Connecticut News

[dantheman]

I feel like the most important I-395 improvement would be connecting it to/from the east on I-95.

I can't imagine that would be worth it.  If anything, make further improvements to Route 32 between 95 and 395; it cuts 5 miles out of the trip.

Absolutely.  Plus it is a better route from the Hartford area to New London without the existence of a completed CT 11.  New London should not be a control for CT 11 South from CT 2; traffic should take 2 to 395 to 32.

Regarding Route 11, now that there's not a snowball's chance in a blast furnace of it ever being completed to I-95, I think CTDOT would be wise to eliminate one of the carriageways and make it a Super-2 to save on maintenance costs. In its current form, it's way overbuilt and underutilized.

Well, that might actually cost more than maintaining the highway as-is.

In the short term, that may be true, but I could see a super-2 conversion happening once some part of 11 needs either major pavement rehab or a bridge replacement. There are surprisingly few bridges on 11 (not counting the two unused ones at the stub at CT 82, which could both be removed rather than replaced). It might not be practical to avoid two bridges at Lake Hayward Road given how the two carriageways align with the ramps onto CT 2. But, when the West Road overpasses or the CT 11 overpasses over Witch Meadow Road or the Eightmile River reach the end of their life, it might be worth it to extend the Exit 5 ramps to all meet one carriageway, build a median crossover somewhere near Exit 6, and put a divider (or even a double-yellow line with a rumble strip) down the middle of one carriageway to avoid the cost of a second bridge.

[Rothman]

I always get the feeling that CT is strapped for cash, so converting CT 11 would be way down their priorty list due to their preservation needs all over the state.  Because of the little traffic on CT 11, the road should not be deteriorating as quickly, after all.

Of course, when I was a kid, people used it just to get to Ocean Beach Park in the summer.

[shadyjay]

In the short term, that may be true, but I could see a super-2 conversion happening once some part of 11 needs either major pavement rehab or a bridge replacement. There are surprisingly few bridges on 11 (not counting the two unused ones at the stub at CT 82, which could both be removed rather than replaced). It might not be practical to avoid two bridges at Lake Hayward Road given how the two carriageways align with the ramps onto CT 2. But, when the West Road overpasses or the CT 11 overpasses over Witch Meadow Road or the Eightmile River reach the end of their life, it might be worth it to extend the Exit 5 ramps to all meet one carriageway, build a median crossover somewhere near Exit 6, and put a divider (or even a double-yellow line with a rumble strip) down the middle of one carriageway to avoid the cost of a second bridge.

You don't want to make it a median-less roadway... imagine all the head on collisions that would happen.  It wouldn't take much to throw up a jersey barrier. 

Ideally, if you can't extend Route 11 all the way to I-95/I-395, then it should get the US 7/Brookfield treatment and extend it a couple miles to meet Route 85 somewhere between Salem Four Corners and Chesterfield.  Then improve Route 85 from there, south.  Some early maps showed it as "proposed" to a point south of the four corners, merging into Route 85, then it was shown proposed to meet I-95 somewhere around the present Cross Road area, then rerouted again to meet at I-95/I-395. 

Again, wonder if the mile markers count up from that original proposed intersection with I-95 at Cross Road, or whether the route log was changed to have non-existant MP 0 be at I-95/I-395. 

[connroadgeek]

I don't see why they just don't finish 11. It's got what another mile or two before its original terminus, and it would pass through mainly middle of nowhere with few properties impacted. I'd have it end on 395 though a mile or so north of the 95 interchange. That way 11 can end at 395 with a simple trumpet and you could leave the 395/95 interchange as is.

[abqtraveler]

I don't see why they just don't finish 11. It's got what another mile or two before its original terminus, and it would pass through mainly middle of nowhere with few properties impacted. I'd have it end on 395 though a mile or so north of the 95 interchange. That way 11 can end at 395 with a simple trumpet and you could leave the 395/95 interchange as is.

During the last round of environmental studies conducted in the 2000s and 2010s, archeological crews CTDOT and the FHWA discovered artifacts that indicated the presence of colonial-era and pre-colonial ruins (both Native American and European colonist) along Route 11's path that could not be avoided. Those discoveries doomed any further attempt to complete Route 11 to I-95, and the FHWA and CTDOT abandoned further study of the extension thereafter.

[The Ghostbuster]

They should, at least, remove the rusting, deteriorating underpass that currently crosses CT 82. Since it will never be utilized, it should be torn down.

[abqtraveler]

They should, at least, remove the rusting, deteriorating underpass that currently crosses CT 82. Since it will never be utilized, it should be torn down.

Concur. IMHO, they should replace the incomplete interchange with a rotary.

[kurumi]

Compared to 11/85, using 2/395/693/32 to downtown New London is 5 miles longer, but all 4-lane divided highway (the main issues are 6 traffic lights on CT 32, and a high number of properties close to, or with driveways right on, CT 32).

When 11 starts needing rehab and reconstruction, suppose ConnDOT really pushes the 395/32 route (even with the concerns above), with improvements to the 2/395 interchange and other spots (such as a flyover from 395NB to 2WB, and making 395SB to 693SB a right-hand exit)

[Ted$8roadFan]

Not sure if this been discussed before. Given that CT-11 will likely never be completed, certainly not in my lifetime, I wonder if as an alternative, the state could widen CT-85 from CT-82 down to I-395.

[Rothman]

Not sure if this been discussed before. Given that CT-11 will likely never be completed, certainly not in my lifetime, I wonder if as an alternative, the state could widen CT-85 from CT-82 down to I-395.

I don't think CT 85 will be touched.  It's become developed along that stretch.

[abqtraveler]

Not sure if this been discussed before. Given that CT-11 will likely never be completed, certainly not in my lifetime, I wonder if as an alternative, the state could widen CT-85 from CT-82 down to I-395.

I don't think CT 85 will be touched.  It's become developed along that stretch.

Maybe just some spot improvements on Route 85 might happen, like adding turn pockets at major intersections. But it won't be feasible to widen Route 85 without displacing a lot of homes and businesses.

[RobbieL2415]

I'd build a loop flyover for traffic headed for CT 82 EB, remove the unused bridges and call it a day. I'm not sure how much benefit you would get by tagging on an extra mile to CT 11. Might be more advantageous to to the above and make improvements to CT 85 in Chesterfield, at the intersection with Chesterfield Rd.

[Mergingtraffic]

CT DOT was training on the never opened ramps to I-291 in Farmington.

Here's the Instagram link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuVKLxKONWF/?igshid=Y2I2MzMwZWM3ZA==

[bluecountry]

CTDOT is really annoying and stupid, driving from eastern CT on 95 yesterday at 10 PM to NY, SB in Orange they have TWO of the three lanes closed.  Really?  In summer?  Friday?  At 10 PM?  Really?  Good lord.
And there were other sections similar in Fairfield and Norwalk.   

[abqtraveler]

CT DOT was training on the never opened ramps to I-291 in Farmington.

Here's the Instagram link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuVKLxKONWF/?igshid=Y2I2MzMwZWM3ZA==

The link is broken.

[MikeTheActuary]

CT DOT was training on the never opened ramps to I-291 in Farmington.

Here's the Instagram link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuVKLxKONWF/?igshid=Y2I2MzMwZWM3ZA==

The link is broken.

It works for me.

[SectorZ]

CT DOT was training on the never opened ramps to I-291 in Farmington.

Here's the Instagram link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuVKLxKONWF/?igshid=Y2I2MzMwZWM3ZA==

The link is broken.

It works for me.

Same, and I don't even have an IG account.

[RobbieL2415]

I sense something is afoot....
Here I present one gantry... two views... I-84 westbound and eastbound at Exit 53 in East Hartford.  Note the signs appear new, but their backs reveal otherwise. 


DSC04329 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr


84EB-Exit53 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr



So what's going on here?  Are these temporary overlays over the existing signs?  The gantry is supposed to be replaced (at least according to the contract plans).  So, why bother going through the trouble to do temporary overlays?  And please, tell me, this is not the latest round of ConnDOT cost savings... "Hey!  We can make every sign out of sheet aluminum, even the exit signs, and just staple them to whatever sign is there already!"


Also, travelled Route 2 from East Hartford down to Colchester, along with all of Route 11.  Outside of some new mile markers and some covered-over gore signs, there isn't anything new to speak of.  Seems like most activity is still concentrating east of Colchester (for now).  On Route 11, just the sheets are replaced, mostly.  No new extrudeds yet, except onramp signage.

I saw those too. My only thought is that the contractor for the project is delayed in producing the replacement signage so ConnDOT did an in-house fix to last until it can be permanently replaced. It could also be temporary in order to increase nighttime readability. I'll bet the button copy on the BGSs in both directions has completely lost its reflection.

Personally I think its more egregious that they resurfaced the end of Exit 62 EB and did a piss-poor Crayola crayon job with the lines.

Update on this: I did notice CBYD markings on the curbs of both directions near the supports, so no doubt they are getting replaced.

[The Ghostbuster]

Did they ever figure out how they are going to reconstruct Interstate 84 through the Hartford area? Or has that plan gone dormant?

[SectorZ]

Did they ever figure out how they are going to reconstruct Interstate 84 through the Hartford area? Or has that plan gone dormant?

http://www.i84hartford.com/inthenews

They just kicked the can down a couple of decades, especially since another link (the FAQ) in there states the viaduct is structurally sound to 2040.

[Mergingtraffic]

I always get the feeling that CT is strapped for cash, so converting CT 11 would be way down their priorty list due to their preservation needs all over the state.  Because of the little traffic on CT 11, the road should not be deteriorating as quickly, after all.

Of course, when I was a kid, people used it just to get to Ocean Beach Park in the summer.

CT has so much money now.  Don't let them fool you

[Mergingtraffic]

I sense something is afoot....
Here I present one gantry... two views... I-84 westbound and eastbound at Exit 53 in East Hartford.  Note the signs appear new, but their backs reveal otherwise. 


DSC04329 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr


84EB-Exit53 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr



So what's going on here?  Are these temporary overlays over the existing signs?  The gantry is supposed to be replaced (at least according to the contract plans).  So, why bother going through the trouble to do temporary overlays?  And please, tell me, this is not the latest round of ConnDOT cost savings... "Hey!  We can make every sign out of sheet aluminum, even the exit signs, and just staple them to whatever sign is there already!"


Also, travelled Route 2 from East Hartford down to Colchester, along with all of Route 11.  Outside of some new mile markers and some covered-over gore signs, there isn't anything new to speak of.  Seems like most activity is still concentrating east of Colchester (for now).  On Route 11, just the sheets are replaced, mostly.  No new extrudeds yet, except onramp signage.

I saw those too. My only thought is that the contractor for the project is delayed in producing the replacement signage so ConnDOT did an in-house fix to last until it can be permanently replaced. It could also be temporary in order to increase nighttime readability. I'll bet the button copy on the BGSs in both directions has completely lost its reflection.

Personally I think its more egregious that they resurfaced the end of Exit 62 EB and did a piss-poor Crayola crayon job with the lines.

Update on this: I did notice CBYD markings on the curbs of both directions near the supports, so no doubt they are getting replaced.

I've noticed with several signing and light pole projects, that if there is a gantry or a light pole that is affixed to a bridge/jersey barrier, they skip it.

It seems that it's too much for them to complete. lol

On CT-8, they have a seperate sign project to do the gantries that are connected to jersey barriers and a new light pole project seems to be skipping the ones on the jersey barriers of the bridges.

As for CT-11, I thought FHWA pulled the plug b/c CT couldn't get it's act together to fund it, and that was the real final nail in the coffin.

Look at I-84, widening between Danbury and Waterbury was first mentioned in 2000.  Here we are in 2023 and they just can't seem to do it....and they aren't.  It was scaled back to Exits 3-8. 

[jp the roadgeek]

Apparently, CTDOT decided to get lazy and changed EB signage to match WB signage despite most traffic here heading for West Main St and Meriden.  Has a strong flavor of MassDOT using NYC as a control for I-84 from the pike eastbound

[RyanB06]

That sign has read "Southington" for as long as I can remember. Most traffic would be using Exit 4 for Chamberlain Highway to get to Meriden anyway, no?

[jp the roadgeek]

That sign has read "Southington" for as long as I can remember. Most traffic would be using Exit 4 for Chamberlain Highway to get to Meriden anyway, no?

Westbound has.  Eastbound (shown in my pic) always read West Main St and made no reference to CT 322.  Just wish they would've added a WEST banner here since the exit is at the eastern terminus of 322. Those that are going to the west side (including Hubbard Park and Castle Craig) would exit here.