State officials weigh burying I-95 stretch to reconnect Fairfield and Bridgeport neighborhoods
The study examines lowering or covering sections of the highway to address heavy congestion and reconnect communities split by the interstate.
By Leah Thompson ·
Connecticut state transportation officials are evaluating a plan to place sections of Interstate 95 underground between Fairfield and Bridgeport.
The study, led by engineering firm GM2, considers a wide range of potential fixes for one of the state's most congested corridors. Options include redesigned ramps, added lanes, and lowering or covering specific segments of the highway.
The corridor currently carries between 120,000 and 130,000 vehicles daily. Officials say this volume contributes to a high number of collisions, including rear-end crashes and side swipes during lane changes.
Matthew Vail, the project manager, noted that drivers face relentless traffic. "There are many rear-end collisions," Vail said. "We have also seen several side swipes when we see cars trying to enter and exit the highway."
JJ Samus of GM2 stated that the team wanted to explore every possible angle during the concept development phase. The evaluation also includes improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, such as wider sidewalks and high-visibility crosswalks.
The most ambitious concept involves lowering or covering parts of the interstate. Officials suggest this could reconnect neighborhoods that have been divided by the highway for decades. These proposals remain in the concept evaluation stage.
