State Dot Is Ignoring

Immediate Traffic Problems

To the Editor:

Why are we, the citizens of Connecticut, continually being inundated with unilaterally conceived far reaching plans to “improve and resolve our problems” by various state agencies created to serve us? I may be missing something important, but I was under the impression that we, the citizens of the various municipalities in Connecticut, have elected representatives to hear our needs and represent those needs to the appropriate state agencies. Why then has the State Department of Transportation decided what will be done, starting in 2010, to alleviate the immediate congestion problem at the exit 11 / Interstate route 84 interchange? Once again, I get the impression, we are being told not to confuse the DOT with facts; their minds have been made up!

I know I am not the only person disturbed by the lack of concern by the state over our immediate problems. Mr Peter Sander’s insightful letter in last week’s The Bee prompts this letter. The changes he suggested would cost next to nothing, and would alleviate at least some of the congestion during the morning and afternoon rush hours. The only suggestions I would add to those already presented would be: to create a clearly marked right hand lane extending north from the light at Toddy Hill Road to the light at the Route 34 / Mile Hill Road Intersection, and the enhancement of any new exit from the back parking lot of the high school onto Oakview Road to provide access to all school busses serving the western portion of Newtown directly onto Mile Hill Road past the entrance to Route 84.

I do know these moderate changes proposed would cost far less than the $11 million estimated for the project.  Eleven million dollars in today’s money will probably escalate to $20 million by 2010. Six years is a long time to wait with our fingers crossed hoping there will not be a fatal accident. How about just the dollars in minor fender benders, and the cumulative psychological damage caused by road rage on fellow drivers, coworkers, and families of those affected by the interminable delays presently experienced? I certainly do not have all the answers, but neither does the State DOT.

It is beyond my comprehension to understand how the state DOT could arrive at a cost/benefit analysis establishing a four-year-in-the-future start date for a project with such an immediate need. As a further note of caution to the state’s plans the Route 25 connector between I-95 and I-84 was supposed to begin in 1965, now in 2004 we learn that the plans have been abandoned, so much for the credibility of the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Respectfully,

Kenneth Adams

6 Arrowhead Lane, Sandy Hook                            February 17, 2004