[AntonioR]

Hartford's Aetna Viaduct is among the top ten urban highways that deserve to be torn down, according to a new study by Congress for the New Urbanism. The yearly report, "Freeways without Futures" lists the elevated stretch of I-84 (in no particular order of futureless-ness) with such highways as I-10 in New Orleans, I-81 in Syracuse, and I-70 in St. Louis.

The highway, which reached the end of its projected 40-year life span in 2005, is the most heavily trafficked in the state at 175,000 vehicles a day. The DOT says that's more than three times its originally intended capacity. (Ack!)

Some possibilities include lowering the highway, rebuilding city structures, and re-aligning the railroad. Changes could cost "maybe $3 billion," Redeker said, but could also save up to $1 billion.

Source of image and cited text: Why Hartford's I-84 Viaduct Is a Futureless Freeway | WNPR News

Thoughts?

[mikelizard860]

84 through downtown harford out to exit 41 is a complete mess and as cited completely overcapacity.

[jaydez]

I think its time for the state to revisit the I-291/rt-9 beltway around the city. They started it with the rt-9 stack in Farmington but it got blocked.

Getting traffic around the city would to wonders for traffic.

[mikelizard860]

Originally Posted by jaydez

I think its time for the state to revisit the I-291/rt-9 beltway around the city. They started it with the rt-9 stack in Farmington but it got blocked.

Getting traffic around the city would to wonders for traffic.

Yes especially with the boom in population in avon/farmington area over the past 30 years.

[mrgmrg]

My ideal solution for Hartford would be: blow it up and start again.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by jaydez

I think its time for the state to revisit the I-291/rt-9 beltway around the city. They started it with the rt-9 stack in Farmington but it got blocked.

Getting traffic around the city would to wonders for traffic.

It will never happen. When Ella Grasso gave into the special interests back in the 70's, it almost permanently set the future for traffic in the Hartford area forever. To complete the circle the state would have to fight towns like Farmington, West Hartford, Bloomfield and Windsor, none of whom would want a highway going through their nice quiet town. Jay

[JayCT]

I do not know why they are calling I-84 a highway without a future. It has a future and that is to continue to be the busiest highway in the state. The section of I-84 by the Aetna is has the highest daily volume of traffic of any highway in Connecticut. That will not change. It is way too important to say it has no future. What it should say is what that future would be. It is clear that something has to be done and it will take years to determine what that is and how we are going to pay for it. The Capitol Region Council of Goverments and CTDOT have a plan to change the highway to eliminate the viaduct and make it fit better into the area but it will likely cost billions. We will see if we can figure it out how to pay for it. Jay

[pulpfiction]

Uhhh....perhaps I'm missing something, Jay...but all of these towns have highways running through them (WH and Windsor both have more than one). Moreover, Windsor and Bloomfield hardly constitute a 'nice quiet town'.

Originally Posted by JayCT

It will never happen. When Ella Grasso gave into the special interests back in the 70's, it almost permanently set the future for traffic in the Hartford area forever. To complete the circle the state would have to fight towns like Farmington, West Hartford, Bloomfield and Windsor, none of whom would want a highway going through their nice quiet town. Jay

[EricS39]

The I-84/I-91 tunnel is really an awesome construction. I love this design as it is a work of modern art.

You then get off Exit 48 for a non-congested route into downtown Hartford. The way the highway exit runs straight into park space and neighborhood sidewalks is symbolic of how Connecticut has contrast of rural and urban and it's all oneness of a people of a state.

My favorite is how you have magical layers

Union station rail overpassing Asylum street (tunnel walkway)

I84 ducking under Asylum. Replaced by a park with housing surrounding IT

And then Ford street has this magical 5th street option that goes under an Arch like something out of a royal 16th century English castle.

And to the west, the union of Farmington and Asylum...with the beautiful Mark Twain House

Here's the best part. You can just walk under this gorgeous tunnel and catch a Greyhound Bus to wherever you want to go to get out if you had enough Connecticut, but you will miss it quickly.

[EricS39]

Now....if downtown Hartford were the only thing there was and the next place of civilization were 600 miles away? Ickkkkk