Learn about Exit 17 proposed changes

#Middlebury #Exit17

This site map hangs on the wall in the first-floor hallway at Middlebury Town Hall. It shows the proposed changes to Exit 17, which include a Chase Parkway Extension to Straits Turnpike. (Marjorie Needham photo)

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) will hold two public hearings about the proposed I-84 Interchange 17 improvements, construction of Chase Parkway extension, and operational improvements on Route 63, Route 64, and SR 845. The first will be Thursday, Sept. 5, at Shepardson Community Center at 1172 Whittemore Road in Middlebury; the second will be Tuesday, Sept. 10, at Crosby High School at 300 Pierpont Road in Waterbury.

Both hearings will follow the same agenda. An open forum for individual discussions with DOT officials beginning at 6 p.m. will be followed by a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Readers can find a site map of the project posted on the wall in the first-floor hallway at Middlebury Town Hall (see photo). Best we can tell (not being civil engineers), the biggest change we will see is that Woodside Avenue by Maggie McFly’s will cross Straits Turnpike and join the proposed Chase Parkway Extension. The land where a house now stands will be the site of a commuter parking lot holding what we estimate to be around 100 cars. The new Chase Parkway Extension will offer access to I-84 eastbound, which should benefit folks coming north from Naugautuck.

Where routes 63 and 64 intersect, drivers will have new options. Route 64 will gain a westbound lane coming up the hill past Chase Parkway. At the intersection, two lanes will be able to continue westward.

The eastbound side of Route 64 at the intersection also will gain a lane, so there will be a left turn, straight and right turn lane.

On Route 63, an additional southbound lane will allow two lanes to travel south through the intersection from the intersection with Route 64 down to Woodside Avenue.

The purpose of the project, identified as State Project No. 0080-0128, is to improve traffic operations and address safety concerns. The project involves the following improvements:

• Route 64 improvements: It is proposed to widen a section of Route 64 from its intersection with Chase Parkway to Route 63 to provide one additional lane in the westbound direction. It is also proposed to lower Route 64 to improve sight lines, which may result in constructing retaining walls on both sides of the roadway to stabilize the embankment slope.
• Route 63 improvements: It is proposed to widen a section of Route 63 from its intersection with Route 64 to Woodside Avenue to provide one additional lane in the southbound direction. The traffic signals at Route 63/Route 64 and Route 63/Woodside Avenue intersections will be replaced to accommodate the proposed approaches at these intersections.
• Construct a new roadway (Chase Parkway Extension) to connect Chase Parkway with Route 63 at the intersection of Woodside Avenue: Chase Parkway Extension will consist of one lane in each direction. A new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Chase Parkway Extension and Route 64. A multi-use trail is proposed on the westerly side of the roadway which will connect to the Middlebury Greenway. It is also proposed to construct a new commuter lot at the southeast corner of the Route 63/Woodside Avenue/Chase Parkway Extension intersection.
• Widen the I-84 Westbound Interchange 17 off-ramp to Chase Parkway from one lane to two lanes: An exclusive left turn lane onto Chase Parkway Extension will be provided at this new signalized intersection.
  There are right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements. It is anticipated that two (2) total acquisitions and approximately thirteen (13) partial acquisitions with numerous permanent/temporary easements and temporary rights for construction will be required.

Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2022 based on the availability of funding, acquisition of rights of way, and approval of permits. The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $29 million. It will be undertaken with eighty percent (80%) federal funds and twenty percent (20%) state funds.

The public hearings are being held to afford a full opportunity for public participation and to allow open discussion of any views and comments the community may have concerning this proposed project.

Written statements and exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the public hearing may be submitted at the public hearing or mailed or delivered to the attention of Susan M. Libatique, P.E., Principal Engineer, Division of Highway Design, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT 06131-7546 on or before Oct. 10, 2019. The written statements or exhibits must be reproducible in black and white and on paper not to exceed 8-½ by 11 inches in size. They will be made part of the public hearing and will be considered in the same way as oral statements.

The meeting facility is ADA accessible. Language assistance may be requested by contacting the Department’s Language Assistance Call Line at 860-594-2109 at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting. Persons having a hearing and/or speech disability may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service and instruct the operator to contact 860-594-2243. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.

Plans of the proposed project are available at Middlebury Town Hall. More detailed information is available at the DOT Office of Engineering, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., excluding holidays. Anyone wishing to discuss the project may contact Susan M. Libatique, P.E. at 860-594-3179 or at susan.libatique@ct.gov.