For a transportation project in Newtown to obtain a commitment of federal transportation funds, it must first appear on the HVCEO maintained list below.

This listing also assists local officials in tracking the progress of current improvements, and planning and advocating for future improvements as well.

FUTURE RT 6 IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE
RAILROAD OVERPASS TO I-84 INTERCHANGE 10
Conn DOT Project 96-186 calls for Edmond Road to be realigned to meet Commerce Road on Route 6 (Church Hill Road). Newtown's Town Plan calls for this project to coordinate with a potential new access road planned to connect Church Hill Road to Wasserman Way via an extension of Commerce Road (see "Future Local Street Improvements" below).

This project also contains major improvements to Route 6 from the vicinity of the railroad overpass eastward to the on-ramps for I-84 Exit 10. Conn DOT has identified this roadway segment as high frequency accident location.

Recent federal transportation legislation contains two Congressional Earmarks to fund the implementation of these projects. One totals $1,600,000 to fund the Edmond Road relocation project and the second totals $2,000,000 to fund propose improvements to Route 6.

For this project to proceed it was necessary for Edmond Road to become a public road, and this was accomplished in January of 2006. According to Mario Marrero of Conn DOT this project was officially initiated in May of 2006, and as of 7/2006 the design completion date is 9/2009, advertising date 10/2009, and construction completion date 3/2012.

The contact person at Conn DOT is Hugh Hayward at 860-594-3279 and the project number is 96-H017.

An important improvement in Newtown is the reduction of accident
rates on Route 6 from Commerce Drive (shown at right) easterly to I-84
Exit 10. This improvement has a favorable report from Conn DOT.

Route 6 accident reduction will be accomplished in part by the relocation of
unsignalized Edmond Road (gray at right) westerly to align as a new road
(yellow) with Route 6 across from the intersection with Commerce Drive.

FUTURE ROUTE 6 IN HAWLEYVILLE:
— In accordance with HVCEO's 1997 Hawleyville Transportation Study, increase the number of lanes and add turning lanes on Route 6 in the Hawleyville Area as adjacent development warrants. Cost estimate in 1999 was $1, 800,000.

FUTURE ROUTE 25 IN NEWTOWN:
--- Improvements to the intersection of Route 25 at Botsford Hill Road. It was decided 11/04 that rather than rise to the level of a federal project, changes here will be by Conn DOT Maintenance District 4 in consultation with the Newtown Highway Department.

-- Improvements to the intersection of Route 25 at Cold Spring Road, including a traffic signal. This project was submitted by Newtown to Conn DOT in July of 2004 as the fourth of four priorities and is currently being reviewed by the Conn DOT Project Development Unit to assess potential for federal funding.

--- Improvements to the intersection of Route 25 at Pecks Lane North. This project was submitted by Newtown to Conn DOT in July of 2004 as the first of four priorities and is currently being reviewed by the Conn DOT Project Development Unit to assess potential for federal funding. The preliminary review was completed in September of 2006, yielding a cost estimate of $1,890,000, with the improvement concept involving separation of Prospect Drive from Pecks Lane.

— In accordance with the 1997 Hawleyville Transportation Study, provide progressive signalization, coupled with widening of Route 25 to four lanes with turning lanes in the vicinity of Exit 9. Cost estimate in 1997 was $2,500,000.

Route 25 just past I-84 looking north, showing "before" and "after"
views of widening proposed in 1997 HVCEO Hawleyville Plan

ROUTE 34 IN NEWTOWN:
--- Improvements to the intersection of Route 34 and Pole Bridge Road.This project was submitted by Newtown to Conn DOT in July of 2004 for review by the Conn DOT Project Development Unit to assess potential for federal funding. Conn DOT informed Town staff in September of 2006 that the cost to benefit ration for this potential project appeared low in comparison to other needs.

CURRENT I-84 EXIT 11:
Conn DOT project 34-308 calls for rebuilding I-84 Exit 11 into a four way diamond interchange (see Conn DOT June 2007 plan for Exit 11) with an access road that will intersect with Route 34 across from Wasserman Way. This project evolved from the Conn DOT 2000 I-84 Improvement Plan.

Conn DOT held a public information meeting on this project in June of 2007. Final design is expected in the fall of 2008, then construction is to begin in the spring of 2009. Estimated cost is $12,500,000 to $15,000,000. The Conn DOT contact is Drew Colburn at (860) 594-3233.

This vicinity was cited by a 2001 Conn DOT study as a possible I-84 rest area location. It is currently being assessed in a draft Conn DOT Statewide Rest Area Study for a "new truck parking facility" in the I-84 median. Newtown opposes this plan due to negative impacts to the Pootatuck Aquifer and increased traffic.

FUTURE I-84 EXITS 9 AND 10:
Rebuild I-84 Exit 9 (see future Exit 9 map) and Exit 10 (see future Exit 10 map) in accordance with the Conn DOT 2000 I-84 Plan.

FUTURE I-84 WIDENING:
— Widen I-84 from 4 to 6 lanes and upgrade exits between the Brookfield Line easterly to the Southbury Town Line in accordance with the Conn DOT 2000 I-84 Plan (see I-84 summary page).

Cost estimates for widenings are $38,470,000 between Exits 8 and 9, $30,220,000 between Exits 9 and 10, $10,940,000 between Exits 10 and 11, and $15,950,000 between Exit 11 and the Southbury Town Line.

CURRENT ROUTE 302 IMPROVEMENT:
Conn DOT project 96-186 concerns the replacement of Bridge # 2840 on Route 302 east of Key Rock Road in Newtown. Final design plans for this $737,800 project are scheduled for April of 2006, with construction scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2008. Conn DOT Contact: Joseph Cancelliere (860) 594-3208.

FUTURE ROUTE 302 IMPROVEMENT:
--- Improvements to the intersection of Route 302 and Hattertown Road. This project was submitted by Newtown to Conn DOT in July of 2004 as the third of four priorities and is currently being reviewed by the Conn DOT Project Development Unit to assess potential for federal funding.

FUTURE ROUTE 816 (CHURCH HILL ROAD) IMPROVEMENT:
— Complete the Sandy Hook Center streetscaping plan, including possible geometric revisions to the intersection of Glen Road with Washington Street and Riverside Drive. Streetscape on the western side of the intersection below was completed in 2006, while eastern and northern segments remain to be completed.

The enhancement of existing sidewalks and the construction of new ones in this area is enhancing overall pedestrian circulation and safety. As for the traffic signal in Sandy Hook Center, a January 2005 traffic analysis for the Town recommended that the cycle length be reduced from 80 to 60 seconds, maintaining a two phase operation and reallocating green time.

Partially completed sidewalk plan for Sandy Hook Center.

FUTURE LOCAL STREET IMPROVEMENTS:
— Implement Queen Street Pedestrian Safety Plan.

--- A Queen Street Area Traffic Study was initiated by HVCEO in January of 2006. It will include traffic projections for a nearby proposed link from Commerce Road southeasterly to Wasserman Way which may divert some Queen Street traffic.

--- Build new connector from Church Hill Road (Route 6) to Wasserman Way (Route 860). Both the 1992 and 2004 Newtown Plans of Conservation and Development recommended consideration of this new roadway.

The proposed connecting roadway will link Church Hill Road (Route 6) at its western terminus with Wasserman Way (Route 860) at the eastern terminus. This new collector road will connect with Route 6 at Commerce Road directly across from where an upcoming major federal investment will realign Edmond Road with Route 6 at the Commerce Road intersection. The new roadway will provide a new link between Exits 10 and 11 off I-84.

According to a 2006 HVCEO traffic study the addition of this important link would help alleviate traffic pressures on the nearby central areas of Newtown.

From a broader geographic perspective and over time, the introduction of this new collector roadway could increase travel choices and better distribute both local and thru traffic in central Newtown. It is also to provide access to major economic development initiatives. The environmental impacts of this proposal, including its affect upon Deep Brook, will need careful scrutiny.

FUTURE TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS:
— Advance Newtown transit projects when funding permits.