74°
NORWALK, Conn. – Work has begun on a major overhaul of the Norwalk's southernmost part of Interstate 95, but what about parts north? Not likely, says state Sen. Bob Duff.
A spring 2009 driving survey cited Norwalk exits 16 to 14 as among the slowest stretches of I-95. The stretch between exits 15 and 17 south proved to be especially problematic last week, with a seven-car pileup one day and an hourlong backup at Exit 16 another.
The seven-car chaos began at 8:15 p.m. Sept. 16 when a New York driver heading south in a 2011 Ford Escalade rear-ended a 2012 Audi stopped in traffic, Connecticut State Police said. The Escalade driver swerved into the center lane, striking a Honda Odyssey, which was then rear-ended by another car. That vehicle fled the scene.
Meanwhile, a 2007 Nissan Maxima driven by a New Jersey man stopped behind the Audi. He was rear-ended by a 1997 Honda Accord driven by a Bethany woman. The Maxima hit the Audi, which hit a Lincoln Town Car registered to Post Road Limousine in Fairfield.
Ten people went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Deputy Fire Chief Ed Prescott said, adding that most were taken for precautionary reasons. People were everywhere — a family parked on the exit ramp and was tending to relatives.
The Tuesday deluge that caused temporary ponding on many Norwalk roads also flooded I-95 under East Avenue, causing a milelong backup. A catch basin that became clogged with debris was blamed for the problem.
"It's probably not the best design," Duff said of I-95 between exits 15 and 17, adding in an email, "We cannot close down an important highway during heavy rains. It is important to make priorities and then fight for the funding."
Although the state is spending $42 million to add a lane between exits 15 and 14 and make other improvements, there's not much hope for overhauling the tough stretch to the north. Getting the money to study the roadway, design the improvements and pay for construction would be tough, Duff said.
Duff also offered a temporary solution to navigating the difficult stretch: "Motorists need to slow down and need to be more aware of what's happening in that area."
Comments (11)
WOW
"2011 Ford Escalade rear-ended a 2012 Audi stopped in traffic"..
Did the driver of the Audi live as an Audi is the biggest piece of junk on the road..This is clearly a car that only a MORON would purchase..
Audi's are what queens drive
Audi's are complete junk..dime a dozen and don't hold value..
You can't afford to drive an audi! I thought you had a prius?
@Paige
I have lived in Norwalk a long time and I don't remember encountering frequent flooding on I-95 at Exit 16 when it rains. Do you think something has changed to create this condition?
Hi, Spoon!
I've heard about the flooding over in East Norwalk, but I have never seen it. I was speaking about the northbound on ramp for 15.
I wouldn't be surprise to find out that there was now flooding at 16 also. We've had a number of really serious cloud bursts where we can get up to an inch or more of rain in five minutes. The problem is that no matter how big the storm water pipes are, it takes a bit for the water to flow through. And in that type of scenario, it falls faster than it flows, if you understand what I'm saying.
BTW, totally off topic - I did get a chance to visit Wave Hill Breads. I had an iced coffee and a chocolate croissant. The coffee was good and the waitress thought to ask if I wanted milk in it rather than just assuming I did. It was medium roast brewed coffee (as opposed to instant mixed with hot water) and full bodied. Nice that they didn't use left overs or over - brewed coffee (in the hope that the milk and sugar will cover the taste of the burned coffee, or just calling it a dark roast! ;-P)
The croissant was good, too. I was there late in the day, so it was nice to see that the pastry was still pretty buttery and flaky because those that have been out too long tend to get a little rubbery. Unfortunately, for me, finances dictate that I won't be able to visit there too frequently, but it is a nice little out of the way nook. I may try to go back with a friend in the near future.
Hi Paige!
Whatever the cause of the flooding, I hope DPW or whichever agency is responsible will get to the bottom of it. I-95 is bad enough during rush hours but now it seems to jam up even with a moderate amount of rain.
I'm glad you made it to Wave Hill and enjoyed it, sounds like your experience was similar to mine. The staff is always friendly, helpful, and detail-oriented. I believe everything they sell is made that same day, so there's no chance for the croissants to go rubbery. I like to go in the mornings when the croissants are just a few hours old, the outside is crunchy and the inside is soft and buttery. Either way they're always great. We need more of these sorts of establishments in Norwalk, I hope they continue to thrive in spite of the somewhat out of the way location.
No doubt - the flooding that leads to road closures started just after Norwalk completed pipe work at the Fitch retention pond, and other storm water "improvements"..... coincidence? maybe. worth looking into? absolutely!
But the run off needs to be captured and channeled somewhere. During that heavy rain last week, West Avenue had a HUGE puddle between the northbound on ramp and the Shell station. The water was literally almost up to the granite curbing and two cars stalled out in it. The water was flowing in sheets down the recently expanded off ramp for Rt 7 and literally cascading down from 95, across the grassy embankment and onto the pavement of the on ramp. The really nasty part was it didn't look like the water was all that deep in the southbound lanes of West Avenue. I've memorized areas in Norwalk where I know it tends to flood during hard rain (Water Street, parts of 136 headed towards Wspt.; Connecticut Ave by Shoprite, Rt. 1 out by Pepperidge Farm, etc.) and now I'm adding that one to the list.
The embankment behind the Fire Station also has a steep incline and the water tends to flood out there. The more impervious surfaces we put in, the more we have storm water drainage to deal with. I've got no problem with expanding the lanes of the highway, but when they do, they really have to deal with the water issue.
its not room, its money. Our state, just like our city, wastes so much catering to pet projects & agendas theres none left for the things we need.
There is plenty of room to expand the lanes, should have been done years ago