[Comp625]

With its lush greenery and lack of large trucks, the Wilbur Cross/Merritt Parkway offers a much nicer ride compared to I-95 and I-91. However, there are issues with the Parkway that drive me absolutely mad. Pun intended.


1. Around the West Rock Tunnel, why do most people slow down and/or hit their brake lights approaching (or even when inside) the tunnel? It doesn't even have to be rush hour (a la a Sunday evening at 11pm) and the handful of cars riding through the tunnel will all hit their brake lights.

• I understand that there are cops who occasionally hang out at either side of the entrance, which causes people to slow down. But that doesn't explain the slowdowns during all of the other times.
• This slowdown happens regardless if it's daytime or nighttime.
• It's quite dangerous to slow down in that tunnel. I've almost been rear-ended a few times (whilst keeping distance from the car in front of me) because of these slowdowns.

2. On the Wilbur Cross portion of the highway (Milford to Meriden), why are the entrance ramps equipped with Stop signs? Especially during rush hour, it is really dangerous to merge onto the highway. I feel bad for my girlfriend who drives a tiny Hyundai Accent and has to merge onto the Wilbur Cross everyday during rush hour.

• Some of the entrances are on a slight incline, making it even more difficult for smaller cars to accelerate safely.
• There are always huge lines of cars waiting to merge onto the highway.
• I understand the environmental conservationists not wanting to extend on-ramps, but I value the safety and lives of drivers over the trees lost via an 1/8th mile on-ramp extension.

I know there are opposing ideas and viewpoints on how the Merritt/Wilbur should be treated, especially with the always growing congestion. However, logically speaking, shouldn't something be done to help increase safety for drivers?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Comp625

However, logically speaking, shouldn't something be done to help increase safety for drivers?

Yes. A lot needs to be done.

First, the on/off ramps. They have gotten better in Fairfield County, but in Orange/Woodbridge/Hamden/North Haven, they do not just have the potential to be dangerous; they ARE dangerous. I witness often two cars trying to gun it at the same time. The people traveling at 65 have to swing over last second or have to slam on their brakes. There are LOTS of rear-end collisions on 15 because of this.

Second, the trees have to go. Whenever there is a storm warning or watch, I avoid the parkway. There is always - ALWAYS - a tree down after even a mild thunderstorm. The problem here is the people who live along the parkway (who purchased their homes far after the historic highway was built) want the trees as privacy. Sorry - you chose to live near a highway - deal with it. They need to be scaled back at least 100 feet in each direction to be safe.

Third, and my biggest pet peeve, is high beams. It's awful. Drive on the Merritt after dark and you will be blinded numerous times by people who feel the need to drive the highway with their high beams on. I find this to be far worse in Fairfield County than New Haven, mostly because FFC's stretch is more faux-wooded. They need to have lights down the entire stretch of the highway in order to fix this.

Honestly, I hate the Merritt. It's a mixture of too many left lane campers, too many maniacs and too many curves. Other than that, it's a beautiful highway.

[Stylo]

Those stop signs on the on-ramps were due to it being designed 80 years ago when cars were much, much slower. The whole parkway used to be like that, and it's been a process of modernizing. I guess because Wilbur Cross is so much less congested than the Merritt, it took a back seat while the Merritt was "modernized".

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Second, the trees have to go. Whenever there is a storm warning or watch, I avoid the parkway. There is always - ALWAYS - a tree down after even a mild thunderstorm. The problem here is the people who live along the parkway (who purchased their homes far after the historic highway was built) want the trees as privacy. Sorry - you chose to live near a highway - deal with it. They need to be scaled back at least 100 feet in each direction to be safe.

Agreed, and on that topic - what the hell were they thinking with the Trumbull/Fairfield improvements? They tore down hundreds of trees, and then planted hundreds MORE? What was the end goal?

[Wilton2ParkAve]

So much better than 95.... No trucks, idyllic scenary, windy. You sound like an old man in your description Kid!

The only tweak I would make (and would likely pass muster as a historic road) is adding merge lanes to EVERY exit from Greenwich to Wallingford. Even in FFC, Long Ridge and Den Road in Stamford still have full stops. Insane.

[Wilton2ParkAve]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Agreed, and on that topic - what the hell were they thinking with the Trumbull/Fairfield improvements? They tore down hundreds of trees, and then planted hundreds MORE? What was the end goal?

I think they planted dwarf trees that essentially top out at 15 feet or so and won't kill or seriously injure drivers if they were to topple. I could be wrong though. I love the trees, provided that the decaying/dead ones are quickly removed. It's probably prudent to avoid the Merritt during high winds, but that is the case for most of back country FFC and the state as a whole.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

So much better than 95.... No trucks, idyllic scenary, windy. You sound like an old man in your description Kid!

Hey - most old men are wise. I'll take that as a compliment!

I suppose it's an okay highway for a Sunday drive at 11 AM, but if you're commuting on it daily, there's nothing "idyllic" about it. It's an awful highway that needs modernization. BADLY.

[Mike 75]

I'm with Kid on this one. The Merritt has become frustrating to drive, so much so that I would rather take 95 if its an option.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

hey - most old men are wise. I'll take that as a compliment!

I suppose it's an okay highway for a sunday drive at 11 am, but if you're commuting on it daily, there's nothing "idyllic" about it. It's an awful highway that needs modernization. Badly.

qft

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Mike 75

I'm with Kid on this one. The Merritt has become frustrating to drive, so much so that I would rather take 95 if its an option.

I actually prefer the Merritt in the morning and 95 at night.

Using that combo, I've got a pretty consistent 25-35 minute commute going on right now, even if traffic is bad in the morning I have a backroad route that saves me.