Connecticut News

[abqtraveler]

How soon before the exits in those two pictures are renumbered to 4 and 5? I expected the new signs to have mileage-based exit numbers, not the old sequential numbers, or are those being added later?

They'll be added later under a new project and tha tproject will also replace the remaining button copy in Naugatuck and Shelton that was skipped over the last project b/c they were more involved to be replaced.  I'm hopeing the sheet metal LGS on the entrance ramps around Naugatuck will be repleced with extruded aluminum.

Speaking of the Route 8 exit renumbering contract scheduled to be let later this year, I would suspect they would be renumbering exits on the Route 25 freeway between the Route 8 split and Route 111. Does anyone have any confirmation of this?

[MATraveler128]

How soon before the exits in those two pictures are renumbered to 4 and 5? I expected the new signs to have mileage-based exit numbers, not the old sequential numbers, or are those being added later?

They'll be added later under a new project and tha tproject will also replace the remaining button copy in Naugatuck and Shelton that was skipped over the last project b/c they were more involved to be replaced.  I'm hopeing the sheet metal LGS on the entrance ramps around Naugatuck will be repleced with extruded aluminum.

Speaking of the Route 8 exit renumbering contract scheduled to be let later this year, I would suspect they would be renumbering exits on the Route 25 freeway between the Route 8 split and Route 111. Does anyone have any confirmation of this?

Yes. I believe CT 25 is included. I think the new numbers will continue from CT 8.

[shadyjay]

From the pics posted here, it looks like they are replacing the old overhead signs with ground-mounted signs along Route 8. Is that the case going all the way up to Shelton?

No... only one exit I believe is going from overhead to ground-mount, even though 1 or 2 others could.  Again another CT inconsistency.  A bunch of I-84 signs were moved to the ground in recent projects (Southington-Farmington, for example).  I would have moved I-91 Exits 14 & 15 to the ground as well in that project just getting underway, but they're maintaining the overheads there.  At least we're not like MassDOT in that regard (where everything goes overhead now). 

[Alps]

From the pics posted here, it looks like they are replacing the old overhead signs with ground-mounted signs along Route 8. Is that the case going all the way up to Shelton?

No... only one exit I believe is going from overhead to ground-mount, even though 1 or 2 others could.  Again another CT inconsistency.  A bunch of I-84 signs were moved to the ground in recent projects (Southington-Farmington, for example).  I would have moved I-91 Exits 14 & 15 to the ground as well in that project just getting underway, but they're maintaining the overheads there.  At least we're not like MassDOT in that regard (where everything goes overhead now). 

Really, anything 3 lanes or more should be overhead so that you're unlikely to have obscured visibility from the left lane(s).

[shadyjay]

The ConnDOT 2022-2026 5-year capital plan is out.  I did some searching for sign projects, and outside of traditional spot sign replacement projects as a result of replacement of spot overhead structures, I found a couple "blanket" projects upcoming:

FFY 2023:

Rt 15, from Milford to Meriden (most likely the entire Wilbur Cross Parkway section, up to Rt 5 in Meriden at the start of the Berlin Tpke)

84/91 in District 1.... "replace highway signs on ramps".  Not exactly sure what this means.  It could mean the C/D roads connecting Exits 59-62 in Manchester on I-84, but for I-91, ?  Maybe the Capitol Area connector?

US 6/384 ... most likely this means all of I-384 along with the Willimantic Bypass.  That's not much of a contract.  I would have thrown in I-291 as well. 

I-84 from Vernon to Union... this section has the most recent signs on I-84 east of the CT River.  Are we really not going to replace the oldest signs on I-84 in Manchester?  Are those historical artifacts now?  (haha)

Nothing listed for FFY 2024-2026... outside of "placeholders".  Maybe those will be other projects yet to be announced/delegated.  Still nothing for I-91 from Hartford to Enfield, the northernmost section holding onto its late 1980s button copy installed after the road was widened. 

No mention of any other roads going to mile-based exits.  Will we see CT 15 go mile-based after the WCP exits are changed out?  How about MUTCD-compliant mileposts on the Berlin Tpke so that when Exits 85-91 get changed out, they'll make sense?   

[MATraveler128]

I thought that I-691 was supposed to be converted over in 2023. Same for CT 2. I agree on the exit renumbering for CT 15. It doesn't make sense that the system starts at 27 instead of 1. Now that the Hutch has been converted, there's no excuse. Maybe they forgot to include it or they just don't have any plans to change it.

[MikeTheActuary]

I thought that I-691 was supposed to be converted over in 2023. Same for CT 2. I agree on the exit renumbering for CT 15. It doesn't make sense that the system starts at 27 instead of 1. Now that the Hutch has been converted, there's no excuse. Maybe they forgot to include it or they just don't have any plans to change it.

But wouldn't changing the exit numbers change the essential character of the Merrit?

[jp the roadgeek]

Couple of updates on CT 72: New gantry is up for the replacement of the last reflective button copy sign (the EB exit now BGS for Corbin Ave.  A full gantry replacing a single gantry, so it'll probably have a 1 mi advance for Columbus Blvd.  Also (finally!) a new ground mounted BGS is up in the empty piers on the ramp from 72 East to 9 South for the (no longer called) Ellis St exit.  There's also the empty gantry for the 1/2 mi Columbus/1 mi Main st BGS's. 

[shadyjay]

I thought that I-691 was supposed to be converted over in 2023. Same for CT 2.

The capital plan is for projects to be contracted during those months which haven't been awarded yet.  I-691 was a design/build contract that was issued last year (FFY 2021).  Same with CT 2/3/17/11.  So those projects wouldn't show up in the FFY 2022-2026 Cap plan.  I believe the first sign project listed in this plan is the CT 8 Bridgeport-to-Winchester project, which we knew was coming anyway (based on the ConnDOT bid schedule). 

[abqtraveler]

Will we see CT 15 go mile-based after the WCP exits are changed out?  How about MUTCD-compliant mileposts on the Berlin Tpke so that when Exits 85-91 get changed out, they'll make sense?

The deep-pocketed Merritt Parkway Conservancy and their high-dollar lawyers will fight like bloody murder to keep the exit numbers on the Merritt Parkway unchanged.  Don't hold your breath on seeing mileage-based exit numbers on Route 15 anytime soon.

[MATraveler128]

Will we see CT 15 go mile-based after the WCP exits are changed out?  How about MUTCD-compliant mileposts on the Berlin Tpke so that when Exits 85-91 get changed out, they'll make sense?

The deep-pocketed Merritt Parkway Conservancy and their high-dollar lawyers will fight like bloody murder to keep the exit numbers on the Merritt Parkway unchanged.  Don't hold your breath on seeing mileage-based exit numbers on Route 15 anytime soon.

It's the same as trying to get the NJTA to change over the exit numbers on the Turnpike. But at least the numbers start at 1. That explains why I didn't see the Merritt being listed. I'm not sure about the Wilbur Cross. I guess it would stay as is. It would appear awkward to see a random switch from sequential on the Merritt and then suddenly go mileage based on the Wilbur Cross portion.

[kernals12]

Will we see CT 15 go mile-based after the WCP exits are changed out?  How about MUTCD-compliant mileposts on the Berlin Tpke so that when Exits 85-91 get changed out, they'll make sense?

The deep-pocketed Merritt Parkway Conservancy and their high-dollar lawyers will fight like bloody murder to keep the exit numbers on the Merritt Parkway unchanged.  Don't hold your breath on seeing mileage-based exit numbers on Route 15 anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure the State of Connecticut can afford more high dollar lawyers than the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, unless Connecticut's fiscal woes are even worse than I thought

[SectorZ]

Will we see CT 15 go mile-based after the WCP exits are changed out?  How about MUTCD-compliant mileposts on the Berlin Tpke so that when Exits 85-91 get changed out, they'll make sense?

The deep-pocketed Merritt Parkway Conservancy and their high-dollar lawyers will fight like bloody murder to keep the exit numbers on the Merritt Parkway unchanged.  Don't hold your breath on seeing mileage-based exit numbers on Route 15 anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure the State of Connecticut can afford more high dollar lawyers than the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, unless Connecticut's fiscal woes are even worse than I thought

The fact that a possible exit-number change can result in taxpayer's having to fight a group who thinks conserving numbers is a priority is its own issue.

[kernals12]

Will we see CT 15 go mile-based after the WCP exits are changed out?  How about MUTCD-compliant mileposts on the Berlin Tpke so that when Exits 85-91 get changed out, they'll make sense?

The deep-pocketed Merritt Parkway Conservancy and their high-dollar lawyers will fight like bloody murder to keep the exit numbers on the Merritt Parkway unchanged.  Don't hold your breath on seeing mileage-based exit numbers on Route 15 anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure the State of Connecticut can afford more high dollar lawyers than the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, unless Connecticut's fiscal woes are even worse than I thought

The fact that a possible exit-number change can result in taxpayer's having to fight a group who thinks conserving numbers is a priority is its own issue.

It's a downside of living in a free society

[Alps]

I thought that I-691 was supposed to be converted over in 2023. Same for CT 2. I agree on the exit renumbering for CT 15. It doesn't make sense that the system starts at 27 instead of 1. Now that the Hutch has been converted, there's no excuse. Maybe they forgot to include it or they just don't have any plans to change it.

But wouldn't changing the exit numbers change the essential character of the Merrit?

They put up guiderails so anything's possible

[bob7374]

I thought that I-691 was supposed to be converted over in 2023. Same for CT 2.

The capital plan is for projects to be contracted during those months which haven't been awarded yet.  I-691 was a design/build contract that was issued last year (FFY 2021).  Same with CT 2/3/17/11.  So those projects wouldn't show up in the FFY 2022-2026 Cap plan.  I believe the first sign project listed in this plan is the CT 8 Bridgeport-to-Winchester project, which we knew was coming anyway (based on the ConnDOT bid schedule). 

According to the latest contract advertising schedule released 2/9, the CT 8 sign project is to be advertised July 20. This is the only route specific sign replacement project to be listed through January 2023.

[yakra]

But wouldn't changing the exit numbers change the essential character of the Merrit?

They put up guiderails so anything's possible

Didn't they lengthen some onramps a few years back?
HOW COULD THEY!@#

[DJ Particle]

Will we see CT 15 go mile-based after the WCP exits are changed out?  How about MUTCD-compliant mileposts on the Berlin Tpke so that when Exits 85-91 get changed out, they'll make sense?

The deep-pocketed Merritt Parkway Conservancy and their high-dollar lawyers will fight like bloody murder to keep the exit numbers on the Merritt Parkway unchanged.  Don't hold your breath on seeing mileage-based exit numbers on Route 15 anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure the State of Connecticut can afford more high dollar lawyers than the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, unless Connecticut's fiscal woes are even worse than I thought

The fact that a possible exit-number change can result in taxpayer's having to fight a group who thinks conserving numbers is a priority is its own issue.

If the Mid-Cape Highway's Cape Cod NIMBYs could eventually be told to pound sand, so can the MPC  🤣

[SectorZ]

Will we see CT 15 go mile-based after the WCP exits are changed out?  How about MUTCD-compliant mileposts on the Berlin Tpke so that when Exits 85-91 get changed out, they'll make sense?

The deep-pocketed Merritt Parkway Conservancy and their high-dollar lawyers will fight like bloody murder to keep the exit numbers on the Merritt Parkway unchanged.  Don't hold your breath on seeing mileage-based exit numbers on Route 15 anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure the State of Connecticut can afford more high dollar lawyers than the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, unless Connecticut's fiscal woes are even worse than I thought

The fact that a possible exit-number change can result in taxpayer's having to fight a group who thinks conserving numbers is a priority is its own issue.

If the Mid-Cape Highway's Cape Cod NIMBYs could eventually be told to pound sand, so can the MPC  🤣

Exactly, though the state picks their battles with them, like with the "old exit number" signs being green on US 6 instead of yellow like everywhere else.

[abqtraveler]

Will we see CT 15 go mile-based after the WCP exits are changed out?  How about MUTCD-compliant mileposts on the Berlin Tpke so that when Exits 85-91 get changed out, they'll make sense?

The deep-pocketed Merritt Parkway Conservancy and their high-dollar lawyers will fight like bloody murder to keep the exit numbers on the Merritt Parkway unchanged.  Don't hold your breath on seeing mileage-based exit numbers on Route 15 anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure the State of Connecticut can afford more high dollar lawyers than the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, unless Connecticut's fiscal woes are even worse than I thought

The fact that a possible exit-number change can result in taxpayer's having to fight a group who thinks conserving numbers is a priority is its own issue.

If the Mid-Cape Highway's Cape Cod NIMBYs could eventually be told to pound sand, so can the MPC  🤣

Exactly, though the state picks their battles with them, like with the "old exit number" signs being green on US 6 instead of yellow like everywhere else.

At least MassDOT was willing to fight the fight with residents on the Cape over renumbering exits on the Mid-Cape Highway.  I would suspect that CTDOT would cave into the Merritt Parkway Conservancy over renumbering exits on the Merritt Parkway, just as they are doing with the redesign of the 7/15 interchange.

[kurumi]

This one I hadn't seen yet: a 2020 River Cog (Middletown area) study that includes a Route 66 bypass of Portland, meeting Route 17A at a new interchange near the Arrigoni Bridge: https://www.rivercog.org/wp-content/uploads/reports-and-studies/2020-10-05-Route-66-Draft-Final-Reportred3.pdf  (scroll to page 97)

[RyanB06]

I haven't heard about this either, and I live about a mile from the proposed roundabout.

They look to be using the old Air Line Railroad ROW for the bypass. (Which is how they're getting away with saying they're not going to need to take any property; they already have it.) Sending Route 66 down into Portland's industrial area isn't going to be a really good look for the town, but that area could really use a little TLC. (Plus, it's a good way to drive traffic to the brewery my high school friend is a part-owner in. )

I like that they're redoing the access to the Arrigoni Bridge from Lower Main Street as well, as that is in *desperate* need of retooling. You do not want to be trying to get on Route 66 from Lower Main Street during rush hour. Bridge traffic currently has priority, and drivers make no effort to yield in the off-chance a car wants to pull onto 66.

We'll see if anything comes of this...2040 is a long ways off.

[Ted$8roadFan]

As someone from a family with historically deep roots in the area, I can confirm that Route 66 in the area needs vast improvements. The speed and the number of accidents/near accidents on the Portland/Cobalt stretch, including some to my own relatives in past years (not serious, thankfully) call out for change. The bypass idea sounds intriguing, especially using an old railroad ROW. That area could use a refresh. But the logistics and costs (acknowledged as much in the report) of the bypass and some other changes may be too much for the land of steady habits.

[The Ghostbuster]

I wouldn't hold my breath that such a bypass will be built. It seems like Connecticut is incapable of building any new roadways, at least from what I have heard.

[connroadgeek]

Saw the first flashing yellow arrow in CT at the new set of adaptive signals that have just been turned on around the exit 3 area of Arch St in Greenwich.