The New I-91 Northbound Exit 29 to the Charter Oak Bridge opens to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow and safety in the region.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced that the new I-91 Northbound Exit 29 is set to open on Wednesday morning, May 26, 2021, as part of the I-91 Charter Oak Bridge “Congestion Buster” Project in Hartford, East Hartford, and Wethersfield.
On Wednesday, May 26, at approximately 12:01 a.m., one lane of the new I-91 Northbound Exit 29 will open to traffic, and the existing right hand exit will close permanently.
To access the new ramp, I-91 Northbound travelers will enter Exit 29 from the left lane. The new Exit 29 includes a bridge that spans over Route 5/15 Southbound, and will enter Route 5/15 Northbound from the left lane, onto the Charter Oak Bridge. The second lane of the new Exit 29 will open at a later date upon completion. The former ramp will be demolished, and the debris removed as part of the ongoing project.
The purpose of this project is to strategically target and alleviate recurring traffic congestion along I-91 Northbound by constructing a new, two-lane exit-ramp to the Charter Oak Bridge (Route 5/15 Northbound) at Exit 29 in place of the existing, single-lane ramp configuration.
The project replaces (doubling the capacity and improving the geometry of) the existing operationally deficient exit ramp that has long been a source of congestion on I-91 Northbound and on the Charter Oak Bridge - resulting in daily delays and safety concerns for motorists as traffic slows or stops on the highway.
The “Congestion-Buster” project will relieve this bottleneck for roughly 80,000 drivers per day by improving through-traffic capacity and by reducing weaving maneuvers on I-91 Northbound and on Route 5/15 Northbound on the Charter Oak Bridge.
Work on the I-91 Charter Oak Bridge Project will continue through October 2022 with completion of the:
- New second lane for I-91 Northbound Exit 29
- Widening of I-91 Northbound and its bridges
- Lowering of Airport Road
- Widening of Route 5/15 Northbound and its bridges in East Hartford
The project was awarded to O&G / BHD, Joint Venture at a cost of $212,964,746.16. It involves multiple stages and a schedule with incentives for the contractor to finish ahead of schedule. The anticipated completion date for the project is October 18, 2022.
To keep the public informed, the CTDOT issues press releases in advance of any activities that will impact motorists. The project website (I-91CharterOakBridge.com) has the latest information about work activities and any expected impacts to the public. Travelers can go to the project website to sign up and receive weekly project updates. Questions and comments may be emailed to the project team at info@I-91CharterOakBridge.com.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
Intermittent lane closures will occur on I-91, Route 5/15, associated ramps and turning roadways, Airport Road (Hartford), Reserve Road (Hartford), Main Street (East Hartford), and Silver Lane (East Hartford) during off-peak hours and weekends.
More information about the project, including weekly lane closures and detours may be found on our website, I-91CharterOakBridge.com.