Date: Fri 12-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

bypass-road-signs-Rosenthal

Full Text:

GENNEWS / LIBRARY

Four Months Later, Still No Signs For The Bypass Road

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

It has been four months since the state's $4 million bypass road was

officially opened through Fairfield Hills. However, there are still no signs

up to inform motorists that it exists.

But rest assured, say Department of Transportation (DOT) officials, the signs

will go up in the spring.

"They should be up in a couple of months," noted Joe Grasso, an engineer for

the DOT. "The trailblazing signs on Interstate 84 will be up sometime this

year."

That should be good news to local residents since the signs may help further

alleviate traffic congestion in the center of town. Some have already noticed

a difference following the opening of the bypass in October. Signs at

strategic locations should help divert traffic off local streets even more,

according to Police Chief James Lysaght.

"It will certainly have an impact. How great? We can't determine that until we

implement it," the chief said. "It should help traffic on Main Street and

Church Hill Road. This is a DOT responsibility and they are working with us to

take care of this."

Mr Grasso said signs will be erected along Route 25 northbound (before Mile

Hill Road), Route 302 (at the intersection with Main Street), along Route 34

and on Interstate 84 west (before Exit 11).

First Selectmen Herb Rosenthal had hoped the state would put up a sign along

I-84 east (before Exit 9) to inform drivers that they can use Exit 11 to

access the bypass road and Route 25 south to Monroe and Bridgeport. However,

Mr Grasso said the Exit 9 area is still being considered. Further discussion

with town officials may be necessary.

"[A] sign at Exit 9 would tell drivers that they can access Route 25 south by

getting off Exit 11 and taking the bypass road," Mr Rosenthal said.

Right now, drivers have no way of knowing this and they continue to stream

down through the center of town.

The DOT's maintenance crews use the winter months to keep the roads clear and

to put up only those signs that have been knocked down. No new signs go up

during the winter months.

The long-awaited bypass road was built as a result of a 1991 agreement between

the town and the state over the construction of Garner Correctional Facility

on Nunnawauk Road.

Route 490

It may still be Mile Hill Road to you, but state officials say "Route 490"

when referring to the stretch of road between Route 25 and Route 34. That is

the name it was given following the completion of the bypass road.

Officials say the route number is necessary for a number of reasons. On a map,

the roadway will now be shown as a state road. This should make it clearer for

drivers who are unfamiliar with the area. For example, once the signs are up,

a driver heading from Bridgeport to Danbury would be instructed to take Route

25 north, turn right onto Route 490 and then head west on Interstate 84.

The road is also known as "Wasserman's Way," named in honor of State Rep Julia

Wasserman of Newtown, who played a key role in its successful completion.

The DOT is also in the planning stages for the replacement of the low-slung

railroad overpass on Church Hill Road. The bridge has been struck by large

truck on numerous occasions over the years.