Route 9 Delays In The Future

ESSEX, CHESTER, DEEP RIVER — A Possible Year's Worth of Traffic Delays on Route 9

Traffic delays may be part of the future for those who travel Route 9, due to a Connecticut Department of Transportation project, which includes replacing all the exit signs along Route 9 and changing the exit numbers to meet new federal standards.

The fifteen-month project, which began last week and is expected to be completed by March of 2022, involves a revision of the Route 9 exit numbers from the current sequential numbering, to a new mileage-based numbering system. Signs with the old exit numbers will be posted alongside new exit number signs, for at least two years, to give drivers time to acclimate to the change and become familiar with the new numbers, explained Kevin Mursick, a spokesman for the Connecticut DOT.

Mursick said, "The impetus for the project is the fact that the existing exit signs on Route 9 are no longer in compliance with federal and state standards. They are at the end of their useful lifespans, in terms of visibility and readability and their reflectivity is poor at night."

He added, "Do I expect a back up in traffic on a daily basis because of this project? No," said Mursick, "There could potentially be some impact on traffic and we just want to give people ample warning that there may be traffic delays, during this time frame, due to the work we need to get done."

Similar work will be going on simultaneously on Routes 17 and 82. DOT crews will be replacing signs and sign supports along Route 9 from I-95 in Old Saybrook to I-84 in Farmington; along Route 17 from the South Main Street intersection to Route 9 in Middletown and on Route 82 from Route 9 to the Route 154 intersection in Chester and Haddam.

Drivers can expect traffic delays Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. In addition, there may be occasional weekend delays.

Mursick explained that mileage-based exit sign systems exist throughout the country, because they are more intuitive and that the consistency from state to state makes travel easier. A similar project was completed a few years ago on Interstate 395 in Connecticut.