Proposed Reconfiguration of Route 17 On-Ramp to Route 9 Northbound

Proposed reconfiguration (click to enlarge)

 The State Department of Transportation has revealed its plans for changes in the access to Route 9 near Harbor Park. The existing and proposed plans are shown in the two figures. Public comment is welcomed until February 18, by email to Kevin Fleming, Transportation Planner.

Any person may ask the sponsoring agency to hold a public scoping meeting by sending such a request to the Kevin Fleming. If a public scoping meeting is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the sponsoring agency shall schedule a public scoping meeting. Such requests must be made by: Friday January 28, 2022.

Existing roads. I have rotated the 
DOT image to make comparisons with proposed plans

According to the DOT:

The purpose of the project is to reduce rear-end crashes at the Route 9 Northbound and Route 17 Northbound interchange. The project is needed because the existing stop-controlled on-ramp from Route 17 onto Route 9 Northbound has a crash rate significantly higher than similar adjacent freeway segments.  

The proposed work includes providing a full-length acceleration lane for Route 17 Northbound traffic to merge onto Route 9 north.  Reconstruction of Bridge No. 00638, which carries Route 9 over Union Street, will enable widening the structure to the west as well as addressing maintenance concerns.  The proposed acceleration lane will require realignment of Route 9 as well as the closure of the Harbor Drive on-ramp onto Route 9.

After closure of the Harbor Drive on-ramp, the Main Street Extension and Route 17 interchange will serve as primary access to Route 9 for the southern section of downtown Middletown.  Proposed improvements at Route 17 and Main Street Extension include adding dedicated turn lanes to Main Street Extension and the Route 17 off-ramps.  The Route 17 Southbound off-ramp will be realigned and signalized to create a more typical intersection configuration. New sidewalks will be added to the east side of Main Street Extension to increase pedestrian connectivity.

Additionally, a noise wall is anticipated along the Route 17 Northbound on-ramp from Main Street Extension.

 The plans and maps are HERE.

Further Information from DOT is below the jump.

Written comments and/or requests for a public scoping meeting should be sent to (E-Mail preferred):

Name: Kevin Fleming, Transportation Planner

Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Bureau of Policy and Planning

Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131

E-Mail: Kevin.Fleming@ct.gov 

 

If you have questions about the scoping for this project, contact (E-Mail preferred):

Name: Salvatore Aresco, P.E., Project Manager

Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Office of Engineering and Construction

Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131

Phone: 860-594-3239

E-Mail: Salvatore.Aresco@ct.gov 

 

Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to the sponsoring state agency:

Name:  Ms. Alice M. Sexton

Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Office of Legal Services

Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131

Phone: 860-594-3045

E-Mail: Alice.Sexton@ct.gov

 

What Happens Next: The sponsoring agency will make a determination whether to proceed with preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) or that the project does not require the preparation of an EIE under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). A Post-Scoping Notice of its decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.