STATE ROUTE 806 IN DANBURY (NEWTOWN ROAD) OVERVIEW

For an understanding of the key traffic safety terms "TASR" and "SLOSSS" that are repeatedly referenced in the discussions below, be sure to review the "Introduction to Danbury, CT Traffic" section.

All of Danbury’s unsigned State Route 806, the 1.54 miles from the beginning of the state designation at the terminus of White Street at Triangle Street northeasterly to I-84 Exit 8, is designated by Conn DOT as a minor arterial route.

Note that eight hundred series roads such as this are unsigned but remain state roads nonetheless; Route 806 is to long time residents the "Old Route 6", the designation for decades before the early sixties when Route 6 signs were moved out to the new I-84. Examples within corridor business signage include the name "Route 6 Plaza Shopping Center" and a sign on the McDonald’s Restaurant stating "enter drive from Route 6."

From the Conn DOT perspective, important intersections on Route 806 will be those at other Conn DOT arterial or collector designated roadways interacting with it. There are three such intersections; 1) at the origin of Route 806 at White Street which at this location is also a minor arterial, 2) with Plumtrees Road as a collector route, and 3) with Route 6 coming off of its overlap with I-84 at Exit 8 westbound as a minor arterial route. Eagle Road is also a particularly important local connecting route.

The name Newtown Road applied to the entire one and one half miles of Route 806.

Conn DOT’s 1999 average daily traffic volumes show increasing and very high volumes as one travels from west to east along this unmarked state roadway. In 1999 there were an average of 21,600 vehicles on Route 806 from White Street to Old Newtown Road.

Then on the next segment to Plumtrees Road, volumes reached 25,200. And then from Plumtrees Road where a four land cross section begins to Eagle Road, the volume was 30,400, and between Eagle Road to I-84 Exit 8 the peak volume in the corridor of 34,700 was reached.

After much planning and lobbying by Danbury, widening to a four thru lane cross section from Plumtrees Road easterly to Exit 8 was completed in 1991. A closed loop signal coordination system was also installed then and operates from the Old Newtown Road intersection easterly to Exit 8 (to the Old Sherman Turnpike signal on the south side of the oval exit and to the Ramada Inn signal on the north side).

Discussions between City and Conn DOT staffs during the mid-nineties reviewed upcoming improvement needs along this corridor. At that time expansion to a four lane cross sectional standard was being considered for Newtown Road, to extend westerly from the current terminus of four lanes at Plumtrees Road. But there was no agreement as to how the four lanes could proceed without detrimental impacts at the intersection with Triangle Street, Cross Street and Beaver Brook Road.

The current HVCEO and Danbury policy calls for a four lane cross section on Newtown Road westerly from Plumtrees Road to Old Shelter Rock Road, with signalization at that point and turning lanes along the way as most appropriate.

But some planning activity has continued. A Conn DOT-State Traffic Commission report dated 3/14/2000 stated that Conn DOT Traffic Engineering "is currently reviewing Route 806.... due to the recorded accident history along this roadway from the intersection of Old Shelter Rock Road easterly to the intersection of Plumtrees Road.

Preliminary findings indicate that extending the four lane section with turning lanes at major intersections from Plumtrees Road westerly to Triangle Street may be warranted by the volume of traffic that Route 806 carried."

The 3/14/2000 Commission report continues, "A previous review of Route 806 in this area indicated that widening Route 806 to a four lane cross section was justified, but the City of Danbury did not want to proceed with this project due to impacts expected at the intersection of Route 806 and White Street, Triangle Street and Beaver Brook Road. Currently, Traffic Engineering is considering the benefits of extending the four lane cross section on Route 806 from Plumtrees Road westerly to Old Shelter Rock Road", a lesser distance.

Details as to traffic safety and capacity issues on Danbury’s Route 806-Newtown Road from west to east are as follows:

1. ROUTE 806 IN DANBURY (NEWTOWN ROAD)
FROM WHITE STREET TO OLD SHELTER ROCK ROAD
At Route 806's milepost .07, the intersection of Newtown Road with White Street, Triangle Street, Cross Street and Beaver Brook Road, the 1995-97 Conn DOT Traffic Accident Surveillance Report (TASR) rate was 120%, accompanied by a high priority SLOSSS designation.

Earlier accident rate history here showed 1992-94 at 66%, 1989-91 at 100% with a SLOSSS designation, 1987-89 at 129% SLOSSS and 1983-85 at 122% SLOSSS. Landmarks here are a CVS store on the north side and a Citgo gas station and residences on the south side.

Traveling easterly and crossing the Still River, at milepost .37 which is Newtown Road at its intersection with Old Shelter Rock Road, the accident rate for 1995-97 was 150% and SLOSSS, with 1992-94 at 133% and 1989-91 at 30%, a clear pattern of rising hazard rates. Landmarks are the Monro Muffler shop on the south and a Texaco gas station to the north. Old Shelter Rock Road enters the intersection at a sharp angle.

In August of 2000 Conn DOT proposed signalization of the intersection of Old Shelter Rock Road to meet safety needs there and also to assist in creating gaps to make access easier from nearby Woodside Avenue. A Conn DOT-State Traffic Commission report dated 3/14/2000 stated that "The possible signalization of Route 806 at Old Shelter Rock Road in conjunction with a widening to provide a left turn lane into Old Shelter Rock Road is currently being evaluated."

2. ROUTE 806 IN DANBURY (NEWTOWN ROAD) AT WOODSIDE AVENUE
At milepost .45, the intersection with Woodside Avenue, the accident rate for 1995-97 was 206% with a SLOSSS designation. Previous rates were 89% for 1992-94 and 81% for 1989-91, a climbing rate. Landmarks here are convenience shops and residences.

In 1999 residents of Woodside Avenue petitioned the Danbury Common Council to request the state to install a traffic signal at the intersection with Newtown Road. But this was denied in 2000 by Conn DOT as signal warrants (minimum qualifying standards) had not yet been met.

Conn DOT also stated in a memo dated 3/14/2000 that "A review of the intersection of Route 806 at Old Shelter Rock Road indicates that this intersection may be more conducive to signalization that the intersection of Route 806 at Woodside Avenue. Traffic counts indicate that traffic volumes on Old Shelter Rock Road are approximately double the volumes on Woodside Avenue." A 3/14/2000 Conn DOT memo also states "Since Woodside Avenue and Shelter Rock Road are only 400 feet apart, it would be undesirable to signalize them both."

3. ROUTE 806 IN DANBURY (NEWTOWN ROAD)
FROM WHITNEY AVENUE TO OLD NEWTOWN ROAD
Between Route 806 mileposts .51 to .67, from the intersection with Whitney Avenue easterly to just west of the intersection with Old Newtown Road, the accident rate for 1995-97 was 162% with a SLOSSS designation, this up from 50% in 1992-94 and 38% in 1989-91, again a rising rate. Landmarks are a Volkswagen dealer, Dent Electric Company and the Danbury Public Works Complex.

4. ROUTE 806 IN DANBURY (NEWTOWN ROAD)
FROM OLD NEWTOWN ROAD TO PLUMTREES ROAD
>From mileposts .72 to .86, Newtown Road from its intersection with Old Newtown Road easterly to its intersection with Plumtrees Road, the accident rate has been climbing; 88% for 1989-91, then 153% and on the SLOSSS for 1992-94, finally 218% and on the SLOSSS for 1995-97.

Since 1991 Newtown Road traffic signals from Old Newtown Road easterly to Exit 8 have been linked into a coordinated system managed by Conn DOT from its Newington headquarters. As mentioned above, widening to four lanes from Plumtrees Road thru this section westerly to the intersection with Old Shelter Rock Road can be pursued with Conn DOT. If agreement is reached the issue of high accident rates would then be factored into the roadway redesign process.

The Old Newtown Road approach to Route 806-Newtown Road is divided into a signalized eastbound left and unsignalized westbound right by a grassy triangular island. Landmarks are woods on City Public Works Complex property to the south and a China Buffet restaurant and the Route 6 Plaza Shopping Center on the east.

The City of Danbury proposed about 1990 that a fourth leg to this intersection eventually be created, this to be a new access to the City’s public works buildings to the south.

Landmarks after Old Newtown Road along this segment include the remainder of the Route 6 Plaza Shopping Center, a BP gas station, a Burger King, and a Corners frame store. At the intersection with Plumtrees Road there are turning lanes provided on the Route 806 and Plumtrees Road approaches, with a fourth leg to this intersection formed by the driveway into the Corners Frame store.

It is at the eastern end of this segment, about 150 west of Plumtrees Road that Route 806 makes its transition from two to four thru lanes. Conn DOT’s 1999 average daily traffic estimates indicate a significant increase on Route 806 here, with 25,200 from Old Newtown Road to Plumtrees Road and then a jump to 30,400 from Plumtrees Road eastward to Eagle Road along the frontage of the major shopping centers here.

5. ROUTE 806 IN DANBURY (NEWTOWN ROAD) FROM
PLUMTREES ROAD EAST TO SHOPPING CENTER DRIVES
>From mileposts .88 to .94, a segment of only a few hundred feet along Newtown Road from its intersection with Plumtrees Road easterly to an intersection with the Nutmeg Square Shopping Center driveway on the north and the first driveway into the Berkshire Shopping Center on the south, the Conn DOT accident rate for 1995-97 was a massive 401% with a SLOSSS designation.

Not only that, but this rate was one of the top ten highest for 1995-97 in the Housatonic Region, also the very highest of the total of 23 SLOSSS sites in Danbury during that reporting period.

In contrast, the 1992-94 accident rate was a modest 64% and 1989-91 again modest at 61%. This location will be monitored by HVCEO to determine if the recent extreme rate is an anomaly or part of a trend. Landmarks are a Stop and Shop store to the north and a McDonald’s restaurant to the south.

6. ROUTE 806 IN DANBURY (NEWTOWN ROAD) FROM
A BERKSHIRE SHOPPING CENTER DRIVE EAST TO
THAT SHOPPING CENTER’S MAIN DRIVE AT EAGLE ROAD
>From mileposts .97 to 1.17, Newtown Road between a Berkshire Shopping Center driveway easterly to the intersection with Eagle Road and the Shopping Center’s main drive, the accident rate for 1995-97 was 210% and on the SLOSSS, a steady climb from 1992-94 which was 93% and 1989-91 at 49%.

Eagle Road serves as the main access into Commerce Park, a major employment center, and also provides access to Federal Road-Route 805. Landmarks at the intersection with Eagle Road include a Holiday Inn on the northwest corner, a First Union Bank on the northeast, wetlands adjacent to the Still River on the southeast and a Union Savings Bank on the southwest.

7. ROUTE 806 IN DANBURY, NEWTOWN ROAD FROM EAGLE
ROAD TO THE XPECT DEEP DISCOUNT SHOPPING CENTER
>From mileposts 1.20 to 1.34, Newtown Road from Eagle Road easterly to the Xpect Deep Discount Shopping Center, the accident rate for 1995-97 was 116% and SLOSSS high risk designated. The rate for 1992-94 was a SLOSSS 144%, while the 1989-91 rate was 66%. As stated earlier Route 806 here was widened from a 2 lane to a 4 thru lane cross section in 1991 and traffic signals were coordinated. Landmarks include the Still River, a Chilli’s restaurant, Dunkin Donuts and Friendly’s restaurant.

8. ROUTES 6 AND 806 IN DANBURY,
NEWTOWN ROAD AT I-84 EXIT 8
Continuing on into the I-84 Exit 8 area, Route 806 terminates where the Route 6 designation begins at approximately the intersection with Old Sherman Turnpike. There are no Route 806 hazard statistics of note along this segment.

But on adjacent Route 6 a SLOSSS designation is noted, 101% for 1995-97 at the unsignalized intersection with Payne Road. Earlier rates here at Payne Road were 60% for 1992-94 and 101% with a SLOSSS for 1989-1991. The center of Payne Road serves as the municipal boundary between the City of Danbury and the Town of Bethel.

According to the Conn DOT 2000 I-84 plan for the Exit 8 area, the Exit 8 eastbound on ramp will be removed from its current location in Danbury and relocated easterly to just beyond Payne Road. In addition, the Payne Road intersection will be signalized and a bridge will be built across I-84 to allow northbound Payne Road traffic to more directly reach the northbound side of this oval shaped exit. The bridge will be two lanes but allowing only one way northbound traffic.