CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: June 6, 2017

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

---

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will host a public information meeting at Western Connecticut State University, Student Center, Room 201, on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, to provide the community with an introduction to an initiative to improve safety, increase capacity, and improve operations and access between Exits 3 and 8 on Interstate 84 in Danbury.

The public information meeting will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will be an open house format where members of the public can attend throughout the day at their convenience.  The public will have the opportunity to view introductory exhibits at their own pace and interact with the project team’s engineers and planners. 

This eight-mile stretch of I-84 experiences significant congestion and is CTDOT’s highest priority for improvements on the I-84 corridor.   The CTDOT has initiated the project to improve safety and capacity of the highway within the project limits as well as to provide better access to critical destinations in the city by creating efficient connections to other modes of transportation.

At this early stage in the process, the project team is reaching out to local residents, commuters, business owners, and other interested parties, to receive input and ideas on how the project can best address current and future transportation and community needs. Public input is critical to ensuring that the redesigned highway corridor benefits all.

The project planning process began in late 2016, and is focusing on public engagement and the development and preliminary assessment of alternatives.  Subsequent phases will include environmental studies and an assessment of the potential benefits and impacts to residents, businesses, travelers, properties, neighborhoods, the natural environment,  as well as the identification of a preferred alternative and preliminary engineering.

CTDOT and its team of consultants will work closely with the City of Danbury and surrounding towns, local businesses, community groups, commuter and freight interests, environmental, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian advocates and organizations and residents - from project initiation and planning, through project design and construction to ensure that project meets public expectations.  CTDOT and the project team will also coordinate with the Federal Highway Administration, Western Connecticut Council of Governments, and other federal, state, regional, and local agencies.

The meeting facility is ADA accessible. Free language assistance or sign interpretation may be requested by contacting the Department of Transportation’s Office of Communications (voice only) at (860) 594-3062 at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting. Efforts will be made to respond to requests for assistance.

More detailed information is available online at www.i84danbury.com.