Traflic Management During Reconstruction of 1-91 in Connecticut

M any metropolitan areas will require urban highway reconstruction in the coming years, with a potential for severe trafficd-isruption and associated accidents. This article discusses the results and recommendations of the Corridor Management Task Force Plan created to look into transportation measures, which, if implemented, could facilitate traffic flow on this and similar primary travel corridors. I-91 is an existing limited access expressway providing two travel lanes in each direction through the study corridor from 1-84 in Hartford to the Massachusetts state line—a distance of 19.5 miles (Figure 1). A proposal has been made to reconstruct this facility that would provide three travel lanes in each direction and one priority lane in each direction with separate entrances and exits from the vicinity of 1-84 in Hartford to Route 159 in Windsor Locks, a distance of 11 miles. The proposed widening of I-91 is required to meet, as best as possible, the transportation needs in the corridor. The provision of a dedicated priority lane, separate from the general travel lanes, will permit an increasingly larger number of high-occupancy vehicles to travel unaffected by congestion, thus providing a clear incentive for bus usage and ridesharing. The Connecticut Department of Transportation is committed to maintain two lanes in each direction as far as possible, especially during the peak traffic periods. However, the department recognizes that the traffic carrying capacity of an expressway under reconstruction can be reduced because of increased side friction associated with reduced shoulders, reconstruction equipment and activities, and just “rubber necking.” During reconstruction, traffic carrying capacity of I-91 is estimated to be 2500 vehicles per hour per direction of travel. A major factor in the consideration of the real impacts and the development of target strategies is the anticipated reconstruction timetable for the I-91 projects. The reconstruction will be undertaken over a period of several years. The major efforts for alternative transportation strategies will be focused on the time period from 1986 through 1990 and be concentrated on the traffic traversing the section of I-91 in Hartford and southern portion of Whdsor and the 1-91/1-84 interchange.