[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Henry10

It’s 2018. Technology of road building, surface, subsurface or even elevated roadways— that’s not what it used to be even 20 years ago. CT needs to think big and long term. It’s embarrassing to look at congestion in Danbury or Waterbury for example. There is nothing there to justify it. No tourism, no attractions, nothing.

Nothing there? Despite what you think, there obviously are a lot of people working in these cities otherwise the highways would be empty. Danbury has 83,000 residents with over 44,000 jobs in it. Waterbury is one of the state’s largest cities with more than 46,000 jobs. There are jobs all along the I-84 corridor so of course there is traffic congestion. Jay

[CT_Native]

The traffic in Danbury is insane (specifically eastbound) because I-84 goes down to two lanes (in each direction) at the Route 7 exit. Most who go through CT now seem to take I-84, instead of I-95 or the Merritt, and it bottlenecks hard. There should really be no stretch of I-84 that is less than three lanes (in each direction) IMO.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by CT_Native

There should really be no stretch of I-84 that is less than three lanes (in each direction) IMO.

Yep

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by CT_Native

The traffic in Danbury is insane (specifically eastbound) because I-84 goes down to two lanes (in each direction) at the Route 7 exit. Most who go through CT now seem to take I-84, instead of I-95 or the Merritt, and it bottlenecks hard. There should really be no stretch of I-84 that is less than three lanes (in each direction) IMO.

Merrit Parkway is most dangerous highway in the state because of two lanes, no one allowing you to merge onto highway, no one allow you to switch lanes, drivers honked at you or tailgated you for doing 70 mph on right lane, the hills, night time driving on Merrit you better say your prayers

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by CT_Native

The traffic in Danbury is insane (specifically eastbound) because I-84 goes down to two lanes (in each direction) at the Route 7 exit. Most who go through CT now seem to take I-84, instead of I-95 or the Merritt, and it bottlenecks hard. There should really be no stretch of I-84 that is less than three lanes (in each direction) IMO.

The state has plans to widen I-84 in Danbury but I am not sure if there is sufficient funding for it. A lot will depend on who is elected Governor in November. If Stefanowski is elected, I am not sure it will get built since the Republicans have no plans to increase transportation funding. Lamont has indicated he would support tolls to tap out-of-state drivers who use our roads for free while we pay to drive on other state's roads. You could also likely kiss any improvements being made on I-84 in Waterbury and Hartford and on I-95 and likely see reduced mass-transit service as he tries to reduce taxes. I would love to see change in our state but I just wish it was not so radical. Where is the reasonable middle of the road candidate this state needs? Jay

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Nothing there? Despite what you think, there obviously are a lot of people working in these cities otherwise the highways would be empty. Danbury has 83,000 residents with over 44,000 jobs in it. Waterbury is one of the state’s largest cities with more than 46,000 jobs. There are jobs all along the I-84 corridor so of course there is traffic congestion. Jay

Yes, there is nothing there to justify that congestion. I can see congestion on GW Bridge, or even in FFC -- much more vitality, hundreds of thousands of jobs, main route to New England, but in the backwoods?

I thought CT was one of the richest and most educated states in the country. You wouldn't know it if you looked at transportation.

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Merrit Parkway is most dangerous highway in the state because of two lanes, no one allowing you to merge onto highway, no one allow you to switch lanes, drivers honked at you or tailgated you for doing 70 mph on right lane, the hills, night time driving on Merrit you better say your prayers

They built the Merritt as a Sunday stroll, not interstate highway. It is what it is, and it is not what it is not. CT has definitely a lack of highways in that SW-NE corridor thru FFC.

[davwve]

Originally Posted by Henry10

Yes, there is nothing there to justify that congestion. I can see congestion on GW Bridge, or even in FFC -- much more vitality, hundreds of thousands of jobs, main route to New England, but in the backwoods?

Reduction of lanes, poor routing (at least in Waterbury), and even worse driving habits. The current I84 project in Waterbury is addressing at least 2 of those.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Henry10

Yes, there is nothing there to justify that congestion. I can see congestion on GW Bridge, or even in FFC -- much more vitality, hundreds of thousands of jobs, main route to New England, but in the backwoods?

I thought CT was one of the richest and most educated states in the country. You wouldn't know it if you looked at transportation.

Nothing? I would not call 44,000 jobs and 83,000 residents nothing. And this is just Danbury itself and does not include other adjacent towns like Ridgefield, Bethel and Brookfield where more people live and work. It is kind of obvious there are a lot of people in that area so it is not nothing. Jay

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Nothing? I would not call 44,000 jobs and 83,000 residents nothing. And this is just Danbury itself and does not include other adjacent towns like Ridgefield, Bethel and Brookfield where more people live and work. It is kind of obvious there are a lot of people in that area so it is not nothing. Jay

No comparison to Stamford/Norwalk/Bridgeport/New Haven corridor. Major employers, main corridor to New England, museums, aquarium, zoo, universities, beaches, hundreds of restaurants.