[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

How about just add another lane in each direction for both 95 and the Merritt.
Keep it simple guys

But, but, NIMBY..... (i.e. why rt 7 isn't all exits/limited access from Norwalk to Danbury....ditto rt 25 from Bridgeport to Danbury)

Actually at one time wayyyy back (60s? early 70s?) plan was for rt. 7 to be limited access all the way up to Burlington VT (would it have gotten an Interstate number?). Lots of vestiges of it as little limited access pieces in western Mass and Vermont

[Wilton2ParkAve]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

But, but, NIMBY..... (i.e. why rt 7 isn't all exits/limited access from Norwalk to Danbury....ditto rt 25 from Bridgeport to Danbury)

Actually at one time wayyyy back (60s? early 70s?) plan was for rt. 7 to be limited access all the way up to Burlington VT (would it have gotten an Interstate number?). Lots of vestiges of it as little limited access pieces in western Mass and Vermont

Route 7 isn’t the issue. I can make it from Danbury to Norwalk in 25 minutes (or less away from rush hour) and there are other North/South thoroughfares (Route 8, 25, 684) that are spread out thoughtfully. The tertiary non-route roads in SW FL have more lanes than 95 or 15. That’s the issue.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

How about just add another lane in each direction for both 95 and the Merritt.
Keep it simple guys

Bad idea. They added two lanes to 95 between West Palm and Miami four years ago (surprisingly, they finished construction in a year and a half) and today, they are jam packed.

Increasing mass transit options inland is the answer.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Bad idea. They added two lanes to 95 between West Palm and Miami four years ago (surprisingly, they finished construction in a year and a half) and today, they are jam packed.

Increasing mass transit options inland is the answer.

For the upteenth thousandth time, the if you build it they will come thing is moot now, everyone’s already here. Miami area up to W Palm is what? 8m people and still growing.
Who’s moving to CT except for some NYers and people who want abortions? Not nearly as many as FL.

Even if more come it would relieve choke points and flow through smoother even if it’s not at 60-70mph

[SteveM85]

I ran over to Lowe’s via the back ways this morning early.
The overpass is right there across the parking lot. It doesn’t look like they’ll be done taking it down by Monday to open up 95, not even close but who knows.
Ironically the firehouse station on US1 is literally right next to the overpass, they probably just shot the hoses right from the parking lot, they didn’t have to go anywhere.

[7 Wishes]

Have to go to Danbury from southern Westchester later today (mid afternoon) to help my son with something. Not able to go earlier and hoping it will be OK.

Google Maps already has it 15 minutes longer than usual and (which it's done before when the 684 to 84 entrance is choked) taking a lot of backroads in northeast Westchester and Ridgefield (have to admit I kind of like them, surprise how rural and "dirt" some of them were.....at least I have an AWD vehicle).

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

For the upteenth thousandth time, the if you build it they will come thing is moot now, everyone’s already here. Miami area up to W Palm is what? 8m people and still growing.
Who’s moving to CT except for some NYers and people who want abortions? Not nearly as many as FL.

Even if more come it would relieve choke points and flow through smoother even if it’s not at 60-70mph

The issue with CT is that it’s not just locals who use the highways. It’s a regional gateway from NY to New England, as evidenced by about (at least) 1/3 of the plates being from out of state every time I drive it.

[AntonioR]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

How about just add another lane in each direction for both 95 and the Merritt.
Keep it simple guys

Good luxk trying to turn the four lane (two in each direction) Merritt Parkway into a six lane highway. Between NIMBY’s and the fact most bridges would have to be destroyed to accommodate the wider road, the opposition to that will be paramount.

Something similar will happen with I-95 plus in many areas.

It makes more sense to simply build a new highway of at least four lanes (two in each direction) but designed to accommodate a six lanes highway if the need to expand it shows up. With that the biggest obstacles will be NIMBY’s, but the constructing of this highway isn’t as much a want but a need. NIMBY’s could be put in its place by the government in such circumstances.

[JayCT]

You can watch the bridge demolition and progress being made at the link below.

https://share.earthcam.net/CTDOTNorw...ge/camera/live

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by AntonioR

Good luxk trying to turn the four lane (two in each direction) Merritt Parkway into a six lane highway. Between NIMBY’s and the fact most bridges would have to be destroyed to accommodate the wider road, the opposition to that will be paramount.

Something similar will happen with I-95 plus in many areas.

It makes more sense to simply build a new highway of at least four lanes (two in each direction) but designed to accommodate a six lanes highway if the need to expand it shows up. With that the biggest obstacles will be NIMBY’s, but the constructing of this highway isn’t as much a want but a need. NIMBY’s could be put in its place by the government in such circumstances.

Are you joking? Do you hear yourself? What in the name of Almighty Lamont are you talking about?
Where will you put it?
Just add lanes to 95 and the Merritt and be done with it. Why reinvent the wheel.
Dubai transportation engineers would have had this done, buttoned up with a bow on top in 6 months.
How has super highly educated CT not figured this out yet already.
For one of the country’s most important states with the highest income levels and education attained chooses to plug along with mid century infrastructure is the definition of sheer insanity.
It’s gone well beyond unconscionable at this point.