Adding Lanes to I-95/I-84 Will Generate Billions for Connecticut: Malloy

By BARBARA HEINS (Patch Staff)

Fasten your seatbelts Connecticut — Gov. Dannel Malloy on Thursday released a report that suggests widening the Connecticut Turnpike from Greenwich to Stonington as well as the I-84 corridor between Danbury and Waterbury are needed to help grow the state’s economy.

The governor unveiled an analysis conducted by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) that “shows significant economic benefits to the state’s economy by widening Connecticut’s interstate highways.” The report indicates that adding a travel lane in each direction of I-95 “border-to-border from Greenwich to North Stonington, as well as on I-84 between Waterbury and Danbury, Connecticut will see economic benefits of nearly $40 billion – about four times the cost of both project.”

The analysis comes on the heels of several highway and bridge widening projects along the I-95 corridor, including a stretch in Norwalk, and the Q-Bridge in New Haven. Malloy’s announcement did not address how the state would proceed with the projects, obtain the land necessary to complete the projects or a timetable for the work.

Malloy said both highway projects are part of his proposed $100 billion, 30-year Let’s Go CT initiative to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure.

“The economic benefits of upgrading our infrastructure come in the form of new business sales, new wage income to workers, and an increase in Connecticut’s gross state product. We need to build a brighter economic future, and it starts with fixing our transportation now,” Malloy said in a statement. The report said the state’s tourism, retail and manufacturing sectors would benefit from the two projects.

• What do you think? Are more travel lanes needed on I-95 and I-84? Let us know in the comments section.

According to the CTDOT, adding a lane in each direction on I-95 across southern Connecticut will produce $15.5 billion in new business sales, add $9 billion to Connecticut’s gross state product, and add $6.3 billion in new wage income to workers. The widening itself will cost $10.7 billion, according to CTDOT’s estimates, and support between 11,000 and 19,000 construction jobs over a 10-year ramp-up period.

The I-84 widening project between Danbury and Waterbury will produce $4.4 billion in new business sales, add $2.6 billion to Connecticut’s gross state product, and add $1.8 billion in new wage income to workers, the economic analysis concluded. The total cost of the project is $1.5 billion and will support 4,000 construction jobs.

In addition, by easing congestion, economic output grows. The analysis found that adding a lane in each direction border-to-border will save I-95 travelers well over 14 million hours of delays by the year 2040. Likewise, the widening of I-84 will save travelers over 4.7 million hours of delays during the same period.

“When we talk with companies about expanding in, or relocating to, our state, commuting time for employees and the ability to easily transport products and materials in and out of the state are some of the key considerations. These have a direct impact on productivity, profitability, the ability to attract and retain talent, and overall competitiveness,” Department of Economic and Community Development Catherine Smith said in a statement. “This analysis makes it clear that improving the state’s transportation network increases our economic competitiveness and simply makes life easier for businesses and residents.”

Photo: Gov. Dannel Malloy via Twitter