CT DOT project, Work Zone Awareness Week and Drug Take Back Day

April 24, 2025


 


The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has begun construction on a major project on Interstate 95 in West Haven to replace two aging bridges and improve traffic flow in the area.  The bridges, which are each more than 70 years old, carry I-95 over 1st Avenue and the Metro-North Railroad train tracks. The new structures are designed to have a minimum service life of 75 years, significantly improving long-term safety and reliability.  The $136.5 million project is funded by a mix of 90% federal funds and 10% state funds.  Construction is expected to be completed in phases by year-end 2027.

In addition to replacing the bridges, the project includes extending the southbound lane from Exit 44 to create a continuous travel lane, which will ultimately serve as an exit-only lane for Exit 43. The goal of these improvements is to reduce congestion, enhance traffic flow, and improve safety in the region.

Later in 2025, the northbound entrance ramp at Interchange 43 will close, with a detour routed through nearby state roads. The project will progress in stages through 2027, with three lanes of traffic maintained in each direction during daytime hours.

Click here for detailed information on this project and to subscribe to construction updates.  
 

April 21-25: Work Zone
Awareness Week

This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week, which honors the workers and professionals who help keep construction zones safe, including highway crews, public works, utility companies, contractors, and law enforcement.  Motorists in Connecticut are urged to take an active role in protecting roadway workers and drivers.  

Work zone crashes remain a major safety issue in Connecticut and nationwide. According to data from the Connecticut Crash Data Repository at UConn, between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, there were more than 2,000 crashes and six fatalities in Connecticut work zones. Nationally in 2022, the most recent year of verifiable data, there were 891 work zone fatalities.

In 2023, during Connecticut’s one-year pilot program for work zone speed safety cameras, nearly 25,000 motorists received written warnings for exceeding speed limits by 15 miles per hour or more in designated work zones. A permanent work zone camera program is expected to launch again in this year.

Click here for up-to-date information, safety tips, and news regarding work zone safety.
 

Rising Costs for Auto Repairs and Insurance

Recent news about tariffs on imported vehicles and parts has raised questions about how this might affect the cost of owning and insuring a car. The Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) wants consumers to understand how changes like these could impact their wallets and what steps they can take to stay protected and save money.

For more information contact the Consumer Affairs Division at insurance@ct.gov or call 1-800-203-3447 or 860-297-3900.
 

DEA National RX Take Back Day

Saturday, April 26th from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. is DEA National RX Take Back Day. If you have unused, unwanted, and/or expired OTC and/or prescription medicine in your cabinets, now is a great time to safely dispose of them. Many police departments already have permanent medication drop boxes in their building, but DEA Take Back Day is a great day to dispose of these meds, too.

Click here to find a location nearest to you.