between Exit 13 in Shelton and Exit 29 in Waterbury, that includes the first sections of freeway to be completed between the late 1940s and early 1960s. I would consider upgrading those sections to be "unobtaniums" without either bulldozing the downtowns of Shelton, Derby, Seymour, and Naugatuck, or building bypasses that would be extreme costly and folks in those areas would undoubtedly fight tooth and nail.

[mariethefoxy]

the sign naming the road after Col. Mucci was taken off one of the overpasses in the northbound Bridgeport segment and never replaced with the rest of the signs in that replacement project. That section of freeway was always an exciting ride with the twists and turns in the southern segment and crazy Bridgeport area drivers.

[RobbieL2415]

Also, CT 8 was proposed to continue past Torrington to end in either Massachusetts or Vermont and there was even talk on making CT 8 an Interstate at one point. Is this accurate? Here it is on Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Route_8

I'd be curious to see how much truck traffic gets taken off VT 9 of they built a Route 8 freeway.

Current VT 8 ends unremarkably at a T intersection.

[shadyjay]

Also, CT 8 was proposed to continue past Torrington to end in either Massachusetts or Vermont and there was even talk on making CT 8 an Interstate at one point. Is this accurate? Here it is on Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Route_8

I'd be curious to see how much truck traffic gets taken off VT 9 of they built a Route 8 freeway.

Current VT 8 ends unremarkably at a T intersection.

They probably would only have built a Route 8 freeway all the way to VT 9 if plans for an east/west southern VT expressway had come to fruitition.  Was an interstate ever proposed to connect Brattleboro with Bennington via the VT 9 corridor?  Given the nature of the route, I don't know how they would have done that.  I know the US 4 corridor further north was tapped as a possible I-92 routing.  Regardless, if a VT 8 expressway made it to VT 9, I doubt it would have done much to take traffic off VT 9.  You'd still have to go south a significant distance to go east or west. 

Not sure though if there were any tenative plans for such an expressway on VT 8 (or MA 8 north of the Mass Pike).  It probably would've meant an exit between Exits 2 & 3 on the 'pike in the middle of the 30-mile no-exit zone, and for some reason, the residents are fighting to keep that 30 mile stretch exit-free.