DOT Seeks Public Comment On I-84 Traffic Problems

By Andrew Gorosko

The state Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking public comments as part of its continuing study on improving traffic flow in the Interstate-84 corridor between Exit 11 in Sandy Hook and the New York State line through work such as road widening and interchange reconstruction.

The DOT has scheduled a public informational meeting on the roadwork for Monday, February 14, at 7 pm at the Newtown High School cafeteria, 11 Berkshire Road.

DOT planners want people who drive on the highway to tell them what problems they encounter and make suggestions on how the problems can be fixed.

In Newtown, DOT is considering various plans to improve traffic flow and safety on the main line of the highway and at redesigned on-ramps and off-ramps at Exits 9, 10 and 11. The study also is addressing how traffic flow can be improved on local roads along I-84. It could be 10 years before the changes being studied are implemented.

The DOT study is focusing on I-84’s relationship to the Exit 9 area of Hawleyville, a section of Newtown that has been targeted for regional economic development. DOT considers the Exit 9 ramps to have geometric deficiencies that need to be corrected to improve traffic safety.

 The DOT study complements a planning study on the economic development potential of Hawleyville that has been incorporated into the town’s plan of development. The economic development study makes projections on the growth potential of the largely undeveloped Hawleyville through the year 2017.

  In its I-84 traffic study, DOT is considering the environmental and social effects of physically improving the highway, including topics such as air quality, noise levels, stormwater runoff, traffic volume, mapping and bottlenecks.

 The Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials has recommended that I-84 be widened to improve traffic flow on it and on adjacent local roads.

The DOT study is reviewing ways to maintain traffic flow on the main line of the highway, improve safety on interchanges, and improve traffic flow on major local streets near I-84 interchange ramps.  

The DOT session will include a 30-minute presentation by DOT traffic planners, followed by a 90-minute discussion period.

If inclement weather postpones the meeting, it will be held Wednesday, February 16, at the same time and place.

For people unable to attend the February 14 DOT meeting in Newtown, DOT will conduct a similar session February 15, at 7 pm at Danbury City Hall, Common Council Chambers, 155 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury.