Delmarva Highways :: A Weekend in New England (Hartford, CT Meet 2008)

No... your humble webmaster was not influenced by a Barry Manilow song. However, once again, the Delmarva Highways Battle Cruiser headed north, and participated in...

For my first road trip to the New England area, I decided to head to the Hartford area meet, as hosted by Gribblenation contributor Doug Kerr. Doug did a great job, and really gave all of a great time for those of us who were luck to attend the first ever meet held in Connecticut.

First off, we met at John Harvard's Brew House in Manchester, CT for food and fellowship. After a great meal, we loaded up into our respective modes of transportation, and set out to see the highway related sights and sounds that Hartford had to offer.

The first stop of the tour was Hartford's East River Park, where we checked out the Bulkeley and Founder's bridges; both of which cross the Connecticut River. The Bulkeley bridge, which opened in 1908, originally served Hartford and Morgan Streets, and later Connecticut Boulevard, before being widened to 8 lanes and adapted for expressway use in 1964. At the time of the widening, modifications of the bridge's western landing were made to accommodate an interchange with I-91.

	Signage for the I-84/US 44 interchange on the east bank of the river.
	Overhead signage for the I-84/I-91/US 44 interchange on the west bank of the river.
	More overhead signage for the I-84/US 44/ CT 2 interchange on the eastern bank of the river.
	Downtown Hartford, as taken from the Bulkeley Bridge.
	Dedication plaque on the center of the bridge, naming the span after Morgan G. Bulkeley, former mayor of Hartford, governor of Connecticut, and United States Senator.
	Overhead signage for the I-84/I-91/US 44 interchange on the western side of the Connecticut River.
	Profile shot of the bridge, as taken from the western side of the river.
	Overhead signage on I-91 at the Bukleley Bridge.
	Construction plaque mounted on the Hartford side of the bridge.
	Profile shots taken from the East Hartford side of the Connecticut River. Careful observation of the bottom pic shows how the bridge was expanded to 8 lanes in 1964.

Founders Bridge

The current incarnation of the Founders Bridge serves CT 2. It was built in 1957, and reconstructed in 1999. In it's newer reconstructed form, it serves as a centerpiece to Hartford's waterfront area. It features 7 travel lanes, and a pedestrian sidewalk that provides access to parks on both sides of the Connecticut River.

Views of the Founders Bridge, as taken from the East River Park.

Abandoned Interstate 291

Like many cities in the 1970s, Hartford had conceived an ambitious plan of expressways in and around of the city. Some were constructed as planned. Some were partially constructed, though serve a different use than originally planned. Some were out right cancelled. And... some were constructed, though their intended purpose was cancelled before they were completed. They were left abandoned... never seeing traffic.

I-291 was originally planned to loop around Hartford on the city's west side. It would have began at began at I-91 in Rocky Hill, then continued west to Newington, with interchanges at US 5/CT 15 (Berlin Turnpike) and CT 174. From there, it would have continued to where CT 9 is now, and met with I-84 at 4-level stack interchange, before skirting several of Hartford's reservoirs and meeting other area highways, and ending at I-91.

This highlighted section of what would have been I-291 was seen from an overpass constructed over the abandoned highway at South Road in Farmington.

Looking north toward the I-84/CT 9 4-level stack.

This interchange was built when I-84 was constructed in the late 1960s, however sat unused until CT 9 was extended to it in 1992.

Notice the highway was built and almost ready for traffic, complete with guard rails and asphalt shoulders bordering the concrete travel lanes.

Looking south toward CT 9. The section of highway that was constructed for I-291 ends under a large dirt pile near the South Road overpass.

However, careful observation shows an extended right-of-way at what is now CT 9, as sign gantries and signs on the left side of the carriageway shows room for more travel lanes that would have served I-291.

Date stamp on the South Road overpass, showing a construction year of 1969.

BONUS PICS!

While I was in New England for the weekend, I also got some assorted highway related pics of the area. Some are highlighted below.

	Standing at the New York / Massachusetts border.
	Now abandoned, this stretch of pavement was once the original ending of the Massachusetts Turnpike.
	I've seen plenty of STOP signs, but never a STOP! sign. This one was posted in a shopping center in Chicopee, MA.
	A MA 33 shield, along with an I-90/Mass Pike paddle sign in Chicopee, MA.
	State name I-84 shields taken from a crappy angle near Manchester, CT.
	A guide sign featuring faded I-84 and I-384 shields near Manchester, CT.
	US 5 and US 44 shields in East Hartford, CT.
	US 5 and CT 15 shields in East Hartford, CT.
	Button copy I-84 guide sign in East Hartford, CT.
	Paddle signs for I-91 in Holyoke, MA.

All Photos Taken April 26, 2008 by Corey Dukes