I-84 Replacement Project Should Connect, not Divide, Hartford

Hartford, Connecticut is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to undo the mistakes of its forebears—in the form of an elevated urban freeway.

1 minute read

May 12, 2015, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

An op-ed by the Hartford Courant editorial board describes the mistakes of the I-84 highway in Greater Hartford, as designed and built in 1959 and 1969, before making an argument for contemporary planning concepts to guide the work of planning a replacement.

The editorial board describes the highway as an unmitigated disaster—an idea that even Robert Moses balked but could not prevent from moving forward. According to the editorial board, "the road was poorly designed, with substandard shoulder widths, poor alignments, dangerous left-handed entrances and exits, and closely spaced interchanges that create weaving conflicts between vehicles coming onto and getting off the road." Moreover, I-84 through Hartford averages more than four times the state average in vehicle collisions a day.

Now environmental planning is already underway for a replacement, and the editorial sees progress in how planners and designers are approaching the project, but conclude with an imperative: "We need to get it right this time."

FULL STORY: Get I-84 In Hartford Right This Time

Sunday, May 10, 2015 in The Hartford Courant

Infrastructure Connecticut Hartford I-84 Highway Rebuilding

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.