[JayCT]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

The Merritt Parkway is the only possible solution. Rip down all the bridges. Dual track high speed elevated rail line down the median cantilevered over the road. Widen it. Modern on ramps and off ramps with traffic metering stoplights on the on ramps. Leave I-95 to the trucks.

Never going to happen. The decision to save the Merritt was made long ago. Widening I-95 is the only option now. They may do HOT lanes or HOV lanes but that won't be decided for a while. Jay

[East of the River]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

The Merritt Parkway is the only possible solution. Rip down all the bridges. Dual track high speed elevated rail line down the median cantilevered over the road. Widen it. Modern on ramps and off ramps with traffic metering stoplights on the on ramps. Leave I-95 to the trucks.

I think I may have mentioned this before but the Merrit has historic status plus several non profits exist to protect it so widening it would be a challenge. One of the original designer apparently once did a sketch showing another 4 lanes added. Essentially creating 2 2 lane roads in each direction in order to maintain the bridges etc. I think that would be the only possible solution but I think people who live along the Merritt like the 150' of clearance the highway currently has so I would think there would be a lot of opposition.

I could see where you would have 2 lanes in either direction for on and off ramps the then center 2 lanes in either direction for thru traffic with cross overs. Kind of like the NJ turnpike and Gardenstate.

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Never going to happen. The decision to save the Merritt was made long ago. Widening I-95 is the only option now. They may do HOT lanes or HOV lanes but that won't be decided for a while. Jay

The decision needs to be changed.

Yeah , they sould take their time deciding. It's only been decades now that it's needed upgrading. What's a few more decades.

[BeyondtheHorizon]

Originally Posted by Raider111

The decision needs to be changed.

Yeah , they sould take their time deciding. It's only been decades now that it's needed upgrading. What's a few more decades.

Of course. These people are living in a dream world where lower fairfield county is rural like it was 50 years ago. Times change. If enough pressure is applied you can change anything, never mind a road. I could careless about some stupid bridges on that traffic congested hell hole of a highway. This is an example of very small minority of people looking to preserve a dumb highway "aesthetics" pushing their will on everyone else. Traffic needs to move.

[Raider111]

[quote=Sigequinox;48318806]

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

Studies? Don't give them too much credit. If they "studied" the project they would have realized it takes them a decade to do what for others takes months. CT is such a crap show because they don't have the money to do it right and they don't have the intelligence (ironic much?) to see even 1 move ahead, let alone 5. I doubt all the regulation and political BS needed to do anything in this sinkhole is helpig either. We are our own worst enemy.

I did a free Study of 95 this morning jogging on the overpass near my house. Took me about 5 seconds to conclude that it needs upgrading. When does construction begin?

[Sigequinox]

[quote=Raider111;48329858]

Originally Posted by Sigequinox

I did a free Study of 95 this morning jogging on the overpass near my house. Took me about 5 seconds to conclude that it needs upgrading. When does construction begin?

Lol. I don't know the first thing about construction management, civil engineering nor architecture, but I'll tell you what...you get CT to give me 600 million dollars, I'll add 10 miles of road (not 2) add two lanes (not one) and I'll have it done in 1 year, under budget and flowing like a fire hydrant in the ghetto of philly on a hot summer day. Only caveat is I get to keep the extra 200 million I won't need! Thanks!

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheHorizon

Of course. These people are living in a dream world where lower fairfield county is rural like it was 50 years ago. Times change. If enough pressure is applied you can change anything, never mind a road. I could careless about some stupid bridges on that traffic congested hell hole of a highway. This is an example of very small minority of people looking to preserve a dumb highway "aesthetics" pushing their will on everyone else. Traffic needs to move.

The historic designation was done a number of years ago. I always suspected that it was done on purpose for the very reason you stated. Some people don't want to see change.

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by Raider111

The decision needs to be changed.

Yeah , they sould take their time deciding. It's only been decades now that it's needed upgrading. What's a few more decades.

Designers in the 1920s designed these parkways (Palisades, Merritt, Taconic, Blue Ridge, etc) as a "way along a park" -- Hence a parkway. It is supposed to be a "drive thru a park" instead of walking. The idea was NOT to create a highway. They created the Merritt as visually appealing, aesthetic roadway to visit the park, and enjoy nature. It was supposed to be driven on Sunday with the top down, and taking it slow.

Having a visually-appealing parkway is an asset to an area. It increases the desirability, beauty, and enjoyment of park areas.

If you think that building a Cross Bronx Expressway thru the hills of FFC will improve your life -- then I have three Brooklyn bridges to Nevada to sell you.

Changing the Parkway into a highway -- that is visual pollution of the worst. You want a commuting highway? Go build another one. Don't destroy what took so much work to create.

[Henry10]

[quote=Sigequinox;48330076]

Originally Posted by Raider111

Lol. I don't know the first thing about construction management, civil engineering nor architecture, but I'll tell you what...you get CT to give me 600 million dollars, I'll add 10 miles of road (not 2) add two lanes (not one) and I'll have it done in 1 year, under budget and flowing like a fire hydrant in the ghetto of philly on a hot summer day. Only caveat is I get to keep the extra 200 million I won't need! Thanks!

Cost is one aspect, and although you are a STEM person, I am convinced more than 100% than you can do $ 60 mill per mile per year.

The other aspect is -- rights of way. You go to Ralph Lauren in Greenwich and tell him "I'll give you 2 mill for your land." He reaches in his pocket and writes a check for $ 20 mill to a mercenary to take care of you, and make sure you don't go back to Greenwich.

[BeyondtheHorizon]

Originally Posted by Henry10

Designers in the 1920s designed these parkways (Palisades, Merritt, Taconic, Blue Ridge, etc) as a "way along a park" -- Hence a parkway. It is supposed to be a "drive thru a park" instead of walking. The idea was NOT to create a highway. They created the Merritt as visually appealing, aesthetic roadway to visit the park, and enjoy nature. It was supposed to be driven on Sunday with the top down, and taking it slow.

Having a visually-appealing parkway is an asset to an area. It increases the desirability, beauty, and enjoyment of park areas.

If you think that building a Cross Bronx Expressway thru the hills of FFC will improve your life -- then I have three Brooklyn bridges to Nevada to sell you.

Changing the Parkway into a highway -- that is visual pollution of the worst. You want a commuting highway? Go build another one. Don't destroy what took so much work to create.

It is a COMMUTING highway. That's EXACTLY how it's used.

It is a highway. It's a major congested artery for commuter traffic for nyc/ffc cities like stamford. You can say it's supposed to be a road for scenic trips through a park, but it's NOT even close to that currently. This ideology is a PRIME example of a person living in a fantasy world. The "hills" of FFC that 15 runs through is not a rural area. It's the NYC burbs and connection to cities in CT and it's a major thoroughfare for people getting out of nyc and also over to boston. The major E/W arteries are 95, 15. That's simple reality. The first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have a problem. The road is not being used as designed and therefore should be widened into a proper interstate. Fixing the problem and recognizing is more important than burying your head in the sand and saying 15 is for leisurely "drive thru a park" in the rural hills of FFC