Evening commute back-up on Route 9 southbound at Hartford Avenue

The Connecticut Department of Transportation and the City of Middletown have essentially agreed on a conceptual plan to remove the Route 9 traffic signals. While the proposal is not ideal, no one has proposed viable ways to improve it. CT DOT is in the process of federal and state environmental reviews of the plan to determine whether it can be built and, if so, what modifications, if any, will be required. Only when this review process is complete will actual design begin. Construction will not begin until 2027 at the earliest, according to DOT. Below are links to plan details.

CT DOT has posted renderings of the conceptual plan found  here on the CT DOT website. If you click on the “Project Home” tab you will find a general overview of the plan, including images and animations. If you click on the “Meetings and Documents” tab and scroll down, you  will see a variety of presentations you can download and view. The “August 18, 2024 Middletown Delegation Presentation” provides more detail on the plan and addresses questions and concerns raised by the public.

Below are 2 renderings from the current proposal.

Proposed northbound exit to River Road roundabout and realignment of River Road onto Union Street.

Proposed northbound entrance from St. John’s Square passing under elevated southbound lanes.