Connecticut News

[vdeane]

"I-691 is north-south" >_>

Reminds me of something NCDOT once said...

[abqtraveler]

"I-691 is north-south" >_>

And for that reason, I'm not a huge fan of the I-691 designation.  I would think an "I-X84" would be better, with MP 0 at I-84. 

At the time that the freeway that would become I-691 was being completed, the only available X84 designation (following AASHTO's rules for designating 3-digit interstates) would be 884, since 284 and 484 were still assigned to unbuilt freeways in East Hartford and Hartford, respectively, and of course 684 that cuts through the southwesternmost corner of the state. They could have gone against the numbering rules and assigned it 584 or 784 (since 184 and 384 are already assigned to other routes).

But...then again...there has been on-and-off talk over the past 50 years about designating Route 8 as an interstate as well (X84, X95, or maybe even X90 if the freeway were extended to the Mass Pike). Connecticut actually applied for an interstate designation for Route 8 in 1972, that was rejected by the FHWA and AASHTO due to some sections, particularly between Shelton and Seymour and through Naugatuck not meeting interstate design standards.

[jp the roadgeek]

"I-691 is north-south" >_>

Reminds me of something NCDOT once said...

A couple of other routes are logged differently from the way they are signed.  CT 72 is also logged north-south, but signed east-west.  For this same reason, CT 72's exits were renumbered from east to west earlier this year, despite old numbers going west to east.  Going the other way, CT 31 and CT 67 are mostly signed north-south, but are logged east-west. 

[Mergingtraffic]

Mileage-based exits are supposed to eliminate confusion, but this just seems more confusing. 

Which means just because the FHWA MUTCD says so, doesn't really mean it makes sense in all areas.

BTW, I-684 starts its mileage and exits at I-287, not I-84, so, why couldn't 691's mileage and exits have remained the same.

AND, don't forget, in addition to the BEGIN CT-66 sign being taken down, the 4 EXPRESSWAY ENDS extruded signs have been removed as well.  In their place, a tilted, small, sheet metal sign EXPRESSWAY ENDS in their place.

[vdeane]

"I-691 is north-south" >_>

Reminds me of something NCDOT once said...

A couple of other routes are logged differently from the way they are signed.  CT 72 is also logged north-south, but signed east-west.  For this same reason, CT 72's exits were renumbered from east to west earlier this year, despite old numbers going west to east.  Going the other way, CT 31 and CT 67 are mostly signed north-south, but are logged east-west. 

I was referring to how NCDOT insisted I-587 was north-south because it's a spur of I-87 when it is clearly east-west.

[The Ghostbuster]

Heck, North Carolina's temporary Interstate 495 was signed north-south when it too was east-west. Interstate 691 should have always been considered an east-west highway.

[Mergingtraffic]

The two-lane exit from I-95 NB to CT-8-25 is now two-lanes.  Funny how 25 comes first on the sign, but later exits itself later on up the road indicating 8 is the main route.



I-84 WB has signs again underneath

[shadyjay]

Wow... the CT 8/25 exit widening went quick!  Good job, ConnDOT, proving construction projects don't have to drag on for years!
The I-84 lower deck signs don't look bad, either.  At least they kept the pull-thru.  Kind of important, especially when you have exits on the left and on the right.

Great... more new signs for me to get pics of!

[jp the roadgeek]

Wow... the CT 8/25 exit widening went quick!  Good job, ConnDOT, proving construction projects don't have to drag on for years!
The I-84 lower deck signs don't look bad, either.  At least they kept the pull-thru.  Kind of important, especially when you have exits on the left and on the right.

Great... more new signs for me to get pics of!

Wish they would have corrected the order of 8 and 25 (should just truncate 25 to the split, but I digress), but CTDOT did it in kind.  Maybe when southbound signage is replaced/exits renumbered it will be corrected.

[Duke87]

Wish they would have corrected the order of 8 and 25 (should just truncate 25 to the split, but I digress), but CTDOT did it in kind.  Maybe when southbound signage is replaced/exits renumbered it will be corrected.

The sign just matches local convention. Traffic reporters have long called it "the 25/8 connector", so 25 comes first.

[kurumi]

Wow... the CT 8/25 exit widening went quick!  Good job, ConnDOT, proving construction projects don't have to drag on for years!
The I-84 lower deck signs don't look bad, either.  At least they kept the pull-thru.  Kind of important, especially when you have exits on the left and on the right.

Great... more new signs for me to get pics of!

Wish they would have corrected the order of 8 and 25 (should just truncate 25 to the split, but I digress), but CTDOT did it in kind.  Maybe when southbound signage is replaced/exits renumbered it will be corrected.

Wish they would have corrected the order of 8 and 25 (should just truncate 25 to the split, but I digress), but CTDOT did it in kind.  Maybe when southbound signage is replaced/exits renumbered it will be corrected.

The sign just matches local convention. Traffic reporters have long called it "the 25/8 connector", so 25 comes first.

Yeah, it's not in numerical order, but in early planning stages the freeway was called Route 25. Route 8 was a relative newcomer, having been relocated to Bridgeport from its original Stratford terminus in 1951.

In almost every other entrance BGS (such as Chopsey Hill Rd), the order is 8/25.

[connroadgeek]

The Trumbull//Waterbury on that APL looks weird off-center, and that 8 north exit only sign is missing its crown like the 8 south exit only sign has.

[Mergingtraffic]

Seems like everyday there's a new sign or sign modification on I-84 in Waterbury.

Based on these new signs, I think Exit 21 EB, is permanently closed.  Officially, the project of removing Exit 21 is supposed to start in 2025 or so.  So, it looks like the current rehab communicated with the future project and will keep it closed and create an AUX lane between CT-8 and exit 22.

I say that b/c the Exit 22 signs have had the Meadow St/Bank St removed from the 1/2 mile advanced sign which was put up last month.  The other exit 22 signs now have EXIT ONLYs on them.  (A look at the future plans show Exit 22 eventually being a 2-lane off-ramp. So will the Exit 22 "exit now" sign be modified again?)


Now look closely at the old sign that was put up last month.  The old one had demountable copy, the current one has adhesive letters.  Is it a new sign or just an overlay? Also note, the Exit 22 exit tab border is thicker on the newer sign. If it is a new sign, why keep the extra space?


Here's the new advance exit 22 arrow sign.  Btw, the EXIT ONLY is over the wrong lane.  It's over a current thru-lane.

Here's the old (old, meaning a month lol), new Exit 22 arrow sign.  The new sign has adhesive lettering and the month old version had demountable copy and a thinner exit tab border.



Lastly, another new sign and will this be modified once Exit 21 is officially removed?  They plan to make it a two-lane off ramp by restriping with an option lane.

[rover]

So the 8/25 NB exit from I-95 NB now is two lanes?
How long did it take?

[shadyjay]

I want to say the contract plans were released a year ago.  All they really had to do was widen a couple hundred foot section from the gore, onto the ramp.  Most of the ramp was already 2 lanes wide. 

They also restriped I-95 North so the previous exit only lane is now an exit only lane and an "option" lane.  I haven't seen it in person, but they probably restriped over part of the already-wide shoulder for a short distance.

[Mergingtraffic]

A view under the Waterbury mixmaster.  You have 6-lanes total on the bottom street level.  At left: 2 going north on Meadow St.  Middle: 2 going south to I-84 and right: 2 going south as well, on Meadow St going towards Bank St. 

The DOT plans to take out the right 2 lanes to Bank St and make them a protected bike lane.
The other 4 will be configured to 3.  One NB on Meadow St, one SB on Meadow St and a left turn lane for I-84.  Sigh.
This will be done in coordination of the EB I-84 Exit 21 off-ramp removal.

[shadyjay]

Checked out the new signage in relation to the Exit 27-A widening earlier today...

95NB-Exit26-2 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

95NB-Exit27-3 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

95NB-Exit27A by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

Also, here we are in early November, and the "seasonal - MID MAY TO MID SEPT" tourist info center on I-95 NB in Westbrook CT is still open.  No idea when (if?) the barricades will go up for the season, but its still "business as usual" at the facility.

[Alps]

A view under the Waterbury mixmaster.  You have 6-lanes total on the bottom street level.  At left: 2 going north on Meadow St.  Middle: 2 going south to I-84 and right: 2 going south as well, on Meadow St going towards Bank St. 

The DOT plans to take out the right 2 lanes to Bank St and make them a protected bike lane.
The other 4 will be configured to 3.  One NB on Meadow St, one SB on Meadow St and a left turn lane for I-84.  Sigh.
This will be done in coordination of the EB I-84 Exit 21 off-ramp removal.

Not under the Mixmaster ,which is the west shore with 8. This is the next interchange east.

[abqtraveler]

Here's a timelapse video of the I-95 southbound bridge over Route 33 in Westport being replaced over the weekend using the lateral slide method.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y4hCnlCT6E

[Mergingtraffic]

A view under the Waterbury mixmaster.  You have 6-lanes total on the bottom street level.  At left: 2 going north on Meadow St.  Middle: 2 going south to I-84 and right: 2 going south as well, on Meadow St going towards Bank St. 

The DOT plans to take out the right 2 lanes to Bank St and make them a protected bike lane.
The other 4 will be configured to 3.  One NB on Meadow St, one SB on Meadow St and a left turn lane for I-84.  Sigh.
This will be done in coordination of the EB I-84 Exit 21 off-ramp removal.

Not under the Mixmaster ,which is the west shore with 8. This is the next interchange east.

People here refer to the whole structure as the mixmaster.

[Alps]

A view under the Waterbury mixmaster.  You have 6-lanes total on the bottom street level.  At left: 2 going north on Meadow St.  Middle: 2 going south to I-84 and right: 2 going south as well, on Meadow St going towards Bank St. 

The DOT plans to take out the right 2 lanes to Bank St and make them a protected bike lane.
The other 4 will be configured to 3.  One NB on Meadow St, one SB on Meadow St and a left turn lane for I-84.  Sigh.
This will be done in coordination of the EB I-84 Exit 21 off-ramp removal.

Not under the Mixmaster ,which is the west shore with 8. This is the next interchange east.

People here refer to the whole structure as the mixmaster.

Ah. I figured it was just the interchange on the west side, but I'll trust you on it.

[kramie13]

Is there a reason why there is no "exit 1" on I-95?  When the exit numbers switch to a mile-based system exit 2 will become exit 1 but right now I find it really weird that the sequential numbers start at 2.

[jp the roadgeek]

Is there a reason why there is no "exit 1" on I-95?  When the exit numbers switch to a mile-based system exit 2 will become exit 1 but right now I find it really weird that the sequential numbers start at 2.

Supposedly, the old Greenwich toll plaza was considered "Exit 1".

[The Ghostbuster]

I always found that strange, although not as strange as the CT 15 Merritt Parkway starting at Exit 27 (although I do know why it did, though I still think it should have started as Exit 1).

[RobbieL2415]

I always found that strange, although not as strange as the CT 15 Merritt Parkway starting at Exit 27 (although I do know why it did, though I still think it should have started as Exit 1).

CT 15's exit numbers end at 91, at least until mile-based exits come to the route.
And I-84 (old I-86) used to end at 105 before the CT 15 concurrency was removed.
The idea was to have a continuous set of exit numbers starting at the interchange at the Cross Bronx and I-678.