Four ramps providing access on and off Interstate 84 are scheduled to have overnight closures this week, according to State Representative Mitch Bolinsky. The temporary closures have been announced as part of ongoing bridge maintenance and paving on the interstate. 

“In addition to current state roadwork in progress along Wasserman Way, South Main Street, and Church Hill Roads, more state roadwork is ‘ramping’ up,” Mr Bolinsky said via email on June 14. 

The work, and closures, are scheduled to begin during the overnight of Monday-Tuesday, June 17-18, and continue to Friday-Saturday, June 21-22. Each closure will run from 10 pm until 5 am. 

Details for the scheduled closures are as follows:

The Exit 10 West ramps will be affected beginning at 10 pm Monday, June 17;

The Exit 9 ramps will be closed for two overnights, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 18-19;

The Exit 9 East ramps will be closed beginning at 10 pm Thursday, June 20; and 

The Exit 10 East ramps will be closed beginning at 10 am Friday, June 21.

Detours will be posted during each closure. 

“All of the below work is scheduled for night, to minimize inconvenience, and will improve road conditions, flow and safety for the long run,” Mr Bolinsky said. 

The timing of the closures, the state rep also mentioned, was done to reduce the amount of traffic volume flowing by construction zones.

Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in these areas and to stay alert for roadside workers, traffic control persons, and orange instructional signs, he added.

“I also want you to know that each of these jobs have been years in planning and long-ago budgeted, allocated, or bonded in prior state budget years. It may sound crazy, but this work does not impact the state's current 2020-21 budget,” he pointed out. 

‘Slow Down, Move Over’

In addition, AAA Northeast on Monday issued another reminder to all motorists to remember to “Slow Down, Move Over.” Not only is that good advice when approaching disabled and/or first responder vehicles, it’s also the law in Connecticut. 

The latest incident that spurred the reminder from AAA occurred early Sunday, June 16, when the parked cruiser of a Connecticut State Trooper was struck by another vehicle.

“You see this daily on our roadways,” said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “Connecticut’s ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ law means just that: when a driver sees an emergency vehicle, whether it’s a state police cruiser, fire truck, ambulance, DOT vehicles, or a tow truck with activated lights, drivers need to reasonably slow down below the speed limit, and if possible, move to the adjacent lane to give responders space to operate.”

Since the beginning of the year, media accounts have reported numerous near-hits or actual crashes of emergency responders on state roadways. Although most publicized incidents involve state police, AAA Northeast tow truck drivers have also experienced close calls.  In fact, one AAA employee was seriously injured in a multi-vehicle crash in Southport two years ago, when a speeding box truck collided into two parked AAA vehicles helping a disabled motorist.

Connecticut’s Move Over law was passed in 2009 to protect drivers of emergency vehicles, who assist disabled motorists on state roads. Fines range up to $2,500 if injuries are caused and up to $10,000 if deaths result.

On June 16, CSP Trooper Greg Sawicky was assisting a disabled motorist near I-95 Exit 22 in Fairfield when his cruiser was struck. The cruiser — with its emergency lights activated, then crashed into the back of the disabled cars.

The trooper and those in the disabled car were taken to hospitals with serious but not life-threatening injuries, according to media reports.