SOUTHBURY, CT — Drivers traveling along I-84 through Southbury and Middlebury may soon encounter automated speed enforcement cameras as Connecticut prepares to roll out its new highway work-zone safety program.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently updated its public "Know the Zone" webpage with a map showing planned enforcement corridors and additional details about how the automated system will work.
The Southbury and Middlebury corridor is tied to an I-84 pavement rehabilitation project covering roughly 7.7 miles of highway running through November 30, 2026, according to CTDOT project documents.
According to CTDOT, the program is currently in testing to go live in June. Drivers traveling 85 mph or faster — or those with repeat violations — can expect to receive a $75 fine by mail, the agency said.
"When the systems are live, the first 30 days will be written warnings only," CTDOT spokesperson Eva Zymaris said.
After that initial 30-day period, first-time violators will continue receiving warnings unless they are traveling 85 mph or faster through a work zone, according to CTDOT.
State officials said automated enforcement systems can be active in no more than 15 designated work-zone locations on limited-access state highways at one time.
According to CTDOT, enforcement will only occur when active work is taking place. Drivers will also see warning signs before entering and leaving active enforcement zones.
"We're hoping with the advanced notice and signage, the public will slow down — and no one will receive a citation," Zynmaris said. "We're reminding everyone of the importance of slowing down, moving over, ditching those distractions and driving sober. These actions save lives."
Under the program, cameras capture images of vehicles traveling at least 10 mph above the posted work-zone speed limit. If vehicle occupants appear in an image, their faces will be masked, the state said.
CTDOT said the program was created following a 2023 pilot and aims to reduce speeding, crashes, injuries and fatalities in highway work zones.
The agency also released statistics from March testing on Route 15 northbound in Meriden, where officials said 236 vehicles were recorded traveling more than 85 mph through a work zone with a posted speed limit of 45 mph. Seven vehicles were recorded traveling more than 100 mph, with the highest speed reaching 110 mph.
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