Connecticut Department of Transportation — I-84 Waterbury Widening Project

I-84 is the primary route for travelers between major cities in the Northeast – Hartford, Boston, and New York City, running through the city of Waterbury. With 125,000 vehicles traveling on this route each day, heavy traffic congestion is all too common. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) knew this busy interstate needed traffic flow improvement. This $330 million project widened I-84 and included the construction a third travel lane, realigned the roadway, and reconfigured the interchange ramp. Relocating the Mad River and Beaver Pond Brook – two bodies of water than run under I-84 – proved to a unique challenge for CTDOT, solved in part by building a pedestrian bridge over the Mad River. The project also included upgrading traffic signals, adding new highway illumination, and improving commuter parking lots, including access to bus stops. The operation and coordination on this project resulted in minimal delays and disruption to travelers by limiting the number of closures on I-84 – closing only at night – while reducing the roadway width during peak hours to help ensure the traveling public could travel throughout the project, all while completing construction a year ahead of schedule.