Church Hill Road Improvements Partially Funded

By Andrew Gorosko

The US House of Representatives has approved $2 million in federal funding that would be used toward a $4.46 million road improvement project intended to enhance traffic safety and reduce congestion along a heavily traveled section of Church Hill Road, near Interstate 84.

That congested section of Church Hill Road extends westward from Exit 10 to Commerce Road. It is the road section with the highest rate of motor vehicle accidents in the ten-town Housatonic Valley Planning Region. Church Hill Road, which also is known as Route 6, is part of the federal highway system.

If all required road improvement project approvals occur, the road work could be completed sometime between 2009 and 2012.

Following a March 10 vote in the US House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nancy Johnson said in a prepared statement, “This funding is a tremendous boost for our area…The planned improvements to the Route 6-Edmond Road intersection will drastically improve safety in a busy commercial area. These projects will improve our roads, our communities, and our quality of life.”

The House of Representatives also approved $3.4 million in funds toward I-84 interchange improvements in Danbury.

The US Senate is expected to address the transportation project funding later this month. That legislation may reach President Bush for his action by June.

In a recent preliminary submission to federal officials, the town sought $4.46 million in federal grant money for the Church Hill Road improvements.

A main component of the project would involve shifting the intersection of Edmond Road and Church Hill Road from its current location near Exit 10 westward about 250 feet to the area directly across Church Hill Road from Commerce Road.

A new four-way intersection of Church Hill Road, Edmond Road, and Commerce Road would be controlled by a set of new traffic signals. The Church Hill Road-Commerce Road intersection is now controlled by a traffic signal.

The project also would construct additional vehicle turning lanes at the proposed four-way intersection to enhance traffic flow.

An approximately 650-foot-long section of Edmond Road, which now lies immediately north of Church Hill Road, would be taken out of use. Edmond Road provides access to the Rand-Whitney Container factory at 1 Edmond Road, and also to the Pitney-Bowes Distribution Center at 7 Edmond Road. Many commercial trucks travel on the road.  

Edmond Road, which is privately owned, has fallen into disrepair. The road is in a swampy area and has deteriorated due to drainage problems. The road improvement project would include upgrading the drainage system on Edmond Road.

Increased staffing at Pitney-Bowes and the resulting increased traffic flow through the area prompted the town to again pursue federal funds the road improvement work. The town had unsuccessfully sought state funds for the project in the past.

Making a left turn from Edmond Road onto eastbound Church Hill Road is especially difficult due to heavy traffic in the area. A stop sign posted at the end of Edmond Road now controls the traffic exiting that street. 

The road improvement project would relocate the parking lots for Newtown Pizza Palace at 65 Church Hill Road and for Newtown Shell Service at 67 Church Hill Road. Construction would also include modifying the driveway for the Blue Colony Diner at 66 Church Hill Road.

New sets of traffic signals would be installed at Church Hill Road’s intersections with I-84’s eastbound and westbound interchange ramps, as well as at the new four-way intersection of Church Hill Road, Commerce Road, and Edmond Road. The three sets of traffic signals would be synchronized to maximize traffic flow through the area.

David Hannon, the regional planner for the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials (HVCEO), said March 15 that the remaining funding, which would be needed to accomplish the $4.46 million Church Hill Road improvement project, may become available in the future.

Initial work would involve construction designs, he said. After those designs are completed, it may become apparent that somewhat less than $4.46 million is needed to accomplish the overall project, he said.

“Very optimistically” the road improvements could be completed by 2009, Mr Hannon said.

Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker has estimated that it could take until 2012 to complete the project.

Brian Schubert, a spokesman for Mrs Johnson, said this week that the US House of Representatives’ March 10 vote of 417-to-9 to approve transportation funding legislation, which includes the Church Hill Road project, represents a major step in project approval.

“The major hurdle has been overcome,” he said.