Connecticut Highway News

We're no longer in the 1960s and '70s, the "golden age" of roadbuilding where dozens of miles of new expressway were built and many more planned. For better or worse, it's much more difficult and costly to build a highway now.

However, there are still several major highway projects underway now or proposed for future; and several general highway-related topics under discussion. This page attempts to summarize what's going on currently.

This task has become a lot more difficult now that ConnDOT has discontinued press releases on its website, and has never done a stellar job of updating progress on highway projects.

See: General topics (below); Under Construction (or scheduled for it); or Proposed projects.

General Topics

Reviving tolls on Connecticut highways?

In December 2001, the state Transportation Strategy Board released a draft report studying ways to raise money for needed highway improvements. One of six alternatives was to reinstate tolls on some (unspecified) Connecticut highways.

After a multiple fatality accident at an Interstate 95 tollbooth in 1983, tolls became unpopular in Connecticut and were removed from all highways and bridges. (The two state ferries, on Routes 148 and 160, still charge a toll.)

Gov. John Rowland says he opposes reinstating tolls. The other problems with tolls still remain: safety, traffic flow, and possible reduced federal funding. However, other nearby states such as New York and Massachusetts still operate toll roads.

Sources:

"Report suggests tolls, other ways to raise cash." Associated Press, Dec. 5, 2001 (thanks to T466)

Highways in contention

A handful of highway projects have a non-zero chance of coming to fruition, but each has an array of interests for and against it.

Route 2A bypass north of Poquetanuck. Another span on the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge, and a new four-lane divided highway from Route 12 to Route 2, would complete a four-lane Route 2A from I-395 to Route 2. Casino traffic prompted a study of the area. Area towns and both casinos oppose the project; the DOT seems mostly alone in favor. The Mashantuckets are mulling over their own Route 2 improvement ideas.
US 6 expressway, closing the gap between Bolton Notch and Willimantic. The 11-mile, two-lane section of US 6 there is nicknamed "Suicide 6" for its safety record. The expressway plan is decades old, and once part of the proposed I-84 to Providence.
US 7 expressway. The "Super 7" portion between Danbury and Norwalk was officially cancelled by the state a few years ago. But four-laning in New Milford was started in late 2002, and a Brookfield bypass should be under way soon.
Route 11, completing the Salem to Waterford link. The state and area towns generally are in favor; environmental agencies (US Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA) are against. A compromise alignment and low-profile parkway were arrived at in 2001.
Route 72 extension into Bristol, as a four-lane parkway. Could be underway in late 2003.

Scheduled or Under Construction Now

in order of probable completion date

Route	Project	Schedule	Cost	Comments
CT 80	Widen another mile to four lanes, to reach just east of CT 22	finish July 2002	$6M	Delayed, not complete
CT 12 CT 184	Replace overpass, revamp interchange	finish Oct. 2003 (done?)	$5.4M
I-84	Add 3rd thru lane WB along CT 72 overlap	Finish April 2004 (done?)	- - -
I-84	Widen to 6 lanes from west of Austin Rd (exit 25A), Waterbury, to Marion Rd (exit 30), Southington. Complete exit 25A; reconfigure exit 26 (Rt. 70)	finish Oct. 2005	~$160M
CT 94	Relocate north for about 1 mile east from Keeney St; Keeney and old Hebron Ave. form four-way signalized intersection with realigned CT 94	Started April 2002; finish July 2004	$3.2M
US 7 CT 15	Add four ramps to finish interchange in Norwalk (details)	---	---
CT 14A	Reconstruct from I-395 to Sterling town line, Plainfield	finish fall 2004	$6.5M	From what I've read, you won't recognize it... smoothed hills and curves, 40 ft wide
US 7	Widen to four lanes between Veterans Bridge and Lanesville Road, New Milford	May 2005	$12M	A later project extends the widening to the Brookfield border; this will connect with an extension of the US 7 expressway bypassing Brookfield center
CT 15	Replace steel-grate Sikorsky Bridge over Housatonic River	Dec. 2005	$84M	In Nov. 2003, one span of the new bridge opened, and traffic was moved to it. Then demolition of the old bridge started. New bridge will have 6 lanes (4 main, 2 auxiliary) and no steel grate.
US 7	Widen to four lanes between Lanesville Road and end of Brookfield Bypass, New Milford	to bid June 2004	- - -	Four separate projects involved here.
I-95	Branford; widen to 6 lanes between Lake Saltonstall and Exit 54. Widen Cedar Street to 5 lanes under I-95.	to bid Nov. 2001; 488-day schedule	to bid	Details: see www.i95newhaven.com
I-95	New Haven; widen from Woodward Ave. to East Haven town line. Eight lanes west of frontage roads; six lanes east	to bid March 2004	to bid	Details: see www.i95newhaven.com
I-95	Bridgeport; add auxiliary lanes, reconfigure interchanges	March 1997 - Dec. 2004	$230M	Three projects. One completed Dec. 2000; another completes Oct. 2003.
CT 66	Widen to four lanes, from end of CT 66 expressway in Middlefield to vicinity of downtown Middletown.	start Sept. 2003; finish in 2+ years	- - -	Opposed by Middlefield and others, who proposed alternative ways of enhancing safety. Project goes near reservoirs.
CT 72	Extend as four-lane parkway into Bristol.	To bid March 2004, and take 18 months to finish.	$22M
US 7	Widen to four lanes from Grist Mill (end of US 7 expwy) to Route 33, Wilton	to bid March 2004	- - -
CT 34	New bridge over Housatonic River upstream from Stevenson Dam	to bid June 2004	- - -
I-84	Widen to six lanes (from four) between Waterbury and end of six-lane section in Southington. Add ramps to exit 25A. Reconfigure several other interchanges.	Est. completion Oct. 2005	- - -
US 6	Reconstruct in Brooklyn, no major widening	Est. completion August 2006	$14.4M
US 7	Extend four-lane expressway west of Brookfield center to New Milford town line; continue as four-lane boulevard to US 202/CT 67 split.	New Milford: begin 2002; Brookfield: to bid June 2004	$70 million	In June 2000, it appeared the plan would be scaled back considerably -- a move unpopular with Brookfield. Now the state is proceeding with the original plan.

Under consideration

in order of route number

Route	Project	Schedule	Cost	Comments
I-84	Add two lanes (widen to 6 lanes, and 8 in some areas) and reconfigure most interchanges, from New York state line to Housatonic River.	Possibly by 2010	$260M
I-84	Add two lanes (widen to 6 lanes) from Southbury (exit 13) to Waterbury (exit 23). Probable interchange reconfigs as well. Under study.	25 years?	- - -	Public hearings were held in Southbury and Waterbury, Jan. 2001
I-84	Reconfigure some interchanges (45, 46) in West Hartford area.	5 years?	- - -	A proposal to widen to eight lanes was declined. A separate busway from New Britain to Hartford is planned.
I-95	Relocate below ground level in New Haven Wharf area (west of I-91)	- - -	- - -
I-95	Widen Q-Bridge to 10 lanes; widen to 6 lanes in Branford; reconfigure 95/91/34 interchange.	Bridge: Feb. 2010; Branford: 2002-2005; I-91 intchg: 2012	- - -	See I95NewHaven.com
I-95	Add lanes as needed to make I-95 at least six lanes from New Haven to Rhode Island	15 years	$750M
US 6	Four-lane expressway; 11 miles from Bolton Notch to US 6 expressway in Columbia.	- - -	- - -	This is the "Suicide 6" area. Expressway has been planned and debated for 35 years, once as part of I-84 to Providence. No interchanges planned between Bolton and Columbia.
US 6	Limited-access divided highway and associated greenway, from Windham to I-395 and possibly Providence.	- - -	- - -	Feasibility study recommended. This is the cancelled I-84 corridor.
CT 2	Four-lane controlled access bypass, easterly of existing CT 2, from CT 164 to I-95	- - -	- - -	One alternative for addressing tourist and casino traffic. No decision yet.
CT 2A	Four-lane controlled access bypass, northerly of existing CT 2A, from Mohegan Sun Blvd. to CT 2/117. Includes new or reconstructed span over Thames River, to provide four lanes.	- - -	$113M
CT 9	Add interchanges in Middletown; remove at-grade intersections and traffic lights	- - -	- - -	Not on state construction schedules as of Oct. 2003. Might take 5 to 7 years.
CT 11	Four-lane expressway; extend from CT 82 in Salem to I-95 in Waterford/East Lyme.	by 2010?	- - -	This project has significant state and local support; US Army COE, EPA seem to be sticking points. This might be complete before 2010.
CT 25	Widen to four lanes, from end of CT 25 expressway in Monroe to Mile Hill Road in Newtown.	- - -	- - -	A full expressway for CT 25 was canceled. The new road might have a median. Mile Hill Road, recently widened to four lanes, provides access to I-84 at exit 11 (CT 34).