I-84 ramps at Exits 40 and 41 will be impacted for the next six months, beginning July 5, 2022.

Overview of I-84 traffic and safety improvement project in West Hartford. Project website

By Ronni Newton

An I-84 on-ramp and an off-ramp in West Hartford will be closed intermittently over the next six months, beginning July 5, 2022, as part of the extensive safety and operational improvement project being managed by the state Department of Transportation (DOT).

According to the DOT, the impacted ramps will be the eastbound Exit 40 off-ramp to New Britain Avenue (Route 71) near Westfarms, and the Exit 41 on-ramp from South Main Street.

The ramps will be closed intermittently in the evening and overnight, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., to accommodate the installation of drainage systems, milling of existing pavement, and the placement of new pavement with lane markings.

When the ramps are closed, a detour for the I-84 eastbound Exit 40 off-ramp will be posted and will direct traffic to utilize Exit 41, where traffic can then turn right to head south on South Main Street to access New Britain Avenue (Route 71).

A detour for the I-84 eastbound Exit 41 on-ramp will be posted directing traffic to head west on New Britain Avenue and enter I-84 eastbound at Exit 40.

Work on the $54 million project began in the spring of 2020, and is being managed by O&G industries and administered by the DOT’s Bureau of Engineering and Construction, Office of Construction, District 1 in Rocky Hill.

When the project is completed, the most visible improvement for motorists will be an additional westbound lane that will stretch from the Park Road (Exit 43) on-ramp, through the exit ramp for Route 9. Eastbound traffic will have an auxiliary lane between New Britain Avenue (Exit 40) and South Main Street (Exit 41).

“Key aspects of the project include three bridge replacements, the addition of an auxiliary travel lane in each direction, noise barrier improvements, and repaving,” Jim Brennan, assistant town engineer for West Hartford, said previously. “The auxiliary lanes, located between Exit 43 and Exit 39A in the westbound direction and between Exit 40 (New Britain Avenue) and Exit 41 (South Main Street) in the eastbound direction, will help facilitate weaving movements of entering and exiting vehicles and increase overall highway capacity.”

The project is currently in stage 2A/2B, and is scheduled to be completed by May 2023.

A website has also been established for the project, which includes an interactive map. That information can be found here. Calls can be directed to 860-594-2560. The public can also register to receive project updates by texting “i84info” to 22828, email [email protected], and follow the CTDOT on Twitter at https://Twitter.Com/CtDOTtofficial.

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