Connecticut News

[Rothman]

Why isn't there an Exit 1 on I-95? I often wondered why the first Exit for Delavan Ave is Exit 2 in Greenwich.

Because it's mileage-based...

[The Ghostbuster]

The first exit on Interstate 95 has always been Exit 2, even when the roadway was part of the Connecticut Turnpike. When the mileage-based exit renumbering project is done in 2028, it will become Exit 1. Even after the conversion occurs, a bunch of exit numbers will remain unchanged since the current sequential exit numbers match the mileposts in many locations.

[MikeTheActuary]

Why isn't there an Exit 1 on I-95?

"Exit 1" is the New York state line.

[abqtraveler]

Why isn't there an Exit 1 on I-95? I often wondered why the first Exit for Delavan Ave is Exit 2 in Greenwich.

Back in the day, a lot of the old toll roads considered "Exit 1" to be a continuation of the toll road into the next state at the state line.  You saw this on the Mass Pike heading into New York, and the Ohio Turnpike heading into Indiana, where exit 2 was the last numbered exit before the toll road reached the state line.  The Connecticut Turnpike's first exit being Exit 2 implies this same logic was followed, where "Exit 1" was the continuation of the highway into New York.

[storm2k]

Why isn't there an Exit 1 on I-95? I often wondered why the first Exit for Delavan Ave is Exit 2 in Greenwich.

Back in the day, a lot of the old toll roads considered "Exit 1" to be a continuation of the toll road into the next state at the state line.  You saw this on the Mass Pike heading into New York, and the Ohio Turnpike heading into Indiana, where exit 2 was the last numbered exit before the toll road reached the state line.  The Connecticut Turnpike's first exit being Exit 2 implies this same logic was followed, where "Exit 1" was the continuation of the highway into New York.

The NJ Turnpike still does this. Exit 1 is the southern toll plaza in Penns Grove.

[vdeane]

Digging out my old PA map from the sequential days, the PA Turnpike did it too.  There's an exit 1 marker at the state line, with PA 60 (now I-376) as exit 1A and PA 18 as exit 2.  On the eastern end, US 13 is exit 29, no exit 30 is marked (presumably NJ and omitted for space) and the Northeast Extension resumes with exit 31 at Lansdale.

[roadman65]

Why isn't there an Exit 1 on I-95? I often wondered why the first Exit for Delavan Ave is Exit 2 in Greenwich.

Because it's mileage-based...

No its not. Connecticut is like New York.  Sequential like I-81 used to be.  And being from NYSDOT you should know that the Kirkwood exit was Exit 1 and not the continuation into Pennsylvania. 

Why isn't there an Exit 1 on I-95? I often wondered why the first Exit for Delavan Ave is Exit 2 in Greenwich.

Back in the day, a lot of the old toll roads considered "Exit 1" to be a continuation of the toll road into the next state at the state line.  You saw this on the Mass Pike heading into New York, and the Ohio Turnpike heading into Indiana, where exit 2 was the last numbered exit before the toll road reached the state line.  The Connecticut Turnpike's first exit being Exit 2 implies this same logic was followed, where "Exit 1" was the continuation of the highway into New York.

The NJ Turnpike still does this. Exit 1 is the southern toll plaza in Penns Grove.

NJ Turnpike is ticket based. Exit 1 is the toll plaza and not implied.  Connecticut Turnpike was barrier rolled.  You didnt  have to surrender a ticket to cross the state line. 

Plus I figured there was maybe a never built freeway proposed and they left it open for it like Delaware left Exit 2 open for the never built US 301 freeway.   Exit 9, was left unused on I-84 in Newburgh, NY for a never built road.

[Rothman]

Why isn't there an Exit 1 on I-95? I often wondered why the first Exit for Delavan Ave is Exit 2 in Greenwich.

Because it's mileage-based...

No its not. Connecticut is like New York.  Sequential like I-81 used to be.  And being from NYSDOT you should know that the Kirkwood exit was Exit 1 and not the continuation into Pennsylvania.

Measure the mileage from the state line to Exit 2 on I-95 in CT... ;D

Not sure what I-81 in NY has to do with the conversation...?

[jemacedo9]

Digging out my old PA map from the sequential days, the PA Turnpike did it too.  There's an exit 1 marker at the state line, with PA 60 (now I-376) as exit 1A and PA 18 as exit 2.  On the eastern end, US 13 is exit 29, no exit 30 is marked (presumably NJ and omitted for space) and the Northeast Extension resumes with exit 31 at Lansdale.

Exit 1 was the mainline toll barrier just before the PA/OH state line.
Exit 30 was the mainline toll barrier just before the PA/NJ state line.
So in that way, PA was similar to NJ.

[vdeane]

And being from NYSDOT you should know that the Kirkwood exit was Exit 1 and not the continuation into Pennsylvania. 

I-81 was never an old turnpike.  Old turnpikes did weird things like that.

Connecticut Turnpike was barrier rolled.  You didnt  have to surrender a ticket to cross the state line. 

And?  Barrier tolls are no stranger to this; back when the Massachusetts Turnpike was sequential, "exit 19" was the Allston-Brighton toll barrier.  That's why what is now exit 131 used to be exit 18 EB and exit 20 WB.

[shadyjay]

Drove I-384 for a sign check on Saturday.  Most new signs EB are up and most WB are now up except 1 or 2 overhead assemblies.  A few signs which are receiving new panels on existing supports have yet to be changed out.  All the shots are here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shadyjay/albums/72157674127546462/

Also, I have uploaded sign plans for all current signing projects in CT, including I-91 from Windsor Locks to Enfield, I-95 from Clinton to New London, and the Conn Tpke service plaza sign project, extrapolating the signs from the contract plans and placing them in one image for each direction.  See here:
flickr.com/photos/shadyjay/sets/72177720328590075/

[The Ghostbuster]

Any exit numbers posted on the US 6 Willimantic Bypass yet?

[shadyjay]

9/20/25 was my last travel on US 6 in that area.  Only 1 extruded sign had been changed in each direction.  I believe the exit gore signs had been replaced and new sheets for exit services were up, with exit numbers.  I was expecting a lot more progress in terms of extruded signs being up since it's been 6+ months since I've been out there.  Its off the beaten path for me to get out there.

[sharkyfour]

9/20/25 was my last travel on US 6 in that area.  Only 1 extruded sign had been changed in each direction.  I believe the exit gore signs had been replaced and new sheets for exit services were up, with exit numbers.  I was expecting a lot more progress in terms of extruded signs being up since it's been 6+ months since I've been out there.  Its off the beaten path for me to get out there.

A month later and not much has changed.  All BGS's being removed or replaced by sheet metal have been removed, and all new sheet metal signs are up, but I think that was done already at that point.  One of the on-ramp signs at Exit 89 has been replaced, but not the other.  The services sign on EB I think was replaced, but definitely references Exit 89 instead of "RTE 32" now.  And the ECSU/Willimantic Business District sign EB has been replaced.  Everything else is still old and without exit numbers.  This is all as of this past weekend.

[sharkyfour]

9/20/25 was my last travel on US 6 in that area.  Only 1 extruded sign had been changed in each direction.  I believe the exit gore signs had been replaced and new sheets for exit services were up, with exit numbers.  I was expecting a lot more progress in terms of extruded signs being up since it's been 6+ months since I've been out there.  Its off the beaten path for me to get out there.

A month later and not much has changed.  All BGS's being removed or replaced by sheet metal have been removed, and all new sheet metal signs are up, but I think that was done already at that point.  One of the on-ramp signs at Exit 89 has been replaced, but not the other.  The services sign on EB I think was replaced, but definitely references Exit 89 instead of "RTE 32" now.  And the ECSU/Willimantic Business District sign EB has been replaced.  Everything else is still old and without exit numbers.  This is all as of this past weekend.

Drove this both ways today - WB in the morning and EB in the evening.  Nothing new WB this morning.  EB, the 1/2 mile sign for Exit 89 had been replaced - one of the few new signs going up that's overhead instead of ground mount on a new support structure.

[MattCollopy]

Any exit numbers posted on the US 6 Willimantic Bypass yet?

Yes and I'm so happy about it, in late 2024 or early 2025 they completed I-384, I-291 and US 6 in Willimantic. I was also happy to see they did less significant roads like route 3 and route 17.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Considering the glacial pace at which things happen in Connecticut, this is progress. 

[MikeTheActuary]

I didn't expect this bit of Connecticut highway sign updating news.

https://www.wfsb.com/2025/11/06/2-men-arrested-attempting-steal-highway-sign-i-91-windsor/

[kurumi]

I didn't expect this bit of Connecticut highway sign updating news.

https://www.wfsb.com/2025/11/06/2-men-arrested-attempting-steal-highway-sign-i-91-windsor/

It looks like this was the sign: https://maps.app.goo.gl/taNdb8rBs19tt6DY7


I just have questions, you know:
* what was the plan to pull this off (figurative and literal) without being detected?
* why this particular sign? Scrap metal? Big-time roadgeeks? They hate trucks?

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe they tried to steal it as a souvenir when Interstate 91 is converted to mileage-based exit numbers in a couple years.

[RobbieL2415]

I didn't expect this bit of Connecticut highway sign updating news.

https://www.wfsb.com/2025/11/06/2-men-arrested-attempting-steal-highway-sign-i-91-windsor/

It looks like this was the sign: https://maps.app.goo.gl/taNdb8rBs19tt6DY7


I just have questions, you know:
* what was the plan to pull this off (figurative and literal) without being detected?
* why this particular sign? Scrap metal? Big-time roadgeeks? They hate trucks?

* I'm guessing the mast lights are turned off overnight due to construction in the area. Show up at 2:30/3am when there's very little traffic. Wear all black. Kinda like how the graffiti artists do it.

* That sign, to my knowledge, isn't being replaced when the new signs going up. It could very well be a roadgeek trying to save a piece of history.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Can't wait to see how this story ends.

[shadyjay]

I've had a handful of people think that I was part of this.  The fact that I have a white pickup didn't help matters.  Then they released the names/pics and everyone knew it wasn't me.  Granted, I have driven by it numerous times since it fell apart and have wondered, but even in pieces I'd imagine its pretty heavy.  I would never attempt this. 

Regardless, the similar sign SB just before the Dexter Coffin Bridge is being replaced in the Windsor Locks-to-Enfield project, so I'd assume when the time comes to replace signs through Windsor, this one would be replaced as well. 


Drove by a couple other 2023 spot replacement sites in CT (I-95 in West Haven, I-395 in Plainfield/Killingly) and haven't noticed any progress.  So I'm guessing it'll be 2026 when this project, which went out to bid in 2023, finally gets finished. 

[MikeCL]

I'm shocked no one has talked about the Speed camera being tested between the onramp between 3-2 SB on 95.

[MikeTheActuary]

I'm shocked no one has talked about the Speed camera being tested between the onramp between 3-2 SB on 95.

It's part of the limited use of speed cameras approved for ConnDOT to deploy in work zones.   They've been using them for a couple of years now.

The current zones with speed cameras are I-95 in Niantic, I-95 in Greenwich, and the I-91/I-691/Route 15 mess in Meriden.  They move the cameras around as their perceived need dictates; the current deployments are listed at https://portal.ct.gov/dot/programs/know-the-zone.

(This doesn't include all the municipal speed and red-light cameras that are being approved.)