Connecticut News

[KEVIN_224]

The coin Dan Malloy uses to scratch a lottery ticket:


"1 FARE"...from mainline toll plaza A to B...or the whole length from Greenwich to Killingly? 

[Rothman]

Holy cow, that is really cool.

[KEVIN_224]

I didn't bother taking a picture of the other side, since it's basically the grapevine logo from the state flag. I know the last Connecticut toll was on the Charter Oak Bridge, which went away in 1989. Is there an exact date for when the last toll was removed from the Turnpike, regardless of I-95, I-395 and the connector to US Route 6 and RI?

[shadyjay]

The tokens pop up on EBAY quite frequently.  Each was worth one fare at one barrier only.  All barriers had the same fare, which IIRC was 35 cents.  I believe the turnpike lost its barriers in 1985, from end-to-end.  At the time, they were in Greenwich, Norwalk, Stratford, West Haven, Branford, Madison, Montville, and Plainfield.    There was also a toll barrier at the Baldwin Bridge, but that was removed about the time the CT 9 expressway opened, c 1970. 

I was real young when the tolls were removed, but I do remember frequent trips to New Haven, stopping at the tolls in Branford and Madison, in the early 80s.  By that time, the original turnpike signage was still in place from Exits 51-59, much of which would survive another 10 years before replacement around 1992.

[jon daly]

The tokens pop up on EBAY quite frequently.  Each was worth one fare at one barrier only.  All barriers had the same fare, which IIRC was 35 cents.  I believe the turnpike lost its barriers in 1985, from end-to-end.  At the time, they were in Greenwich, Norwalk, Stratford, West Haven, Branford, Madison, Montville, and Plainfield.    There was also a toll barrier at the Baldwin Bridge, but that was removed about the time the CT 9 expressway opened, c 1970. 

I was real young when the tolls were removed, but I do remember frequent trips to New Haven, stopping at the tolls in Branford and Madison, in the early 80s.  By that time, the original turnpike signage was still in place from Exits 51-59, much of which would survive another 10 years before replacement around 1992.

IIRC a tractor trailer crashing into a tollbooth led to the removal of tolls.

As an aside, I was born in '68 and recall that my dad had a way to avoid the Charter Oak Bridge. There was a really sharp ramp off of the Founders Bridge on to I-91.

[Marc_in_CT]

I didn't bother taking a picture of the other side, since it's basically the grapevine logo from the state flag. I know the last Connecticut toll was on the Charter Oak Bridge, which went away in 1989. Is there an exact date for when the last toll was removed from the Turnpike, regardless of I-95, I-395 and the connector to US Route 6 and RI?

I don't have the exact date, but I can help narrow it down. I was working on a week-long high school journalism project and I, along with 1 fellow student, covered the toll removal story as it was happening. Our project ran from Oct 7-11 1985, and our final article indicates that the last toll was collected on "Wednesday night at 11pm". I don't know why we omitted the date! My guess is it was either Wed 10/2/85 or 10/9/85. IIRC our visit to the Madison toll station was almost immediately after toll collection ceased, and things were pretty chaotic. We were able to speak briefly with the Toll Superintendent.

[roadman]

The tokens pop up on EBAY quite frequently.  Each was worth one fare at one barrier only.  All barriers had the same fare, which IIRC was 35 cents.  I believe the turnpike lost its barriers in 1985, from end-to-end.  At the time, they were in Greenwich, Norwalk, Stratford, West Haven, Branford, Madison, Montville, and Plainfield.    There was also a toll barrier at the Baldwin Bridge, but that was removed about the time the CT 9 expressway opened, c 1970. 

I was real young when the tolls were removed, but I do remember frequent trips to New Haven, stopping at the tolls in Branford and Madison, in the early 80s.  By that time, the original turnpike signage was still in place from Exits 51-59, much of which would survive another 10 years before replacement around 1992.

IIRC a tractor trailer crashing into a tollbooth led to the removal of tolls.

Not quite.  While there was pressure put on the state to eliminate tolls after the Stratford crash, it was actually the collapse of the Mianus River bridge in 1983 that resulted in the end of tolls.  This is because Federal funds were used to repair the bridge, and the Feds made toll plaza removal a condition of receiving the funds.

[BamaZeus]

I still have a turnpike token somewhere in a box at home.  I think it was a leftover from my dad when the tolls were removed.  He used to buy the roll of tokens at the tollbooth, like you would get a roll of quarters at the bank.  But, the tokens didn't show up until the 80's.  I remember my dad would always insist on getting a receipt at every booth (when he didn't shunpike), so he could claim it on his taxes.

My aunt had just crossed the Mianus River Bridge a few hours before its collapse. It took her a long time to cross it again after the repairs.  She would always take the parkway into the city instead.

[jon daly]

Not quite.  While there was pressure put on the state to eliminate tolls after the Stratford crash, it was actually the collapse of the Mianus River bridge in 1983 that resulted in the end of tolls.  This is because Federal funds were used to repair the bridge, and the Feds made toll plaza removal a condition of receiving the funds.

I recall the bridge collapse. It was huge news when I was 15. I had no idea that that's what prompted the toll removal.

Thanks

[roadman]

Not quite.  While there was pressure put on the state to eliminate tolls after the Stratford crash, it was actually the collapse of the Mianus River bridge in 1983 that resulted in the end of tolls.  This is because Federal funds were used to repair the bridge, and the Feds made toll plaza removal a condition of receiving the funds.

I recall the bridge collapse. It was huge news when I was 15. I had no idea that that's what prompted the toll removal.

Thanks

No problem.  Most people associate the removal of tolls with the Stratford crash.  For obvious reasons, that reasoning played better in the media (and with the politicians) than "Well, the Feds made us do it because they paid us to repair a bridge we should have been maintaining better in the first place" does.

Personal note:  A friend of mine crossed the NB Mianus River span about fifteen minutes before the collapse.  To this day, the story still gives him goosebumps thinking about it.

[vdeane]

No problem.  Most people associate the removal of tolls with the Stratford crash.  For obvious reasons, that reasoning played better in the media (and with the politicians) than "Well, the Feds made us do it because they paid us to repair a bridge we should have been maintaining better in the first place" does.

Personal note:  A friend of mine crossed the NB Mianus River span about fifteen minutes before the collapse.  To this day, the story still gives him goosebumps thinking about it.

It also allows them to claim that tolls are fine now that everything would be AET.

[jon daly]

Not quite.  While there was pressure put on the state to eliminate tolls after the Stratford crash, it was actually the collapse of the Mianus River bridge in 1983 that resulted in the end of tolls.  This is because Federal funds were used to repair the bridge, and the Feds made toll plaza removal a condition of receiving the funds.

I recall the bridge collapse. It was huge news when I was 15. I had no idea that that's what prompted the toll removal.

Thanks

No problem.  Most people associate the removal of tolls with the Stratford crash.  For obvious reasons, that reasoning played better in the media (and with the politicians) than "Well, the Feds made us do it because they paid us to repair a bridge we should have been maintaining better in the first place" does.

Personal note:  A friend of mine crossed the NB Mianus River span about fifteen minutes before the collapse.  To this day, the story still gives him goosebumps thinking about it.

That was one of two disasters I recall on that stretch of I-95; the other being a tanker that exploded in Bridgeport in '04. I recall riding by that area soon after. I think we had to hit city streets to get around the damaged portion of the highway; but it was @ 5 AM and my friend was driving.

[Rothman]

I remember the I-95 bridge collapse as well.  I remember my father was shocked that, as people came to realize the bridge was out, one couple started running around waving their hands in the air to try to get people to stop.  He thought they would have been run over.

I didn't realize it was still tolled at the time.

[jp the roadgeek]

I remember the day of the Mianus River bridge collapse as well.  I had just finished first grade and had just got over the chicken pox.  I slept over my cousin's house the night before and remember waking up and hearing it all over the news.  There were tolls on 95 at the time, but the collapse had nothing to do with removals; the Stratford truck crash led to it.  Tolls did remain after the removal from I-95 and the parkways: the Putnam, Bissell, and Charter Oak Bridges had them.  The Putnam told were removed with the slight extension of CT 3 to meet the CT 2 expressway directly, which I think happened around 1987.  The Bissell and Charter Oak tolls were removed when construction on the current Charter Oak bridge began around 1988.  ThevMohegan-Pequot bridge was tolled until 1980, which was 12 years before the bridge saw a major increase in traffic from the casinos.

[PHLBOS]

You might want to reread Roadman's post in Replies #2756 & 2759.  While the Stratford truck crash truck crash may have lead to the removal of tolls on CT's other tolled facilities (Merritt Parkway, Charter Oak Bridge, etc.); the use of Federal dollars to replace the collapsed Mianus River Bridge along the CT Turnpike (I-95) was indeed the official reason the tolls were ultimately taken down from the CT Turnpike first.

[KEVIN_224]

The reinforcement of these pillars in the I-84/CT Route 72 interchange looks like it was added on afterwards. They're roughly on the New Britain/Plainville town line:

I-84 West to CT Route 72 East...


I-84 West before the CT Route 72 West merge...


Lastly, I saw this meme at the Connecticuck Memes Facebook group page. Although the CT Routes 1,5 6 and 7 part is inaccurate, I LOVE the rest of it! 

[connroadgeek]

Connecticut's roads are not bad at all for pot holes. New York is far, far worse. I don't know if it's a maintenance issue or a different kind of pavement they use that doesn't hold up as well, but it's noticeable the minute you cross the state line or if you drive a road that straddles the border like 120A.

[KEVIN_224]

I like how that poster used the old school CT route markers though! 😛

[RobbieL2415]

r/Connecticut just wants another reason to complain about the state. The roads are not "crumbling" as they say.  Consider that I-84 and I-91 have been significant improved since the 80s, that the Q Bridge project was completed ahead of schedule (IIRC), and the improvements are being made to the Waterbury section of I-84.  I honestly don't get where the whole "crumbling" idea comes from.  CONNDOT doesn't neglect state roads last I checked.

[Mergingtraffic]

States like MA or even NY use yellow/warning extruded aluminum signage for tight ramps or curves on limited access highways. CT doesn't do anything except the basic standard advance exit signage. Anyone wonder why?

I-95 NB EXIT 27A could use some with the horrible graded loop ramp to CT-8.  There's only a small advisory speed ramp sign with a loop arrow behind a light pole leading up to it.

Is it the land of steady habits syndrome striking again?

[RobbieL2415]

States like MA or even NY use yellow/warning extruded aluminum signage for tight ramps or curves on limited access highways. CT doesn't do anything except the basic standard advance exit signage. Anyone wonder why?

I-95 NB EXIT 27A could use some with the horrible graded loop ramp to CT-8.  There's only a small advisory speed ramp sign with a loop arrow behind a light pole leading up to it.

Is it the land of steady habits syndrome striking again?

They use chevrons.  Exit 71 on I-84 E has double chevrons and an advance rollover warning sign with FYBs that illuminate when a vehicle approaches the ramp.  In West Hartford their used on the Park Road Curve.  CT does use loop warning signs sporadically, the Queen St. exit eastbound has one,  I-91 Exit 24 has them also.  If they're meeting MUTCD specs, that's good enough for me. 

[jp the roadgeek]

The Queen St ones are brand new, as they were added with the current sign replacement project.  Another Land of Stready Habits sign that is going to continue are the larger "Speed Limit Ahead xx MPH"  signs I have yet to see in any state.  One was added eastbound on 84 just before the 55 zone through the 72 interchange that indicates 55 MPH.  While there is the traditional MUTCD diamond with the 55, I guess these signs will continue.

Update: I see some of the metal for the new overhead the rvs  of the Exit 30-39A signage in the storage area in the middle of the Plainville curve where the old Woodford Ave ramp to 84 East was.

And speaking of Waterbury, this just happened:

http://fox61.com/2018/05/13/lanes-shifting-on-i-84-in-waterbury-on-sunday/

[jon daly]

Connecticut's roads are not bad at all for pot holes. New York is far, far worse. I don't know if it's a maintenance issue or a different kind of pavement they use that doesn't hold up as well, but it's noticeable the minute you cross the state line or if you drive a road that straddles the border like 120A.

Commuting to Rhode Island, I notice that their overpasses over I-95 look less rusty than the ones in SE Connecticut. But IANAE and I wonder if the difference is more cosmetic than structural. I think that Rhody has a company contracted to paint those whenever weather permits. I see equipment often between the north and southbound lanes in Warwick.

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-mixmaster-contract-awarded-20180410-story.html

An article from The Hartford Courant about plans for the I-84/CT Route 8 interchange in Waterbury.

[shadyjay]

Now that the budget crisis has been averted for now, one has to wonder if the projects that were put on-hold indefinitely will see the light of day.  I-91 NB Exit 29 was one of those projects.  And what will be the fate of the non-commercial rest areas? 

One part of the crisis relief was to initiate a series of fare hikes and service cuts to existing commuter rail, but (for now) none of that will take effect 1-July.