A dreaded part of Interstate 84 running through Waterbury, which is notorious for bottlenecks and traffic jams, enters a new, bigger, chapter this week.
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announced Monday that widening on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 through Waterbury will be completed in the coming days.
Westbound lanes are expected to be finished next month.
According to the state, the project, which included the addition of a third travel lane in both directions, cost $330 million and covers about 2.7 miles of highway.
Malloy told reporters Monday the price tag was worth it and said the project will help Connecticut compete with neighboring states.
“I’m tired of being compared to the successes in New Jersey and in New York and Massachusetts, when we’re unwilling -- or at least significant numbers of people are unwilling -- to make the sacrifices that those states made to be in the position that they’re in,” Malloy said.
Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary expressed optimism that the I-84 widening project would bode well for commuters and for his city.
“Many commuters would avoid Waterbury completely because of the congestion and the lack of traffic flow,” O’Leary said. “This project has changed Waterbury dramatically.”
Paving on the new lanes will continue through the fall.
