Tolls Debate Decided + Expanded Access For COVID-19 Boosters?

Good Tuesday morning Connecticut,

A sunny day today with temperatures only rising into the upper 40s. Warmer on Wednesday with more sun and temperatures into the low 50s and Thursday looks splendid with more sushine and temperatures reaching into the mid 60s. Friday may feature some rain showers but also some sun too.

Gov. Ned Lamont says state doesn't need tolls

“No, we don't need tolls, we had that debate, the debate is done,” Lamont said, via media reports including WFSB 3 TV.

Lamont hasn't always believed that as he tried to get tolls approved in Connecticut back in 2019 and 2020 but the General Assembly never approved those plans. At that time, Lamont said the state needed tolls to create revenue to fix the state's poor road conditions and that the sub-quality of the state's transportation infrastructure was hurting Connecticut's economy.

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What's changed? Connecticut will receive $5.38 billion in federal funds over the next several years and a bulk of those funds will be on transportation infrastructure upgrades.

Lamont told WTNH News 8 that the billions in federal funding will "speed up the commute anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour. It’s gonna take us five years.”

Some of the projects that will be funded include: widening of I-84 in Danbury, reconstructing the Gold Star Memorial Bridge in New London and Groton, and major upgrades in Hartford and Meriden on 1-84, I-91 and I-691 respectively, according to News 8.

Expanded access for COVID-19 boosters in CT?

New York announced that any adult who wants a coronavirus booster shot can get one, and a state official told Hearst Connecticut that the state is considering something similar but not right now.

Connecticut officials said they know there is a lot of interest in the booster shot but also added that many folks already qualify due to their age, medical condition or their profession. (Read more at Hearst Connecticut).

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Information via the state Department of Public Health on booster shot eligibility currently in CT

If you received Pfizer or Moderna,

• You are eligible for a booster if you are:
  • 65 years or older
  • Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
  • Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
  • Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings
• When to get a booster:
  • At least 6 months after your second shot
• Which booster should you get?
  • Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States – Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson

If you received Johnson & Johnson/Johnson,

• You are eligible for a booster if you are:
  • 18 years or older
• When to get a booster:
  • At least 2 months after your shot
• • Which booster should you get?
    • Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States – Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson

If you fall into any of the groups listed above, you can get a booster shot of any of the available COVID vaccines, regardless of the vaccine type you originally received:

• If Pfizer was your primary two-dose series, you can get a booster six months later of either Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.
• If Moderna was your primary two-dose series, you can get a booster six months later of either Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson.
• If you received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you can get a booster two months later of either Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer or Moderna.

>>>You can read more about the coronavirus vaccine and booster shots at the state health department website here.

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Here are the conditions on CT's major roadways:

LISBON - Road Work on I-395 Northbound between Exits 19 and 22 (2.4 miles) in effect today until 3:30 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 9:06 am.

W. HARTFORD - Road Work on I-84 Eastbound between Exits 41 and 46 (3.4 miles) in effect today until 3:30 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 9:02 am.

FARMINGTON - Delays. I-84 Eastbound is congested between Exits 39A and 44 (4.0 miles). Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 7:40 am.

NEW HAVEN - Road Work on I-91 Northbound between Exits 3 and 6 (0.4 miles) in effect today until 4:00 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 8:59 am.

ROCKY HILL - Road Work on I-91 Northbound between Exits 24 and 27 (3.8 miles) in effect today until 3:27 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 9:00 am.

ROCKY HILL - Crash (Tractor Trailer) on I-91 Northbound between Exits 23 and 24. The left lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 7:58 am.

ROCKY HILL - Emergency Road Work (Maintenance) on I-91 Northbound between Exits 23 and 24. The right lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 8:37 am.

OLD SAYBROOK - Road Work on I-95 Southbound between Exits 69 and 67 (2.2 miles) in effect today until 4:00 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 9:07 am.

BRIDGEPORT - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 19 and 3 (18.7 miles). Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 8:20 am.

STAMFORD - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 19 and 3 (18.7 miles). Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 8:20 am.

GUILFORD - I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 60 and 57 (2.2 miles) because of Crash (1 Vehicle) between Exits 58 and 57. 1 lane is open. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 8:53 am.

GUILFORD - I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 60 and 57 (2.2 miles) because of Crash (1 Vehicle) between Exits 58 and 57. 1 lane is open. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 8:53 am.

ROCKY HILL - Ferry closed due to high waters. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 6:00 am.
11/14/21, 10:09 AM

FAIRFIELD - Delays. RT15 Southbound is congested between Exits 44 and 41 (6.3 miles). Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 7:05 am.

NORWALK - Delays. RT15 Southbound is congested between Exits 40A and 36 (3.0 miles). Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 7:08 am.

HARTFORD - Delays. RT15 Northbound is congested between Exits 87 and 90 (1.6 miles). Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 8:14 am.

GLASTONBURY - Road Work on RT2 Eastbound between Exits 6 and 9 (2.6 miles) in effect today until 3:00 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 8:59 am.

GLASTONBURY - Road Work on RT2 Westbound between Exits 10 and 8 (4.1 miles) in effect today until 3:29 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 9:10 am.

MIDDLETOWN - Road Work on RT66 Westbound, On the Arrigoni Bridge in effect today until 3:35 pm. The Right lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 7:35 am.

NAUGATUCK - Road Work on RT8 Northbound between Exits 29 and 30 (1.9 miles) in effect today until Friday, November 19 at 3:00 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Monday, November 15 at 7:45 pm.

WATERBURY - Road Work on RT8 Northbound between Exits 30 and 35 (1.6 miles) in effect today until 3:00 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 9:07 am.

CROMWELL - Road Work on RT9 Northbound between Exits 19 and 20S (2.0 miles) in effect today until 3:30 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Tuesday, November 16 at 9:04 am.