The major roadwork on I-84 is expected to back up traffic all the way to Southbury or beyond. CTDOT expects many drivers to seek alternate shortcuts through the City of Danbury, which is likely to affect city traffic severely.
Construction begins Saturday, Sept. 21, when the I-84 eastbound lanes will be closed for at least 18 hours from 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, to 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. Detours will be set up from Exit 20 in New York to Exit 1 in Connecticut.
Then, on Saturday, Sept. 28, I-84’s westbound lanes will be closed from 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, to 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29. The westbound closures are expected to significantly impact streets in the city of Danbury, especially near Exits 2 and 1.
All drivers will be channeled into a single lane and required to egress at Exit 1 onto Saw Mill Road, where they will be directed onto Route 6 for travel toward the closest I-84 Expressway interchange in Southeast, N.Y., CTDOT said.
Roadwork is being conducted by the New York State Department of Transportation to replace the two Putnam County bridges that carry I-84 over Dingle Ridge Road in Southeast, N.Y. NYSDOT said work is being accelerated to minimize traffic impacts but will require I-84 to be closed during construction for two weekends.
The date of the westbound closures will depend on the replacement of the eastbound bridge, happening first. If there are any problems with the eastbound bridge, the I-84 westbound lane closures could be delayed by one week, CTDOT said.
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