[mikelizard860]

Anyone know if they are ever going to fix that substandard section of route 9 that it dangerous and causes huge backups for miles everday? There's accidents in that area all the time. I mean seriously...traffic lights in the middle of a highway?

It's always that stupid downtown business assoc. that fights it. Don't these genius's realize that building a proper flyover offramp would alleviate congestion in the area, therefore making the downtown area even more popular. West hartford center is WAY off the highway, yet has no problem attracting people. I'm a fan of downtown middletown. It's very nice. Getting rid of the lights and building proper off ramps would make me more likely to visit the restaurants/stores.

[willow wind]

I don't think there is any plan to fix that mess. Yes, whatever engineers designed that disaster should be fired. However, it's a mess basically only at peak commuter hours and sometimes, during the weekend during holiday shopping season.

If you avoid those times, it's really not that much of a problem. Or to get into town, if a a time when you know RT 9 is going to be backed up, just get off at the Bow Lane exit if coming from the south. That will take you into the Main St. area by the hospital. Or, if from the north, get off at the West St./ RT 3 exit in Cromwell and come down Rt 3 ( Newfield St.). Some lights in either case and stop and go, but at least you are moving.

[mikelizard860]

One of the on ramps made the "most dangerous intersections". You think they'd fix this rather than spending a small fortune on a bus service that will get little use in new britain. I'm all for public transit, but let's be honest about that.

Connecticut's biggest crash producing road difficult to remedy - Hartford Courant

"bout every three days, a motorist on Route 17 trying to merge onto Route 9 in Middletown cranes his or her neck to look for an opening in the traffic, hits the accelerator when a gap appears, and in the blink of an eye plows into the back of another car that was merging onto the highway.

That well-traveled on-ramp is, according to state Department of Transportation records, the most reliable accident producer in the state. In 2008, there were 120 rear-end crashes serious enough for state police to respond, and fender-benders there have climbed into the triple digits nearly every year going back a decade.

Pictures: 10 Most Dangerous Intersections In Connecticut
But while the state for five straight years has designated the spot as the No. 1 stretch of road "exhibiting the most severe safety needs," there is no help in sight for drivers who misread the intersection, or those they crash into.

The state DOT has a multimillion dollar plan to fix the dangerous Route 17 merge and deal with the frustrating and curious traffic signals that bring Route 9 traffic to a halt in Middletown. But in annual reports on the state's most hazardous roads, the agency offers a sobering prognosis: "Due to funding constraints, this project is on hold.""

[mikelizard860]

Originally Posted by willow wind

I don't think there is any plan to fix that mess. Yes, whatever engineers designed that disaster should be fired. However, it's a mess basically only at peak commuter hours and sometimes, during the weekend during holiday shopping season.

If you avoid those times, it's really not that much of a problem. Or to get into town, if a a time when you know RT 9 is going to be backed up, just get off at the Bow Lane exit if coming from the south. That will take you into the Main St. area by the hospital. Or, if from the north, get off at the West St./ RT 3 exit in Cromwell and come down Rt 3 ( Newfield St.). Some lights in either case and stop and go, but at least you are moving.

The Cromwell exit backs up and can take 15 minutes just to get off the exit when 9 is backed up almost to 91. Ends up taking the same amount of time most of the time if your destination is portland or downtown middletown or points south. After going through route 3 you then get caught in downtown traffic which has horrific traffic lights.(takes like 5 minutes for one light to change at 66/main st intersection and you'll likely miss the light and have to wait twice at rush hour) Also, route 3 gets some traffic when 9 is backed up bad.

[JayCT]

Over the years there have been a number of studies of this road but none had ever panned out. The City has been very concerned about losing access to and from the highway as well as maintaining the views of the river. There really is not easy (or cheap) answer so nothing has been done or likely will be done for years. All I can say is contact some local politicans and complain. Jay

[pulpfiction]

Per usual with this state, nothing has/will happen with Route 9--despite the fact that the traffic lights are a serious safety hazard.

That said--it really isn't THAT huge of a traffic issue, relatively speaking. It isn't much of a commuter road (isn't Middletown's corporate presence mostly along I-91?). It can be an issue when heading to the beach on a weekend from the Hartford area, however.

[keekski]

I think that section of RT 9 is a PITA for everybody but escpecially anybody coming up from Westbrook, Old Saybrook, the Lymes. I commuted from Westbrook to Glastonbury for a short time and it really is the gateway for people on that section of the shoreline and the western lower river valley into Hartford & up to Bradley.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by mikelizard860

Anyone know if they are ever going to fix that substandard section of route 9 that it dangerous and causes huge backups for miles everday? There's accidents in that area all the time. I mean seriously...traffic lights in the middle of a highway?

It's always that stupid downtown business assoc. that fights it. Don't these genius's realize that building a proper flyover offramp would alleviate congestion in the area, therefore making the downtown area even more popular. West hartford center is WAY off the highway, yet has no problem attracting people. I'm a fan of downtown middletown. It's very nice. Getting rid of the lights and building proper off ramps would make me more likely to visit the restaurants/stores.

I agree. If anything, removing the light and adding a proper exit ramp would make it easier for people to visit town.

[smackfu]

The main issue is that there's no super cheap or simple option (just make a cheap flyover ramp!), so it quickly gets complicated, and then once it's complicated, it ends up turning into "let's fix the whole mess since it won't cost that much more", then that gets delayed due to budget issues and more important stuff like bridges that fail inspection.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I agree. If anything, removing the light and adding a proper exit ramp would make it easier for people to visit town.

That is not as simple as it sounds. The highway is up against the river and a park on one side and downtown Middletown on the other. The city, the regional planning agency, businesses and residents have made it clear that they do not want to lose any access to or from the highway and they do not want any ramps flying over the highway and blocking views of the river. So what do you do? Tunneling is extremely expensive.

Years ago I attend some planning meetings on this and ConnDOT had some interesting concepts that would have had interchanges on either end of downtown. These groups did not like it. So simply put, there is no easy answer and until some politican with some b***s get elected you will likely not see anything happen. Jay