Naugatuck Valley officers reject CTDOT request to extend $35 million freeway interchange venture because of ongoing frustrations over timeline delays. NVCOG requires dedication to venture shifting ahead and urges collaboration with state transportation planners for showed timeline and scope.
CTDOT photograph
CTDOT proposed to transport the interchange reconstruction venture from the present fiscal 12 months’s development checklist to a couple undetermined long run 12 months and push it out of a momentary capital plan.
Uninterested through years of extend, the board of the 19-town Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) in Waterbury, Conn., has despatched a message to state transportation planners balloting to oppose any other postponement of an estimated $35 million venture to reconstruct the interchange of Connecticut Freeway 63, Conn. 64, and Interstate 84 at the Waterbury-Middlebury line.
The unanimous vote on Feb. 21, 2025, followed an ordinary body of workers advice to reject an offer from the Connecticut Division of Transportation (CTDOT) to take away the long-planned venture from its newest three-year capital plan.
Usually, previous requests to amend such transportation development plans had been accommodated, however the Waterbury Republican-American reported Feb. 26, 2025, that frustrations over this venture’s timeline led to another end result.
CTDOT proposed to transport the interchange reconstruction venture from the present fiscal 12 months’s development checklist to a couple undetermined long run 12 months and push it out of a momentary capital plan. Transportation planners even have made up our minds that up to date visitors quantity knowledge is needed for the general design.
The NVCOG vote used to be extra of a delaying motion and a protest as it simplest stops the transportation company from straight away pushing again the venture, however does no longer imply the hassle will probably be shifting ahead any time quickly.
The motion essentially registered the frustrations of the member cities and body of workers of the NVCOG, most likely none greater than long-time Middlebury First Selectman Ed St. John.
“I have been coping with this venture since 1976,” stated St. John. “That is one venture that I am certain goes to survive me. I’ve outlived one of the others, however this one goes to be simply the other. I am so pissed off with this entire factor. It is only kicking the can down the street … and it simply assists in keeping happening and on … and is going nowhere.”
NVCOG’s Rick Dunne and Wealthy Donovan, its govt director and the transportation making plans director, respectively, instructed the Waterbury information supply that the rejection of the CTDOT request will supply extra time to get additional info at the highway venture’s timeline from the state company.
“This venture has been happening for a long time and it’s been not on time time and again, so it will not be a horrible thought to turn that we’re pissed off concerning the ongoing delays and wish to see an actual dedication to when this venture [could] transfer ahead,” Donovan stated.
Space Leaders Simply Need Showed Venture Timeline
The interchange enhancements contain widening sections of Conn. Highways 63/64, setting up a brand new highway to glue Chase Expressway with Conn. 63, construction a multiuse path to glue the Middlebury Greenway, widening an I-84 off-ramp to Chase Expressway and changing and including visitors lighting all over the venture’s footprint.
As well as, a brand new commuter car parking zone is deliberate with the aim of addressing protection and operational considerations related to visitors delays and crashes with the interchange zone.
Despite the fact that the estimated development price is $35 million, there may be — as but — no showed investment, in keeping with the CTDOT capital plan.
The Republican-American discovered from Donovan that development used to be scheduled to start out in Q2 2025 fiscal 12 months, however the transportation division made up our minds that up to date visitors quantity and turning motion knowledge is needed prior to the venture can transfer to the general design level.
In consequence, CTDOT is proposing to take away the venture out of its present capital plan and come with it in some long run one.
Donovan stated this will be the 3rd time that the interchange venture has been shuffled out and in of a momentary capital plan through CTDOT. He added whilst there is not any objection from NVCOG to the state company getting up to date visitors quantity and development knowledge, the worry is that there is not any dedication for when the venture will transfer ahead.
The council’s movement to reject the transportation division’s proposal additionally asked additional collaboration with CTDOT officers in regards to the interchange venture’s timeline and scope.
“Expectantly, we will get a reaction,” Dunne stated in talking with the Waterbury newspaper.
