Connecticut News

[TheGrassGuy]

Is 169 the most scenic state route in CT? Or is it overrated?

[shadyjay]

I drove CT 169 for the first time this fall, south from Pomfret down to I-395.  It is one of the two roads in CT that are "national scenic byways" (the Merritt being the other), and of course there are dozens of other scenic roads in CT, just not on the national register.  Yes it is very scenic but not on the level of some state's national scenic byways, such as Crawford Notch or the Kanc in NH.  Guess it's all relative, depending on the state!

[Alps]

Is 169 the most scenic state route in CT? Or is it overrated?

Depends if you count unsigned (400 and up) routes.

[TheGrassGuy]

I drove CT 169 for the first time this fall, south from Pomfret down to I-395.  It is one of the two roads in CT that are "national scenic byways" (the Merritt being the other), and of course there are dozens of other scenic roads in CT, just not on the national register.  Yes it is very scenic but not on the level of some state's national scenic byways, such as Crawford Notch or the Kanc in NH.  Guess it's all relative, depending on the state!

But do you think it's the most scenic route in Connecticut itself? Obviously more so than the Merritt Pkwy!

[yakra]

Thing about CT82 is, I don't see any interchanges on it other than its terminus at CT9. What, are they gonna slap an exit number on that?

[Alps]

Thing about CT82 is, I don't see any interchanges on it other than its terminus at CT9. What, are they gonna slap an exit number on that?

Don't forget the WB loop ramp to I-395 SB.

[yakra]

OOP!

[kurumi]

Thing about CT82 is, I don't see any interchanges on it other than its terminus at CT9. What, are they gonna slap an exit number on that?

Don't forget the WB loop ramp to I-395 SB.

And exit 28, downtown: https://goo.gl/maps/JvfE9nCnJkPvMZ766

[shadyjay]

Drove the length of the CT 8 and CT 9 sign replacement projects today.  Not much to report on either project.  For CT 8, new mile markers and reassurance shields are up along with some new offramp signs, but that's it.  For CT 9, no progress on sign replacement, except some new foundations.  No ground aluminum signs up yet... no mile markers, speed limits, nothing.   

Hopefully spring will yield some more visible progress.

Given that construction projects in Connecticut typically shut down between the end of November and the end of March, I wouldn't expect much progress between now and spring.

I was more referring to when the project ramps up in the spring, though since Rt 9 is my "home road", I'll travel it regularly throughout the winter and be ready to report any updates.  Many of the foundations are in (for the northern half), and by March/April, hopefully the signs will be ready to go, the gantries installed, and away we go.  For the southern end, I don't see any work until spring at the earliest, except, maybe, the removal of the SB Exit 11 "exit now" overhead, since the plans recommended that be first to go and replaced with a sheet aluminum temporary, until a new permanent gantry is good to go. 

[jp the roadgeek]

Thing about CT82 is, I don't see any interchanges on it other than its terminus at CT9. What, are they gonna slap an exit number on that?

Don't forget the WB loop ramp to I-395 SB.

And exit 28, downtown: https://goo.gl/maps/JvfE9nCnJkPvMZ766

Might as well just slap an exit number on the CT 11 turnoff a la MA 140 for MA 24.  Label it Exit 16B and save 16A in case pigs fly and we need 16A for the CT 11 southward extension.

[jp the roadgeek]

Apologies for the double post, but according to this article, it looks like CTDOT has revised CT 9's exit numbers and will number the exits on the Middletown portion of CT 17.  However, it makes no mention of the Glastonbury portion or give a chart for the CT 82 number.  Editorial comment:  MUCH better.  Exit 29 should be Exit 38, not 37, seeing MP 38 is essentially at the CT 175 overpass. And now the endpoints do get numbers.  If numbering endpoint exits is going to be the norm going forward, I just don't see how you get through the south end of I-91 without a super duper alphabet city or using Exit 0.

[shadyjay]

Saw this too, on our local NBC affiliate's page. 
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/dot-to-begin-changing-exit-numbers-on-route-9-other-ct-roadways-today/2377691/?_osource=SocialFlowFB_CTBrand&fbclid=IwAR3uagEF1PoKdiotF6MpQxoScB4Oq3nygr6MAgy4QRyWvsi2SCx8647Ig68

In addition, it does change Exit 3 to Exit 4, which makes sense as its closer to MM 4.  In fact, when comparing to my exit list mileage, the new numbers match up much better than those in the contract plans from this summer. 

It is nice to see that they are trying some consistency, with now numbering endpoints, proper rounding, and such .  However, I think a little fudging should be implemented to eliminate some alphabet soup exits.  For instance, I could see Exit 2 staying Exit 2, then I-95 being Exits 1A-1B.  Its not much different than Mass not even bothering changing I-291 or I-391 and Maine keeping I-295 exits the same south of Falmouth. 

What will be interesting to see will be I-95 west of New Haven when its exits get changed.  Will they bother?  Or will it create more of a mess?  Same with I-91 in New Haven. 

[RobbieL2415]

New gantries have been delivered to near the old I-84 Exit 59 pull-through signage. Looks like it'll be replaced soon.

[abqtraveler]

Saw this too, on our local NBC affiliate's page. 
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/dot-to-begin-changing-exit-numbers-on-route-9-other-ct-roadways-today/2377691/?_osource=SocialFlowFB_CTBrand&fbclid=IwAR3uagEF1PoKdiotF6MpQxoScB4Oq3nygr6MAgy4QRyWvsi2SCx8647Ig68

In addition, it does change Exit 3 to Exit 4, which makes sense as its closer to MM 4.  In fact, when comparing to my exit list mileage, the new numbers match up much better than those in the contract plans from this summer. 

It is nice to see that they are trying some consistency, with now numbering endpoints, proper rounding, and such .  However, I think a little fudging should be implemented to eliminate some alphabet soup exits.  For instance, I could see Exit 2 staying Exit 2, then I-95 being Exits 1A-1B.  Its not much different than Mass not even bothering changing I-291 or I-391 and Maine keeping I-295 exits the same south of Falmouth. 

What will be interesting to see will be I-95 west of New Haven when its exits get changed.  Will they bother?  Or will it create more of a mess?  Same with I-91 in New Haven.

I think this is announcing the start of the project. I don't think you'll see the exit numbers change for awhile, until after they get the new support structures installed and they're ready to start mounting the new signs. That's the approach they took when the renumbered exits on I-395 and Route 2A a few years back.

[The Ghostbuster]

The story says that at CT 9's northern terminus, Interstate 84 west will become Exit 40A and Interstate 84 east will become Exit 40B. It was my understanding (and everyone else's) that the exits at CT 9's northern end would be de-numbered.

[jp the roadgeek]

The story says that at CT 9's northern terminus, Interstate 84 west will become Exit 40A and Interstate 84 east will become Exit 40B. It was my understanding (and everyone else's) that the exits at CT 9's northern end would be de-numbered.

Seems CTDOT has decided to number endpoints after all.  The first evidence we saw of it was a couple weeks ago when the new numbers for CT 40 came out.  But now I wonder if they're going to re-work the east (log south) end of CT 72 to include numbers for the CT 9 ramps.  It would mean Columbus Blvd (Current 8 proposed 1B) would become 1D and CT 71 (Current 9 proposed 1A) would become 1C with the 9 ramps being 1 A-B

[shadyjay]

Not news, but a little insight as to US 6/44 from Farmington/West Hartford to Manchester and why the multiplexes go the way they do...

Recently I purchased a set of some 30 or 40 official Connecticut highway maps, from the 1950s right up to the last one printed.  I have a few gaps in the collection, but it is pretty cool to watch the progression of highway building in the state from the 50s to the 70s, including showing what may have been.  To the casual highway observer, it may seem odd that US 6 and 44 are multiplexed with I-84 and then as soon as you cross the river, US 44 diverts onto Connecticut Blvd and then US 6 stays with I-84 until reaching Exit 60 in Manchester, which is US 44.  So why doesn't US 6 part ways with I-84 sooner? 

Historically, before the interstates, US 6 crossed the Connecticut River on the Charter Oak Bridge.  It got there by taking a route on surface roads from Farmington (at present Exit 38) due east to the Brainard area of Hartford, via South Road, New Britain Ave, White St, Brown St, and Airport Rd.  After crossing the COB, US 6 stayed on with CT 15 until reaching what is today Exit 60.  Meanwhile, US 44 has always crossed at the Bulkely Bridge in Hartford, diverted onto Conn Blvd and Burnside Ave through East Hartford.  Upon reaching today's Exit 60, US 44 jumped onto what was then CT 15 and multiplexed for the run out to Willington, running over what is now CT 74 to present US 44.  US 44A was today's US 44 through Manchester and east.  When I-84 was built, US 6 was routed onto the interstate from present day Exit 38 to present day Exit 60.  The route of US 6 was already established to be cosigned with CT 15 out to present day Exit 60.  Sure, CHD/ConnDOT could have rerouted it to follow US 44 through East Hartford, but they didn't.  They also could have kept it on the surface road route through southern Hartford, but didn't.  Much of that route went to town control I believe, though some may have survived as unsigned routes.  At some point in the early 80s, perhaps around the I-86 to I-84 conversion (and removal of CT 15 east of today's Exit 58), US 44 was rerouted onto surface roads in Manchester and east, replacing US 44A. 

So there's a little insight into some of the routing of the US routes around Hartford.  Personally I'd like to see US 6 off I-84 as much as possible, but I guess the state just doesn't see the need for it, or doesn't want to take on the added burden of additional state highway mileage.  That's most likely why 6/202 don't go through Danbury proper or why the southern Hartford route of US  6 was decomissioned. 

(As an aside, I have some duplicates in my CT map collection and may be offering them for free available at some point early in 2021)

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and Best Wishes for 2021!!! 

[Alps]

(As an aside, I have some duplicates in my CT map collection and may be offering them for free available at some point early in 2021)

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and Best Wishes for 2021!!! 

(dibs)

[KEVIN_224]

@shadyjay: CT Route 15 ends at Exit 57 WB in East Hartford. (Exit 58 is Silver Lane/Forbes Street/Burnside Avenue.) As for Danbury, US Route 6/202 is in the city from the NY border to I-84 Exit 4.

[shadyjay]

@shadyjay: CT Route 15 ends at Exit 57 WB in East Hartford. (Exit 58 is Silver Lane/Forbes Street/Burnside Avenue.) As for Danbury, US Route 6/202 is in the city from the NY border to I-84 Exit 4.

Yes, correct... but that's Roberts St, not Forbes Street.  Actually Forbes Street was an old I-84/CT 15/I-86 interchange between present Exits 58 & 59. 

For Danbury, was referring to US 6/202 going through the downtown section.  One of those old maps shows US 202 cosigned from Exit 4 to Exit 5, then local streets.  Back then US 202 took a route through Bethel over what is now CT 302 to get back to US 6, then was cosigned with US 6 to Farmington, then with CT 10 north.

By checking out Google Maps streetview, there is a very low railroad overpass 10'7" on Lake Ave, which I wonder if that was the reason for the rerouting out of the city, if only for one exit (when it went through Bethel) and later when it was rerouted to its present route. 

[abqtraveler]

@shadyjay: CT Route 15 ends at Exit 57 WB in East Hartford. (Exit 58 is Silver Lane/Forbes Street/Burnside Avenue.) As for Danbury, US Route 6/202 is in the city from the NY border to I-84 Exit 4.

Yes, correct... but that's Roberts St, not Forbes Street.  Actually Forbes Street was an old I-84/CT 15/I-86 interchange between present Exits 58 & 59. 

For Danbury, was referring to US 6/202 going through the downtown section.  One of those old maps shows US 202 cosigned from Exit 4 to Exit 5, then local streets.  Back then US 202 took a route through Bethel over what is now CT 302 to get back to US 6, then was cosigned with US 6 to Farmington, then with CT 10 north.

By checking out Google Maps streetview, there is a very low railroad overpass 10'7" on Lake Ave, which I wonder if that was the reason for the rerouting out of the city, if only for one exit (when it went through Bethel) and later when it was rerouted to its present route.

Before I-84 opened through Danbury in 1961 US-6 and US-7 and US-202 came into Danbury from the west along Lake Avenue and West Street. In downtown Danbury, US-6 and US-7 briefly turned north on Main Street, then east onto White Street, past Western Connecticut State University, then split a couple of blocks east of the university. There, US-7 turned north onto Federal Road, while US-6 continued east on Newtown Road. At that time, US-202 turned south on Main Street, and followed what is now CT-53 to CT-302, before turning east onto 302.

[jp the roadgeek]

Not sure if US 6 was moved onto I-84 and off of Newtown Rd at a later date.  I remember seeing old label scarring on the McDonald's on Newtown Rd referring to exiting onto Route 6 as late as about 15-20 years ago before they remodeled the building to modern standards.  As for US 202, it wasn't rerouted to its modern route between Danbury and Avon until 1974.  CT 25 used to go all the way to US 44 at the Five Corners in Canton via a duplex with US 7 from Brookfield to New Milford.

[yakra]

What's the status on the CT9 exit renumbering?

[jp the roadgeek]

What's the status on the CT9 exit renumbering?

No outward signs of anything on the stretch I drove today (current Exits 23-28).  I'm surprised the CT 72 renumber hasn't taken place yet, seeing that it was put to contract first.  However, I do see quite a few overturned signs in the DOT maintenance area off of Woodford Ave in Plainville (though many are quite small to be full size BGS's). 

[shadyjay]

Only thing I've seen on CT 9 (and several other roads, including I-691) is a large amount of light poles lying on the ground, sporadically spread.  This is not part of any replacement project.  On CT 9, I saw one down, then 10+ up, then another one down, etc etc.  Are that many getting hit or are they just failing? 

On I-691, I saw crews out the past couple days working on the ITMS, putting up high poles with cameras on them.  Crews were working the entire length of the road, from east of I-91 out to I-84.  There's a new VMS on CT 66 WB just before the start of the expressway (ground-mounted), and there will be others.