Governor Rell Announces Additional Key Improvements to Route 7

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Department of Transportation is immediately improving a key section of Route 7 in Ridgefield where the highway transitions from four lanes to two. The Governor also said funding will be available in the fiscal year that begins July 1 for the next phase of the Route 7 expansion project north to Danbury.

“The Route 7 corridor is by far the most heavily traveled north-south roadway in western Connecticut and has been a headache for thousands of motorists for too many years,” Governor Rell said. “The DOT is modifying the current project in Ridgefield to include the lane-transition area. I will also ask the state Bond Commission to get the funding in place this summer so that the next phase can begin as quickly as possible.”

The Governor said that she and the DOT are also working to secure additional federal funding for the project.

Improvements to the 1.5-mile, four-lane section just north of Route 35 are being completed. The contract will be modified to ease the transition from four lanes to two for northbound travelers. The additional work will be paid for out of funding that is already in place and is expected to cost less than $130,000.

The second phase, expected to cost $40 million, will include widening southbound Route 7 from two lanes to four from the Danbury Fair Mall to Ridgefield for a total of 2 miles. Once the funding for that phase is in place, the project will be advertised for bid and a contract awarded.

Governor Rell thanked state Representative John Frey (R-111) for his support of the project.

“On behalf of the citizens of Ridgefield and Greater Danbury, I very much appreciate Governor Rell acting so quickly to move this project forward,” Representative Frey said. “My safety concerns about the current transition from Phase One to Phase Two will be addressed in short order. There are many demands on limited dollars for transportation projects. The fact that state funds will be used to move this project ahead is certainly welcome news.”

Sections of Route 7 between Norwalk and Danbury carry more than 62,000 vehicles per day. Route 7 runs between Norwalk and North Canaan on the Massachusetts state line.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rich Harris, 860-524-7313
May 23, 2008
rich.harris@ct.gov