Plans for Exit 33 Interchange in Stratford Moving Forward

Plans for a full interchange at Exit 33 are progressing after the Greater Bridgeport and Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization unanimously approved funding for the project last week.

The approval by the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) will provide $24 million in funding for various phases of the project, with construction projected to begin in 2017, according to Stratford Mayor John A. Harkins.

Harkins said the availability of funding marks a major step in progression for the proposed project that would construct a full interchange at Exit 33.

“Securing funding and regional support for Exit 33 is a major deal and a promising sign of advancement,” Harkins said in a press release. “This project is a common sense approach to address traffic and safety concerns, as well as to stimulate our local and regional economies. Residents will finally be able to easily access many of Stratford’s great businesses and will be able to have better access to the highway. I would like to thank the Greater Bridgeport and Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Department of Transportation for their efforts to assist this project and make it a reality.”

Read more about the project from the press release below:

The proposed I-95 interchange project will result in the construction of two new ramps in Stratford: a northbound on-ramp at Ferry Boulevard; and a southbound off-ramp near Barnum Avenue Cutoff and Veterans Boulevard. The new ramps would provide full access to I-95 for residents and visitors wishing to patronize businesses in Stratford, especially in the developing Transit-Oriented District and Route 1 corridor. In addition to bolstering Stratford’s economy, the new ramps would provide much needed congestion relief on Route 1 and surrounding local streets in Devon.

Funding for the transportation project was included in an approved amendment to the fiscal year 2015-2018 State Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) by the GPVMPO at a meeting held on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The TIP, which is valid for four years, was endorsed by the organization in October 2014 and is subject to amendments consistent with long range transportation goals of the organization and region. Additionally, the TIP was approved by the United States Department of Transportation (Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration).

The amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program approving federal funding came at the request of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The department has expressed interest in seeing the project move forward in an effort to alleviate traffic congestion and improve the state’s transportation system. In accordance with the amendment, the funding will be provided in part by the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP), a funding program administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and in part by the State of Connecticut.

The breakdown of the $24 million, 90 percent of which will be provided by the NHPP, and 10 percent by the State of Connecticut, is as follows: $100,000 for the right-of-way phase in 2015; $2.3 million for the final design phase in 2015; and $22 million for the third phase, construction, which is expected to begin in 2017.