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.
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