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Community Engagement

Modifications to Route 9 will affect many stakeholders both within and outside of Middletown. Learn about what those stakeholders think and how the community is getting involved with shaping proposals for the Route 9 project.

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Middletown Community Engagement
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Middletown Community Engagement:

  • Route 9 Project DOT Website

    Here is a link to the current DOT website on Route 9. It contains the project’s history, a summary of alternative plans, and updates on the project: https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Projects/0082-0318-Route-9-Middletown-Home

  • Middletown Rt. 9: History and Traffic Information

    History overview Image of Connecticut’s Route 9 Route 9 was originally commissioned in 1932, and its path was taken from the old New England interstate (NE-10) which existed from 1922 to 1931. The planning for Route 9 began in 1931 and was going to be named Route 17, running through New Haven, Middletown, East Hartford,…

  • Return to the Riverfront Master Plan

    The City of Middletown published the ambitious “Return to the Riverbend” master plan in spring 2022. The plan includes a series of parks along the riverfront and details ways to get involved. This masterplan offers the most comprehensive of the City’s vision for how Rt. 9 could look as it runs past Middletown.

  • Historical Context: Quotes from Stakeholders

    When Rt9 was put in, it was the only light between the Long Island Sound and the Canadian border.  You could just drive all the way up, but that’s the only light you’re going to find. – William Vasiliou, Executive Director Middletown Housing Authority There are two signalized intersections [on Route 9], one in Washington…

  • Community Engagement Issues: Quotes from Stakeholders

    “Minimiz[ing] impacts on the local roads [is] pretty much the lowest of the DoD priorities, but it’s the highest of our priorities.” – Howard Weissberg, Deputy Director Middletown Public Works “I think when they make these plans, they make plans with communities that they think have voice.  They’ll reach out to the business community.  They’ll…

  • Environmental Issues: Quotes from Stakeholders

    I want to see people oriented to trains or more efficient modes of travel rather than this personal, private ecosystem that people can just drive at violent speeds and to other people when they’re not careful. … Cars are not that good.  We’re just promoting car culture by fixing the highways and not investing in…

  • Safety/Traffic Issues: Quotes from Stakeholders

    “Grade separation has massive safety implications. It reduces the ability for wrong-way entry, reduces conflict at intersections, reduces que-related crashes–somebody stopped at a stoplight, somebody’s not paying attention to them. You grade separate, you eliminate that.” – Howard Weissberg, Deputy Director Middletown Public Works “The Route 9 – Route 17 connector in a ramp is…

  • Business Issues: Quotes from Stakeholders

    “Currently, there is no perceived [Route 9] issue with people accessing the business, but there is a concern about the walkability and pedestrian-friendliness of downtown streets that also serve as state highways. … The business relies on the appeal of a walkable, local Main Street with unique, creative, and historic businesses, an any plan that…

  • Miller-Bridge Infographic

  • Rt. 9: Recent News Coverage

    This page collects a number of recent news articles related to the various Rt. 9 projects.

Related Stories:

  • US DOT Report about Highway Removal Projects

    A 2013 study hosted at the US Department of Transportation’s Repository and Open Access Portal that discusses the process and outcome of nine highway removal projects from around the world. Cases covered in the study include: San Francisco, Milwaukee, Chattanooga, Portland, New York City, Seoul, Toronto, Boston, Paris.

  • Urban Highway Removal – Lincoln Institute

    A Lincoln Institute of Land Policy article examining the national trend of highway removal with historical background from across the country. Cases covered in more detail include Rochester (removed a segment of the highway) and New Orleans (currently in planning phase).

  • Can Removing Highways Fix America’s Cities? – NY Times

    A fantastic interactive New York Times article (may require a subscription) that explores how many of America’s biggest cities were broken apart by highways built in the 1950s and are now exploring how to reshape or remove those highways to revive their urban communities.

  • Syracuse I-81: Highway Removal

    The Interstate-81 Viaduct Project in Syracuse is one of the largest and most ambitious construction projects ever undertaken by New York State, in partnership with the federal government. Overseen by the State Department of Transportation, the project will create a Community Grid to reconnect downtown neighborhoods severed by the I-81 viaduct’s construction and correct an…

  • St. Joesph I-229: Waterfront Access

    Interstate 229 starts as an auxiliary highway off of I-29, continues along the eastern bank of the Missouri River, cutting downtown St. Joseph off from its’ riverfront with a two-level, four lane viaduct. The interstate goes 15 miles north until it meets another interchange with I-29 in Andrew County. The highway was constructed throughout the…

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