[gmdealerguy]

I know Merritt Pkway nightmares have been dsicussed but I need to go over this:
Maybe I just dont understand or dont get it but WHY is Exit 48-44 going South always jammed in the early A.M.? I hit it at around 6:20-6:30 A.M. and its a parking lot. It can take 20-30...sometimes 40 minutes to go 4 exits.If you hit it after 6:30, its much worse. Every morning I try to see why. I mean, its packed and then you get past 44 and it opens up. Its clear right until exit 48. So, if you are already doing 60+ mph , why would Exit 48 put a halt on things? Why cant the flow you were at simply keep going? If it is clear past exit 44, then why does it become a parking lot for those 4 exits?
Its not like there are a ton of people getting on and off in those 4 exits.
Again, maybe its me and I am missing something important. Can some learn me?

[Stylo]

People can't keep a steady speed. It's just plain bad driving. The volume of cars probably peaks in that area, and combine the construction areas, blind-ish hills, exits/on-ramps, turns. I've seen people slow down from 70 to 45 when there's no traffic for seemingly NO reason, except maybe a slight hill or a slight turn. Also, when traffic starts, people tend to get distracted and react slowly to speed back up.

The Merritt needs 3 lanes in each direction on that stretch. I'm sorry, but screw the bridges and the rural "charm" of the road. You can keep it where there's less traffic.

[gmdealerguy]

Originally Posted by mkiv808

The Merritt needs 3 lanes in each direction on that stretch. I'm sorry, but screw the bridges and the rural "charm" of the road. You can keep it where there's less traffic.

Totally agree on that. I really wish there were a detour around that for me in the morning but my nav does not seem to show one. My morning commute is a breeze except for that area. I really hate 48-44..........as we get near Exit 50 in the morning, I start to get that sinking feeling.......

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by gmdealerguy

Totally agree on that. I really wish there were a detour around that for me in the morning but my nav does not seem to show one. My morning commute is a breeze except for that area. I really hate 48-44..........as we get near Exit 50 in the morning, I start to get that sinking feeling.......

There's definitely a detour. It's a little convoluted. You can get off at the Park Ave exit and go past Notre Dame high school, then go along Congress St. to Cross Highway.

[gmdealerguy]

Originally Posted by mkiv808

There's definitely a detour. It's a little convoluted. You can get off at the Park Ave exit and go past Notre Dame high school, then go along Congress St. to Cross Highway.

Great. Thanks!

[Cambium]

Ahhh, and here I was about to pull up an older thread just to rant on again. lol

1:30PM ON A THURSDAY AND I HIT A STANDSTILL ON I-95. Help meHelp meHelp me

Sign said "accident". 6 mile delay. So at a standstill my calculations were estimated to be waiting for....... ?

I was trying to go from Stratford to Greenwich this time ..

So I hit "detour" on my GPS......... got off Exit (I dont even remember)..Exit 19.. and after 5 minutes.... STANDSTILL ON BOSTON POST ROAD.. Traffic lights out, cops blocking the road from an accident. Help me Hit me Slap me

Hit "detour" again and my GPS tried to take me to I-95...So I stayed put.
Finally got to Merrit... Took over an hour at 2pm on a Thursday. Typical. 30 Miles = 1hr and 30 min using highways

I hope people looking to move into the area are aware of the traffic issues in Fairfield County.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Cambium

So I hit "detour" on my GPS......... got off Exit (I dont even remember)..Exit 19.. and after 5 minutes.... STANDSTILL ON BOSTON POST ROAD.. Traffic lights out, cops blocking the road from an accident. Help me Hit me Slap me

I saw that trying to get lunch today. There is a backroad route to exit 18 from there.

http://www.westportnow.com/index.php...omments/35171/

[gmdealerguy]

Originally Posted by Cambium

Ahhh, and here I was about to pull up an older thread just to rant on again. lol

1:30PM ON A THURSDAY AND I HIT A STANDSTILL ON I-95. Help meHelp meHelp me

Sign said "accident". 6 mile delay. So at a standstill my calculations were estimated to be waiting for....... ?

I was trying to go from Stratford to Greenwich this time ..

So I hit "detour" on my GPS......... got off Exit (I dont even remember)..Exit 19.. and after 5 minutes.... STANDSTILL ON BOSTON POST ROAD.. Traffic lights out, cops blocking the road from an accident. Help me Hit me Slap me

Hit "detour" again and my GPS tried to take me to I-95...So I stayed put.
Finally got to Merrit... Took over an hour at 2pm on a Thursday. Typical. 30 Miles = 1hr and 30 min using highways

I hope people looking to move into the area are aware of the traffic issues in Fairfield County.

Yep, I know what that is like. I learned to (most of the time) ignore the GPS and continue with the original route as it takes longer to route around everything. That happens alot to me. Last night, I got on the Merritt at 5:30 and it said 27 mile delay 18 miles ahead on my GPS and it tried in vain to reroute me onto 95,which I know is a mistake. I stayed on the Meritt and there was no traffic after all.I knew moving here about the traffic situation. Most of the time,we do ok....sometimes not. If the economy ever improves and we can get a job closer to home, we will.....but for now,the wife and I continue to work in NY where we have our job security. We will deal with the traffic as best we can.
On the other side of the coin though, the traffic problems need to be addressed to higher ups. Something needs to be done.......

[Stylo]

Someday navigation systems will be smarter. I'm amazed it hasn't happened yet.

[MrGompers]

Luckily for me I don't have to drive the Merritt everyday, so I'm not really familiar with this area. If the area has a series of curves or hills that's what's probably creating the problem. A group of cars in front of the pack hit the brakes and everyone behind them does the same. It's a wave of brakes lights.

A similar phenomenon happens in the Hartford area every day too on I-91 north. There's a curve after driving thru Hartford (Jennings Rd exit) and everyone hits the brakes there. I guess they think their cars can't take corners in excess of 50 mph. Once you get thru this area though traffic brakes up and begins to flow. Then at exit 36 you will get a back up again because it's going uphill. I suppose people are afraid of what might be on the other side and decide to slow down instead? Which I suppose is the prudent thing to do, but it's still annoying.

Where is my flying car already?