Intersection Improvements on Route 74 and Route 195


4. Notice of Scoping for Intersection Improvements on Route 74 and Route 195 near the Tolland Green

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Tolland

Address of Possible Project Location: Route 74 between the intersections with Old Stafford Road and Route 195 (Merrow Road) near the historic Tolland Green. 

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to address capacity concerns and vehicular and pedestrian safety concerns at the intersections listed above while creating gateway features on Route 74 and Route 195 to calm traffic prior to entering the Town Green area. 

Route 195 will be widened approximately 300 feet south of Old Post Road to accommodate a splitter island to slow vehicles entering and leaving the Town Green area.  It is also suggested that the existing gateway signage to the Historic Town Green be moved closer to the Southerly Gateway to improve the sign's effectiveness.

Extending north from the Southerly Gateway, the widening of Route 195 will accommodate an exclusive left-turn lane at Old Post Road.  The receiving northbound lane will require realignment, which will have minor impacts to the southwest corner of the Town Green.  The southerly leg of the intersection will be widened to allow for: two travel lanes, a left-turn lane, and two 4-foot shoulders.  On the northern leg of the intersection, the existing southbound shoulder will be narrowed to shorten the distance of the crosswalk.  Minor realignments to both legs of Old Post Road will be required due to the modification on Route 195 and new proposed signal.

The existing configuration of the intersections of Route 74 at Route 195 and at Old Stafford Road will be realigned.  The easterly leg of Route 74 will be realigned to the south to form a new stop controlled "T" type intersection with Route 195.  The approach to Route 74 from Old Stafford Road will be realigned to the west to form a "T" type intersection.  Both intersections will be side-street, stop-sign controlled.  The mid-block crosswalk, currently south of the existing Route 74/195 intersection, will be relocated north to the intersection.  A raised island will also be installed south of the new Route 74/195 intersection to provide additional traffic calming. 

Roadway widening and realignment will be utilized westward from the intersection of Route 74 and Old Stafford Road to provide traffic calming.  In order to avoid impacting historic homes in the area, the new horizontal curvature and widening will be such as to realign the roadway away from the historic properties.  Drainage modifications will be required as a result of the widening and realignment.  Full-depth reconstruction of the pavement structure is proposed for the entire project. 

Project Map:  Click here to view a map of the project area.

                        Click here to view proposed project conceptual plans.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  Friday December 24, 2015 (If the scheduled meeting is postponed to December 15, 2015, comments will be accepted until the close of business on December 31, 2015).

There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this project at:

DATE: Thursday, December 10, 2015 (inclement weather date Tuesday December 15, 2015)

TIME: 7:00 P.M.

PLACE: Hicks Memorial Municipal Center, Conference Room A

               21 Tolland Green, Tolland, CT

NOTES: Plans will be available at the Hicks Memorial Municipal Center two weeks prior to the meeting. 

Written comments should be sent to:

Name: Mr. Mark W. Alexander, Transportation Assistant Planning Director
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation
Bureau of Policy & Planning
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Fax: 860-594-3028
E-Mail: dot.environmentalplanning@ct.gov

If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:

Name: Mr. Joseph D. Arsenault
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation
Bureau of Engineering and Construction
Address: P.O. Box 317546
Newington, CT 06131
Phone: 860-594-3471
E-Mail:

Other information:  The meeting facility is ADA accessible.  If language assistance is needed, please contact the Department of Transportation's Office of Communications (voice only) at 860-594-3062 at least 5 business days prior to the meeting.