INTRODUCTION
Back in the 1950's, the east-west flow of traffic through the Housatonic Valley Region made use of two lane Route 6. As a bypass for this historic route, I-84 arrived from the east in 1958, crossing the Housatonic River into the Region on the early fifties era Rochambeau Bridge and ending temporarily at Route 34, Exit 11, in Newtown.

Then on December 16, 1961 I-84 as the “Yankee Expressway”, a name voted by the General Assembly in its 1961 session, opened across the Region, passing through Newtown, the southernmost tip of Brookfield, Bethel and Danbury to link up with New York State sections. The I-84 corridor within the Region extends for a total length of 18.48 miles.

Traffic volumes in early years were a small fraction of what they are today. While I-84 has already had some renovations, a major upgrade in capacity is now needed.

The introduction of this interstate route, coupled with construction of I-684 nearby in New York State, has been a tremendous stimulus to the Region's economic growth. I-84 has become the modern "Main Street" of the Housatonic Valley Region, an indispensable economic asset, and of practical importance to the citizens of all ten municipalities and far beyond.

Fortunately, when I-84 was constructed the alignment was designed to high standards, with gentle horizontal and vertical curves. The lanes were also given ample width, with breakdown lanes along the right shoulder in most locations. Sight distances were also adequate for the most part.

Click on the map to view a larger image.

But time has shown that the key weakness of the original design was in the capacity given to exit ramps. While not noticeable in the early 1960's, exit capacity limitations present serious drawbacks today. These problems include left hand entrances and exits, short weaving sections, inconsistent exit patterns, and limited vehicle storage at ramps.

Further upgrading of I-84 is needed in order for it to continue to serve thru traffic as well as be an effective dominant roadway for the area.

The future of I-84?

In the late nineties HVCEO petitioned Conn DOT to undertake an in depth analysis of I-84 upgrading needs. The response was favorable, and the study was completed in 2000 and then formally endorsed by HVCEO.

OVERVIEW OF UPCOMING I-84 UPGRADE
As determined by the 2000 Conn DOT study, phases one and two improvements will involve small scale interchange upgrades for a total cost of $21,715,000. For details by exit, see the links below entitled "Short Term."

The short term improvement at Exit 6 in Danbury has already been funded, and designs are in progress for the short term improvements at Exit 5 in Danbury and for the long term improvement at Exit 11 in Newtown.

The 2000 plan's phase three costing $83,180,000 calls for major capacity changes at most interchanges. These plans are of immediate interest to adjacent property owners, realtors, and economic development planning, and can be viewed at the links below labeled "Medium Term" and "Long Term." But, priorities as to which interchanges should be upgraded first have not yet been set. HVCEO wants input to this decision.

Phase four,costing $163,190,000 adds an I-84 travel lane in each direction. This most expensive step can fortunately be done in stages. As with the exit upgrades priorities are yet to be set for these staged widenings.

IMPROVEMENT FOR
EXITS 1 THRU 7 IN DANBURY:
EXIT 1 SHORT TERM MAP
EXIT 1 NO LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS

EXIT 2 SHORT TERM MAP
EXIT 2 LONG TERM MAP

EXITS 3 AND 4 SHORT TERM MAP
EXITS 3 AND 4 MEDIUM TERM MAP
EXITS 3 AND 4 LONG TERM MAP

EXIT 5 SHORT TERM MAP
EXIT 5 LONG TERM MAP

EXIT 6 SHORT TERM MAP
EXIT 6 LONG TERM MAP

At present I-84 Exit 6 has only an eastbound on ramp and a westbound
off ramp, two ramps rather than four. As shown on the Exit 6 Long Term Map
Conn DOT will correct this limitation by adding ramps to and from the west.

EXIT 7 SHORT TERM MAP
EXIT 7 MEDIUM TERM MAP
EXIT 7 LONG TERM MAP

IMPROVEMENTS FOR
EXIT 8 ON DANBURY-BETHEL LINE:
EXIT 8 SHORT TERM MAP
EXIT 8 LONG TERM MAP

At present northbound Payne Road traffic has a circuitous routing
to enter I-84 at Exit 8. But as shown on the Exit 8 Long Term Map Conn DOT will solve
this difficulty by adding a new bridge across I-84 and a relocating the eastbound on ramp.

IMPROVEMENT FOR
EXITS 9 THRU 11 IN NEWTOWN:
EXIT 9 SHORT TERM MAP
EXIT 9 LONG TERM MAP

EXIT 10 SHORT TERM MAP
EXIT 10 LONG TERM MAP

EXIT 11 SHORT TERM MAP
EXIT 11 LONG TERM MAP

IMPROVEMENT FOR I-84 IN
ADJACENT NEW YORK STATE
Late in 2006 the New York State DOT expressed an interest for greater expressway planning coordination with Connecticut thru a “Cross Hudson Gateway Corridor” planning program. Various interstate issues are summarized in the grant application to FHWA to fund this process. According to the application:

“The I-84 corridor is strategically important because it serves both as a by-pass route for long distance travelers and truckers accessing New England from the south and west, and an emergency alternative route to those to the south. The corridor has potential capacity and environmental issues that will have to be addressed in the future.

Connecticut has been evaluating widening I-84 to the east. Added lanes in New York from the Connecticut border to I-684 will need to be considered, including truck only lanes, as this segment currently carries 10,000 trucks per day. Public private partnerships will be explored to build and finance this capacity.”

NEXT STEPS
The next step is for Conn DOT to undertake an environmental assessment of I-84 from the New York State Line to Waterbury, in conformance with FHWA guidelines, in order to qualify the roadway's needs as defined in the 2000 study for federal funding." This critical next step has been delayed repeatedly from 2002 to 2008.

Please note that in 2006, the CT General Assembly passed a major transportation funding bill entitled the "Roadmap for Connecticut's Economic Future." That legislation requires the DOT commissioner to implement thirteen strategic transportation projects and initiatives.

Special thanks to the Greater Danbury - New Milford Area's legislative delegation for including on this important list "completing preliminary design and engineering for widening I-84 between Waterbury and Danbury."

The upgrading of the I-84 Corridor can yield handsome economic benefits to the State of Connecticut, for this corridor is crucial for economic development in a global market. This view was presented in 2003 by nationally known economic growth expert Michael Gallis.

All projections show that the New York Metro area will retain a strong position in the new global economy. Connecticut can benefit by positioning itself as a distinct submarket of that area. While two thousand units of local government compete for economic growth in just this one metro area, selling ourselves as one of the “nine interstate spokes out of NYC” puts us on the world radar screen.

An excerpt from the Gallis report which projects
a shift of growth to the Danbury-Waterbury I-84 corridor

A lattice of trade routes is growing just to the west of the Washington to Boston coastal corridor. One million square foot distribution centers appearing on I-81 are one symptom of this. North and south NAFTA trade routes, such as I-87 nearby, are also driving its formation.

The Hudson River presents a barrier to global competitiveness here to its east. But I-84 holds the high card of a free flowing connection across that barrier. The position of I-84 through western Connecticut serves the New England market, then also the New York Metro market, then triple duty as a bypass for congested I-95 and NYC.

From the perspective of emerging globally influenced trade patterns, this geography presents the Danbury to Waterbury Corridor with great opportunity. New and fast multi-lane Route 7 North connections to New Milford will pull I-84 benefits into that town as well.

Given these forces, to insure economic viability for all of Connecticut, I-84 capacity upgrading must be a high statewide priority.

Sections 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6- 7- 8