Leone: I-95 Widening to Ease Traffic in Darien

Sometimes things have to get a little worse before they get better.

The will soon be starting a major project to widen Interstate 95 at its interchange with Route 7 in .

Last week State Senator Carlo Leone (D-Stamford, Darien) announced that the State Bond Commission had approved $85.65 million for the long-overdue project, which involves a redesign of the I-95/Route 7 interchange, construction of two additional traffic lanes, southbound and northbound, between Exits 14 and 15 (i.e. Route 7 and Route 1) and the reconstruction of , in addition to improvements to Route 1.

The addition of “deceleration” lanes for the I-95 exit ramps is reportedly to help ease congestion along that section of I-95 — including traffic that impacts downtown Darien. Similar projects to widen I-95 in Darien and Stamford (at Exits 9 and 8 southbound and Exits 11 and 12 northbound) were completed in the past five to ten years.

“Congestion has long been a problem along I-95 throughout Fairfield County, and I am pleased that additional lanes will be added along a stretch of the road through Darien,” Sen. Leone said in a statement. “I hope that other similar projects will soon follow, as road congestion remains one of the most pressing issues in Fairfield County."

As per the state DOT's website, I-95 southbound Exit 14 onto Route 1 will become a two-lane exit, with a three-lane section to provide dual-left and single-right turn lanes. Three overpass bridges and drainage collection will be upgraded to address local flooding along Route 1.

Improvements to Route 1 will include left-turn lanes at the entrance ramp to I-95 southbound, Taylor Avenue and Cedar Street. Sidewalks, seven feet in width, will be provided along both sides of Route 1, according to the DOT's site.

Public hearings on the project were held in 2008.