Drivers who battle congestion on I-84 and Route 7 in Danbury may soon see meaningful changes. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has outlined a plan to ease delays and improve mobility along one of the state’s most frustrating corridors.
After evaluating a range of solutions, CTDOT confirmed that it will move ahead with a Flex Lane system — a strategy that opens the median shoulder to traffic during the busiest times of day. Design work is already underway, and construction is expected to begin in 2028.
Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto emphasized how impactful the first phase will be, without the heavy disruption residents typically expect from major highway projects. “We are excited to address mobility and safety in this busy corridor through a new innovative solution for Connecticut. By constructing the Flex Lane within the highway’s existing footprint, we’ll be able to quickly make a positive change to people’s commutes without years of construction,” he said.
He also made it clear that community feedback heavily shaped the department’s priorities. “The community has been loud and clear about the need for us to address these bottlenecks, and we have a proven solution that’s going to make a significant improvement within the next five years to help all travelers.”
The Flex Lane concept came out of the I-84 Danbury Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Study. That effort took several years and focused on how to improve travel for residents, commuters, businesses, and freight while staying in step with local goals. Dozens of public input sessions helped shape which ideas were developed and which corridor upgrades would move ahead.
While Flex Lanes are the first major step, they’re only part of the larger vision. CTDOT is also planning an intersection project at Main Street and Downs Street/North Street in Danbury to address safety issues and traffic backups at one of the city’s most hectic crossings. Additional concepts under consideration include redesigning on- and off-ramps to reduce merging conflicts and improving multimodal access across nearby roadways.
Residents, commuters, and freight carriers can keep track of all proposals by visiting the Project Alternatives section of the official study website. CTDOT plans to hold future public outreach sessions as the Flex Lane design progresses and other transportation projects shift from planning to development.
With implementation on the horizon, Connecticut is signaling that congestion relief on I-84 and Route 7 is not just a talking point — it’s moving toward reality.
Image: American Transportation Awards
Source: The Trucker
