Local Lane Closures In Effect For Route 17 Ramp Project

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Monday began a two-day closure On Harbor Drive as part of improvements to the Route 17-to-Route 9 ramps.

Local and Department of Transportation officials said the southbound lane on Harbor Drive will be closed from Harbor Park to Union Street on Monday and Tuesday.

The northbound lane will remain open to the Route 9 ramp, officials said.

Pedestrian access to the park will be available, officials said.

The Reconfiguration of the Route 17 on-ramp to Route 9 is designed to "improve overall safety" and reduce rear-end crashes at the Route 17 Northbound and Harbor Drive entrances to Route 9 northbound.

According to project officials, the current ramp from Route 17 north to Route 9 north is a "skewed, stop-controlled intersection with a short acceleration lane that overlaps with the entrance at Harbor Drive along a congested corridor in advance of the Route 9 traffic signals."

It goes on, "These conditions have contributed to higher than expected crash rates in this area. The state is dedicated to improving the infrastructure to mitigate these contributing crash factors."