Route 11: Road to Nowhere

Ever wonder why Route 11 seems to end abruptly at an exit off-ramp for Route 85 in Salem? The road was originally planned in the 1950's as an efficient way to ease traffic between the larger cities of Hartford and New London. The stretch that we utilize today was opened in the year 1972. The remainder of the road that would continue on to New London was to be built when additional money could be raised to complete the project.

The project continued to stall throughout the 1980's, 1990's and into the new millenium when environmental concerns were raised about the development of the land parcel involved. Millions of dollars have been spent on environmental studies over the years to no avail on the possible continuation of the road.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for example, wanted to study the local population of New England cottontails in 2006. The study further stalled the completion of Route 11 so that the EPA could study rabbit droppings during the winter months when they could be more easily tracked in the snow.

Joseph Bell, communications director for former Congressman Rob Simmons (R), recently commented on the debacle in this opinion piece. 

What do you think about Route 11? Should the road be completed? Or, should the project be dropped due to environmental concerns? Tell us what you think in the comments.