Work to reconfigure the Route 17 on-ramp that leads to Route 9 North in Middletown will begin soon and state officials are holding a news conference Tuesday morning to discuss it.
Gov. Ned Lamont and Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto will hold a news conference at 11 a.m.
The governor's office said the on-ramp’s current configuration has resulted in 319 crashes and 27 injuries between 2019 and 2022 and the project was designed to reduce crashes and improving traffic mobility.
It includes removing the stop sign on the on-ramp and creating a full-length, free-flow acceleration lane to allow vehicles to merge onto Route 9 without having to come to a complete stop first.
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The bridge carrying Route 17 over Route 9 will be replaced to accommodate the new acceleration lane and Harbor Drive access to Route 9 will be removed. The Main Street Extension intersection will be realigned and signalized, and a new sidewalk will be added to the west side of Main Street Extension underneath Route 17, according to the governor's office.
The governor’s office said this project is part of a comprehensive Department of Transportation program that will result in the reconfiguration of several areas of Route 9 in Middletown.
Middlesex Corporation was awarded the contract, which is valued at $50 million.
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The governor's office said it is supported by funding Connecticut is receiving from the Infrastructure Law.
The project is expected to be completed in 2026.
Learn more about the plan here.
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