[joelap]

Recently I've been turned on to the possibility of getting our first house in the shoreline area by a member of these forums. This is going to be the first house for my fiance and I. We are mid-20's, no kids yet but someday. I work on the Berlin/Newington line, she on the West Hartford/Newington line. We both love the shore but didn't consider it based on commute. Now I'm rethinking that logic, since none of the central CT areas appeal that much to us... every positive that one town has, it has a negative that another doesnt. I'm wondering how the commute would be from towns as west as East Haven to as east as Old Lyme to where we work, and what living is like down there. Obviously, our commute would be longer in general, but we are weighing the options of a longer commute in favor of living on the shoreline area. Plus, the taxes seem to be a bit lower... especially in Old Saybrook which is very low. It also doesnt help that not many homes are for sale these days because of the economy except foreclosures.

Can anyone recommend these areas or offer opinions or experience on the commute from these areas into central CT?

Thanks,

[JayCT]

It is about 40 miles from Old Saybrook to Newington (a little less to Berlin)basically right up Route 9. This trip would take about 45 minutes most days. The only problem on the trip would be getting through the traffic lights in downtown Middletown. It think these lights are what has kept a lot of people from moving down the shore and commuting to greater Hartford. I do know someone who does this commute and they do not seem to mind but to me it would get old very fast. What could help is that there are a number of car pools from Old Saybrook to Newington and Berlin. Jay

[joelap]

Jay, thanks. Where can I get info on car pools? I'm all too familiar with those Middletown lights as I used to work in Middlefield. I'd imagine if you hit them early enough you can avoid most of the traffic? I work with a guy who lives in Haddam, unsure why I haven't thought to ask him about the Middletown traffic. Otherwise Route 9 is a fairly lightly travelled route. I don't mind driving, I'm used to commuting over 45 minutes to college.

[heather121]

I've done the commute from East Lyme up Route 9 to New Britain for 8am and 9am and only encountered moderate traffic at the Middletown lights. If you do hit traffic it can be frustrating but it's only for 1-2 miles, and it's nothing compared to the traffic along I-95 or I-84.

[joelap]

Originally Posted by heather121

I've done the commute from East Lyme up Route 9 to New Britain for 8am and 9am and only encountered moderate traffic at the Middletown lights. If you do hit traffic it can be frustrating but it's only for 1-2 miles, and it's nothing compared to the traffic along I-95 or I-84.

Heather, about how long would you say that commute took? My fiance has been doing the waterbury to hartford thing, hitting that 84 traffic at both bottlenecks for years.

[heather121]

Originally Posted by joelap

Heather, about how long would you say that commute took? My fiance has been doing the waterbury to hartford thing, hitting that 84 traffic at both bottlenecks for years.

It took about 40 minutes, give or take. It's a fast drive too so it doesn't seem like it takes long. I'd definitely prefer 40 minutes/45 miles at the speed limit vs. 40 minutes/15 miles in heavy traffic.