News
Governor Rell announces details of I-95 modernization plan in Southeastern Connecticut
By Gov Rell's Office
Apr 5, 2008 - 6:04:33 PM

Project begins Monday

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced details of a protection and modernization plan along Interstate 95 in the East Lyme area where a horrific wrong-way tanker truck crash last fall claimed three lives.

The $1 million project, to begin Monday, April 7, includes the installation of 1,800 feet of concrete median barriers almost four feet high.

“This work will further protect the thousands of car and truck drivers and passengers who use this stretch of I-95 every day,” Governor Rell said. “As I said when I called for the funding for this project, my goal is to ensure that Connecticut has the safest and most efficient highway system in the nation. The I-95 corridor is among the busiest, if not the busiest, in the country. The faster we can make these improvements, the faster we will protect motorists.”

On November 2, 2007, a northbound tanker truck crossed the median into the southbound lanes of I-95, resulting in the deaths of three people including the truck driver. The crash shut down I-95 for hours and required a major environmental cleanup the day of the accident.

The work between Exits 75 and 76 will begin at the Route 1 overpass and continue to an “Authorized Vehicle” turnaround just short of the I-395 split in East Lyme. The work will be performed at night (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) Monday through Thursday, to minimize traffic disruptions and is expected to take about five weeks to complete. During work hours, left lane and shoulder closures in both directions will be required.

Governor Rell’s proposed budget emphasizes highway and truck safety, including the addition of 100 new state troopers devoted exclusively to enforcing traffic laws and two new Department of Motor Vehicles “truck squads” to target companies with a history of safety violations. Last month, Governor Rell held a news conference at the Old Lyme Police Department to highlight the elements of her budget proposals that stress traffic and highway safety.

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