CT Governor Malloy wants I-84 and I-95 widened in the state

[empirestate]

One point that hasn't been made in a while is that the Merritt is super fun to drive with its current alignment, especially if you have a nice vehicle that can handle high speed cornering.  I hit it at 630AM and there is no traffic then.  What little traffic there is knows that the min speed is 70mph and that you should average more than that. 

That last turn headed south before you hit NY or the first turn headed north when you enter the state is truely a joy with its perfect banking.  It's like being on a race track.  It's always fun and scary to see out of state drivers come it too hot for their comfort and panic with the brake mid turn. 

I would be afriad that any further updating to the road in greenwich would take away all the fun.  Especially if we are comaring it to the GSP, which is zero fun from end to end. 

While at first it may seem jejune to want to preserve a road for its "fun", if you remember that parkways were initially built at least partially for recreational purposes, the idea doesn't seem too far-fetched.

That said, I actually enjoy going the speed limit (50) on the Merritt. It causes all of the other traffic to zoom by all at once in a huge left-lane phalanx, leaving myself relatively unperturbed in the right lane. In fact, I'm beginning to find that's an upside of left-lane abusers everywhere: sure, they're in the wrong lane if they're not passing anyone, but as a result I often end up with the right lane damn near to myself, a non-congested roadway almost completely separate from the traffic-choked left and center lanes alongside of me.

[Pete from Boston]

One point that hasn't been made in a while is that the Merritt is super fun to drive with its current alignment, especially if you have a nice vehicle that can handle high speed cornering.  I hit it at 630AM and there is no traffic then.  What little traffic there is knows that the min speed is 70mph and that you should average more than that. 

That last turn headed south before you hit NY or the first turn headed north when you enter the state is truely a joy with its perfect banking.  It's like being on a race track.  It's always fun and scary to see out of state drivers come it too hot for their comfort and panic with the brake mid turn. 

I would be afriad that any further updating to the road in greenwich would take away all the fun.  Especially if we are comaring it to the GSP, which is zero fun from end to end. 

While at first it may seem jejune to want to preserve a road for its "fun", if you remember that parkways were initially built at least partially for recreational purposes, the idea doesn't seem too far-fetched.

That said, I actually enjoy going the speed limit (50) on the Merritt. It causes all of the other traffic to zoom by all at once in a huge left-lane phalanx, leaving myself relatively unperturbed in the right lane. In fact, I'm beginning to find that's an upside of left-lane abusers everywhere: sure, they're in the wrong lane if they're not passing anyone, but as a result I often end up with the right lane damn near to myself, a non-congested roadway almost completely separate from the traffic-choked left and center lanes alongside of me.

I take the Merritt in large part because it's a more enjoyable drive.  I know lots of folks who do.

As I alluded to upthread, I think Connecticut has come around on this idea of late, and the road borders on being a tourist attraction unto itself.  This and its greater speed might actually be the best reason to toll it again (prestige pricing?).

Lastly, in reference to your point about driving the Merritt slow, I will say that if I am in no hurry and it's daytime, the Merritt is one of very few places I don't mind getting caught in slow traffic.  I get a lot of good close-up looks at those overpasses that usually require books or the HAER. 

[mc78andrew]

One point that hasn't been made in a while is that the Merritt is super fun to drive with its current alignment, especially if you have a nice vehicle that can handle high speed cornering.  I hit it at 630AM and there is no traffic then.  What little traffic there is knows that the min speed is 70mph and that you should average more than that. 

That last turn headed south before you hit NY or the first turn headed north when you enter the state is truely a joy with its perfect banking.  It's like being on a race track.  It's always fun and scary to see out of state drivers come it too hot for their comfort and panic with the brake mid turn. 

I would be afriad that any further updating to the road in greenwich would take away all the fun.  Especially if we are comaring it to the GSP, which is zero fun from end to end. 

While at first it may seem jejune to want to preserve a road for its "fun", if you remember that parkways were initially built at least partially for recreational purposes, the idea doesn't seem too far-fetched.

That said, I actually enjoy going the speed limit (50) on the Merritt. It causes all of the other traffic to zoom by all at once in a huge left-lane phalanx, leaving myself relatively unperturbed in the right lane. In fact, I'm beginning to find that's an upside of left-lane abusers everywhere: sure, they're in the wrong lane if they're not passing anyone, but as a result I often end up with the right lane damn near to myself, a non-congested roadway almost completely separate from the traffic-choked left and center lanes alongside of me.

As long as you are having fun too, that's all that matters.

[spmkam]

That's what makes the Merritt one of the most pleasurable drives around!

[cpzilliacus]

That's what makes the Merritt one of the most pleasurable drives around!

If you are down in Northern Virginia, the same can be said about the George Washington Memorial Parkway (mostly maintained by the National Park Service). 

If you start at the south end, at the front door to George Washington's Mount Vernon in Fairfax County and head north, the Parkway starts out as a four lane arterial. There are lots of nice views of the tidal Potomac River and the Maryland shoreline on the other side.  As you approach the City of Alexandria, the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge comes in to view, then the parkway becomes an arterial street (Washington Street) through Alexandria.  Once out of Alexandria, the Parkway resumes, and you pass National Airport, with some big office buildings peeking over the trees on your left, and the Monumental Core of Washington, D.C. appears on the right across the river.  As you pass under I-395, the Pentagon is visible on the left, and then you cross a small bridge and you are in the District of Columbia (there's no sign), with nice views of the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. 

Then you go under the Arlington Memorial Bridge and back into Virginia (again, no sign), under I-66.  The massive buildings of Rosslyn are visible on your left, and more of Washington across the river on your right.  You then pass under the massive Key Bridge (U.S. 29), and the Parkway's elevation starts to rise steadily up onto the palisades on the Virginia side of the Potomac River (it's enough of a rise that you can feel the change in temperature sometimes).  There are two overlooks with nice views of the river's gorge and the Chain Bridge that runs over the river below.   There's Fort Marcy, a historic Union Army fort from the Civil War.  Then some sharp curves and Va. 123 (Chain Bridge Road), then the back entrance to the Central Intelligence Agency and Turkey Run Park.  A few more bridges and you arrive at the north end of the Parkway at I-495.

Except in Alexandria, the speed limit varies from 35 MPH to 50 MPH, and is at times strictly enforced by the U.S. Park Police.

[Brandon]

That's what makes the Merritt one of the most pleasurable drives around!

Likewise for Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.  The Lake on one side, city on the other, and parks on both sides.  It's good enough, a song was written about it.  The limit is 40-45 mph, not really enforced by the Chicago Police Department, and traffic will go 50-70 mph depending upon the section of LSD you're on.

[spmkam]

Yes, LSD reminded me of the Merritt in its unenforced speed limit and occasional sharp curves.

[vdeane]

depending upon the ... LSD you're on.

Yes, LSD reminded me of the Merritt in its unenforced speed limit and occasional sharp curves.

Reading so much more into this than you intended...

[spmkam]

that is for you to decide

[cpzilliacus]

Yes, LSD reminded me of the Merritt in its unenforced speed limit and occasional sharp curves.

The few times I have driven it, I have noticed that the Connecticut State Police appeared to have a consistently visible and active presence on the Connecticut Turnpike.

Perhaps more than any other segment of I-95 from South Carolina to Maine (I have not been on I-95 in Georgia or Florida since the 1980's), with the exception of the speed trap that Emporia, Virginia runs - and the similar one that Hopewell, Virginia runs on I-295.

[connroadgeek]

The few times I have driven it, I have noticed that the Connecticut State Police appeared to have a consistently visible and active presence on the Connecticut Turnpike.

Perhaps more than any other segment of I-95 from South Carolina to Maine (I have not been on I-95 in Georgia or Florida since the 1980's), with the exception of the speed trap that Emporia, Virginia runs - and the similar one that Hopewell, Virginia runs on I-295.

Really? Where? There is no where for them to sit and target cars really. In my experience there is rarely speed enforcement on I-95 through Connecticut. Mostly because I-95, at least through Fairfield and New Haven counties, rarely affords one the ability to speed. If you can even go the speed limit, even on the weekend, then it's your lucky day. Once in a while you will see a trooper sitting at the weigh station just over the state line, but usually if you see a state police officer he is just in his car working on his computer (and waiting on the inevitable accident to respond to) not really paying attention. The lower part of Fairfield County is a long way from the state police barracks in Bridgeport, and they aren't really needed down here for law enforcement since 95 passes through cities that have their own police departments.

[cpzilliacus]

The few times I have driven it, I have noticed that the Connecticut State Police appeared to have a consistently visible and active presence on the Connecticut Turnpike.

Perhaps more than any other segment of I-95 from South Carolina to Maine (I have not been on I-95 in Georgia or Florida since the 1980's), with the exception of the speed trap that Emporia, Virginia runs - and the similar one that Hopewell, Virginia runs on I-295.

Really? Where? There is no where for them to sit and target cars really. In my experience there is rarely speed enforcement on I-95 through Connecticut. Mostly because I-95, at least through Fairfield and New Haven counties, rarely affords one the ability to speed. If you can even go the speed limit, even on the weekend, then it's your lucky day. Once in a while you will see a trooper sitting at the weigh station just over the state line, but usually if you see a state police officer he is just in his car working on his computer (and waiting on the inevitable accident to respond to) not really paying attention. The lower part of Fairfield County is a long way from the state police barracks in Bridgeport, and they aren't really needed down here for law enforcement since 95 passes through cities that have their own police departments.

Coming north, late on a Friday night last month, I must have seen at least 8 or 9 unmarked Connecticut trooper cars in Fairfield County.  It was super-congested in part because of a miserable construction zone around Norwalk that narrowed the northbound side to one lane.  I saw two or three more between New Haven and the Rhode Island border. 

I came south on during the day the following Sunday, and there were not as many as Friday night, but I still observed 5 or 6 of them (and yes, it was badly congested through Stamford, and much of the trip between New Haven and the New York border was no better than level-of-service E).

Perhaps that is not a representative sample?   

For the sake of comparison, I have driven I-95 across Virginia (which is about 177 miles) and frequently not seen even one Virginia trooper car the entire way.

[KEVIN_224]

The weigh station is on the northbound side in Greenwich, roughly at mile marker 2. I wonder if the old toll plaza would've been there in the past? (I wasn't on I-95 in Fairfield County until about 1990 myself.)

Any idea how long that construction will be going on in Norwalk? I really can't see how adding a lane is going to do much in that area, being just south of the US Route 7 junction.

Likewise, isn't there widening on I-95 east of New Haven? I've only been on that portion once, oddly enough (from east of Exit 48 to the Old Saybrook area).

[Mergingtraffic]

The few times I have driven it, I have noticed that the Connecticut State Police appeared to have a consistently visible and active presence on the Connecticut Turnpike.

Perhaps more than any other segment of I-95 from South Carolina to Maine (I have not been on I-95 in Georgia or Florida since the 1980's), with the exception of the speed trap that Emporia, Virginia runs - and the similar one that Hopewell, Virginia runs on I-295.

Really? Where? There is no where for them to sit and target cars really. In my experience there is rarely speed enforcement on I-95 through Connecticut. Mostly because I-95, at least through Fairfield and New Haven counties, rarely affords one the ability to speed. If you can even go the speed limit, even on the weekend, then it's your lucky day. Once in a while you will see a trooper sitting at the weigh station just over the state line, but usually if you see a state police officer he is just in his car working on his computer (and waiting on the inevitable accident to respond to) not really paying attention. The lower part of Fairfield County is a long way from the state police barracks in Bridgeport, and they aren't really needed down here for law enforcement since 95 passes through cities that have their own police departments.

Coming north, late on a Friday night last month, I must have seen at least 8 or 9 unmarked Connecticut trooper cars in Fairfield County.  It was super-congested in part because of a miserable construction zone around Norwalk that narrowed the northbound side to one lane.  I saw two or three more between New Haven and the Rhode Island border. 

I came south on during the day the following Sunday, and there were not as many as Friday night, but I still observed 5 or 6 of them (and yes, it was badly congested through Stamford, and much of the trip between New Haven and the New York border was no better than level-of-service E)..

Perhaps that is not a representative sample?   

For the sake of comparison, I have driven I-95 across Virginia (which is about 177 miles) and frequently not seen even one Virginia trooper car the entire way.

I usually see tons of DOT maintainence going on.  I see more DOT trucks in CT than other states it seems. 

[vdeane]

If you can even go the speed limit, even on the weekend, then it's your lucky day.

And to think the day I was in CT in 2011 I went 65 the whole way down 95 (speed limit 55).

[froggie]

But you assume that highway capacity (or lack thereof) will inhibit residential growth. 

It's been a matter of faith among persons opposed to highways and automobile use that this is true, but I believe it is false.  I can name plenty of places in and around metropolitan D.C. that have grown (some enormously) without the highways being expanded, and you probably can too.

I do not believe this to be patently false (as apparently opposed to you and some of the others on this forum).  It is but one factor to consider.  Rapid growth in areas without a developed road network can be attributed to other factors.  The DC area, for example, has seen TREMENDOUS growth in government jobs and defense contractors, which would more than adequately explain the growth you cite in the DC area.  Another factor to consider, especially from the 60s into the 80s, is that a lot of this development was made on the assumption that the freeway network in many cities would be significantly bigger than what was actually built.

Another factor to consider:  census data and commuter surveys suggest there is a ceiling on what the average person considers an acceptable commute time...I most often see a figure in the area of 30 minutes.  Whether consciously or subconsiously, people will tend to do something different if their commute time is significantly higher, whether it be find a new job closer in or move closer to their workplace.  Of course, there are those who do long commutes (as we saw with that WTOP super-commuter article a couple months ago), but these are exceptions, not the rule.

[cpzilliacus]

But you assume that highway capacity (or lack thereof) will inhibit residential growth. 

It's been a matter of faith among persons opposed to highways and automobile use that this is true, but I believe it is false.  I can name plenty of places in and around metropolitan D.C. that have grown (some enormously) without the highways being expanded, and you probably can too.

I do not believe this to be patently false (as apparently opposed to you and some of the others on this forum).  It is but one factor to consider.  Rapid growth in areas without a developed road network can be attributed to other factors.  The DC area, for example, has seen TREMENDOUS growth in government jobs and defense contractors, which would more than adequately explain the growth you cite in the DC area.  Another factor to consider, especially from the 60s into the 80s, is that a lot of this development was made on the assumption that the freeway network in many cities would be significantly bigger than what was actually built.

Agreed regarding the D.C. area - especially in Northern Virginia, for six primary reasons:

(1) Home to a large mass of the bigger-spending federal agencies (the Pentagon and other DoD activities, most of the "intelligence" agencies (CIA, NRO, parts of DIA and (now) all of NGA and a lot of federal government "back office" work);

(2) Two Interstate connections (I-66 and I-395) to downtown D.C., plus two or three expressway connections (depending on how you count - I consider the  G.W. Memorial Parkway to be expressway north of I-66, plus U.S. 50 (Arlington Boulevard) plus the southern part of the GWMP to be expressway as far south as Alexandria) - Maryland has exactly one, I-295, which serves a lot of Virginia traffic as well due to its location;

(3) Home to National Airport and Dulles Airport;

(4) Much easier to get development approvals in Virginia than it is in Maryland;

(5) Some of the best public school systems in the United States (Montgomery County, Md. have been on a long and steady decline, and the public schools in Prince George's County, Md. were badly damaged by busing, the voter-imposed property tax cap known as TRIM and resulting white and black flight); and

(6) Virginia in general and Fairfax County, Va. especially have had very shrewdly-run economic development operations (and have lured many large private-sector employers to leave Maryland, especially Montgomery County, and move south of the Potomac River).

As for assumptions about freeways getting built, that was a major reason why Md. 200 finally got built over the objections of many (especially) in Montgomery County and (less so) in Prince George's County.  Montgomery County, since the 1970's, approved tens of thousands of new homes in several master plan areas with the assumption that Md. 200 would eventually get built, and removing the road from the planning maps would have effectively ended development approvals across a large swath of the county, since that future highway  capacity would have disappeared and been impossible to recreate elsewhere.

Another factor to consider:  census data and commuter surveys suggest there is a ceiling on what the average person considers an acceptable commute time...I most often see a figure in the area of 30 minutes.  Whether consciously or subconsiously, people will tend to do something different if their commute time is significantly higher, whether it be find a new job closer in or move closer to their workplace.  Of course, there are those who do long commutes (as we saw with that WTOP super-commuter article a couple months ago), but these are exceptions, not the rule.

Though so-called agricultural preservation efforts in both Montgomery County and Prince George's County have played a role in so-called "leapfrog" development to the next tier of counties out (all of these Maryland counties have been on the receiving end of leapfrog development: Frederick, Carroll, Howard, Anne Arundel, Queen Anne's, Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles).

I have also heard that thirty minute figure, but commuter trip length also matters, and this is where Northern Virginia has excelled, in spite of many severely congested highways.  Job growth there means that while congestion can be bad, the distance is not so long.  Maryland, on the other hand, has some of the longest trip lengths and commute times in the United States, which does not reflect well on statewide (or especially) county and municipal planning.   

[jp the roadgeek]

If you can even go the speed limit, even on the weekend, then it's your lucky day.

And to think the day I was in CT in 2011 I went 65 the whole way down 95 (speed limit 55).

Must have been at 4 AM on a holiday.

[signalman]

If you can even go the speed limit, even on the weekend, then it's your lucky day.

And to think the day I was in CT in 2011 I went 65 the whole way down 95 (speed limit 55).

Must have been at 4 AM on a holiday.

I was able to go 65-70 on I-95 on a Sunday morning last October.  Didn't get slowed down really until the construction at I-91.

[spmkam]

Expanding the Merritt is basically out of the question for that reason.

[mc78andrew]

One point that hasn't been made in a while is that the Merritt is super fun to drive with its current alignment, especially if you have a nice vehicle that can handle high speed cornering.  I hit it at 630AM and there is no traffic then.  What little traffic there is knows that the min speed is 70mph and that you should average more than that. 

That last turn headed south before you hit NY or the first turn headed north when you enter the state is truely a joy with its perfect banking.  It's like being on a race track.  It's always fun and scary to see out of state drivers come it too hot for their comfort and panic with the brake mid turn. 

I would be afriad that any further updating to the road in greenwich would take away all the fun.  Especially if we are comaring it to the GSP, which is zero fun from end to end. 

While at first it may seem jejune to want to preserve a road for its "fun", if you remember that parkways were initially built at least partially for recreational purposes, the idea doesn't seem too far-fetched.

That said, I actually enjoy going the speed limit (50) on the Merritt. It causes all of the other traffic to zoom by all at once in a huge left-lane phalanx, leaving myself relatively unperturbed in the right lane. In fact, I'm beginning to find that's an upside of left-lane abusers everywhere: sure, they're in the wrong lane if they're not passing anyone, but as a result I often end up with the right lane damn near to myself, a non-congested roadway almost completely separate from the traffic-choked left and center lanes alongside of me.

I never really looked at the speed limit on the merrit but noticed it this weekend.  There are a few signs for 55, but they are very far and few between.  This was between stamford and Westport.

Also, it's worth noting...what kind of shape do you think 95 would be in without the merrit?  I think the answer is to finish 6 laning 84 with the hope that thru traffic bound for or from New England will opt for that route over 95.

[Duke87]

That said, I actually enjoy going the speed limit (50) on the Merritt.

I never really looked at the speed limit on the merrit but noticed it this weekend.  There are a few signs for 55, but they are very far and few between.  This was between stamford and Westport.

The speed limit on the Merritt is 50 from the state line until the Guinea Road overpass just within Stamford. From there it is 55 the rest of the way. The reason for the lower limit in Greenwich is that there are a couple of sharp curves along that segment that have been notorious crash sites, which has prompted ConnDOT to try various things to rectify the problem. First it was milling the pavement on and approaching those curves (this has since been undone). Then it was adding flashing lights to the curve advisory signs. Then it was lowering the speed limit, initially to 45 before later raising it back to 50.

All that said, speed limit enforcement on the parkway is... not terribly common, and not terribly strict. Go ahead and go 70, ain't no one stopping you. Same goes for I-95.

I think the answer is to finish 6 laning 84 with the hope that thru traffic bound for or from New England will opt for that route over 95.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey both seem to think so. Both have signs directing New England bound traffic to use I-84 - the former on I-81 approaching the I-78 split, the latter on I-287 approaching the NY state line.

[spmkam]

That said, I actually enjoy going the speed limit (50) on the Merritt.

I never really looked at the speed limit on the merrit but noticed it this weekend.  There are a few signs for 55, but they are very far and few between.  This was between stamford and Westport.

The speed limit on the Merritt is 50 from the state line until the Guinea Road overpass just within Stamford. From there it is 55 the rest of the way. The reason for the lower limit in Greenwich is that there are a couple of sharp curves along that segment that have been notorious crash sites, which has prompted ConnDOT to try various things to rectify the problem. First it was milling the pavement on and approaching those curves (this has since been undone). Then it was adding flashing lights to the curve advisory signs. Then it was lowering the speed limit, initially to 45 before later raising it back to 50.

All that said, speed limit enforcement on the parkway is... not terribly common, and not terribly strict. Go ahead and go 70, ain't no one stopping you. Same goes for I-95.

I think the answer is to finish 6 laning 84 with the hope that thru traffic bound for or from New England will opt for that route over 95.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey both seem to think so. Both have signs directing New England bound traffic to use I-84 - the former on I-81 approaching the I-78 split, the latter on I-287 approaching the NY state line.

Route 7 in Norwalk is largely uneneforced too. Many people will do 80 on the Merritt.


With regard to those New England bound traffic, that looks over the cities in southern New England such Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and Providence that are much better accessed via 287 to 95.

[mtantillo]

With regard to those New England bound traffic, that looks over the cities in southern New England such Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and Providence that are much better accessed via 287 to 95.

Well technically, they are in New England.  However Stamford, Bridgeport, and maybe New Haven seem to have more in common with/more ties to NYC than to New England, and are generally not what people think of when they say New England.  Providence is the only city that is definitely culturally New England and bypassed by these signs. 

This is why FHWA doesn't allow "control regions" on signs and instead wants an actual city.  If Hartford were used on those signs, it would be obvious that the detour route only works for those intending to pass through Hartford. 

[Alps]

If you can even go the speed limit, even on the weekend, then it's your lucky day.

And to think the day I was in CT in 2011 I went 65 the whole way down 95 (speed limit 55).

Must have been at 4 AM on a holiday.

I was able to go 65-70 on I-95 on a Sunday morning last October.  Didn't get slowed down really until the construction at I-91.

I've averaged 70 MPH all the way down I-95. Gotta drive like a New Jerseyan. And no, there's really no enforcement.