Talks are nearing an end in the long running, try since 2005, dispute between the DOT and the Merritt Parkway Conservancy. The DOT may be warming to the idea that they create a cloverleaf interchange. For some reason the DOT is against the idea of cloverleaf interchanges.
The new design is a “slightly altered” version of the blueprint the conservancy has advocated for and “the DOT is giving it a serious look,” agency spokesman Judd Everhart said. DOT “cannot commit to it without further evaluation and consideration of safety and efficiency issues.”
The new design would implement “cloverleaf” structures connecting Route 7 and the Merritt to and from the east.
The DOT advocated against a cloverleaf design during the negotiations, which were mandated by Gov. M. Jodi Rell last year after a federal judge ruled the state’s interchange plans violated federal preservation law. The DOT is now more receptive to the idea.
“While popular for many years and still practical in some cases, the DOT has tried to move away from cloverleaf designs whenever possible, largely because of what is known as the ‘weave’ . . . cars getting onto the roadway have to weave into traffic that is trying to get off,” Everhart said.
If the DOT and conservancy agree soon, public hearings on the new design could be held early next year, Everhart said. He was uncertain of the projected timeline of the project after proposed meetings.
Conservancy members also said progress was being made but were hesitant to say how close the two sides were.
“They are providing the conservancy with more information about what a cloverleaf design would look like,” conservancy board member Keith Simpson said. “We’re still looking at all the alternatives.”
Not having an interchange ramp between the route 7 connector and northbound on the Merritt Parkway puts additional traffic on the Main Ave. part of route 7. Including adding to the most dangerous intersection in Norwalk, which I refer to as the Dunkin Donut Deathtrap Driveway. With a railroad crossing, hill, two lanes of left turns and cars backed up to turn into the Dunkin Donut, we are lucky there hasn’t been a fatality there. There have, however, been way too many accidents. The DOT approved the driveways, btw, so questioning them about everything and anything is a recommended action. And not just based on this intersection, but the long, long list of DOT disaster ladled decisions.
The current Merritt Parkway/Route 7 interchange is a bad one. For one, it has the on ramp to Northbound spit out onto the bottom of a step incline that the Merritt Parkway naturally follows. Unless your ride is a sports car, hitting the accelerator to get to highway speeds takes way too long. Hence the perennial backups at this and other interchanges where that design deficiency exists.
So let’s see what emerges from this. It would be better if we could outsource to the NY DOT, but that is another battle.
source: The Advocate, Agreement nears on Merritt-Route 7 interchange, By Mark Ginocchio, October 29 2007
