Bolinsky Announces DOT to Help Mitigate I-84 Noise Issues for Sandy Hook Residents

NEWTOWN- State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) helped elevate safety and noise concerns of residents in the Riverside section of Sandy Hook with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) and, as a result, noise mitigation and a permanent safety barrier will be part of the bridge replacement projects at the points of contact where Interstate 84 East and Westbound cross over Center Street, near Underhill Drive.

This past fall, Rep. Bolinsky, Newtown First Selectwoman Pat Llodra and Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker met about thirty neighbors and concerned residents to tour the area and experience, first-hand, some of the concerns, inconveniences and dangers being experienced by the expressway’s neighbors and to justify the need for safety and noise abatement measures made necessary by increased traffic and the current bridge rehabilitation projects on the I-84 East and Westbound spans over Center Street in Newtown.

“My office invited Commissioner Redeker to the site to hear the firsthand accounts of noise and safety concerns by the Riverside residents. Their stories are very compelling and they were well prepared to help the commissioner understand that this is more than a noise problem, it also is a dangerous place, in its current condition. Occasionally, we have debris flying off the right-of-way in a place where school children are waiting for busses,” said Rep. Bolinsky. He continued: “This site visit by Commissioner Redeker finally jumpstarted the DOT into beginning the process of taking some action.”

Bolinsky, who represents most of Newtown and Sandy Hook has been notified the Connecticut Department of Transportation will be erecting protective fencing at the bridge as part of the ongoing bridge rehabilitation project. The new fence on the new parapet will be 8 feet high off the roadway surface creating effective debris protection in that area.

Additionally, ConnDOT will be planting and installing different sized, evergreen trees on the slope along I-84 in the Riverside section. DOT has committed to plant a dense screen of fast-growing different sized young trees; 3′-4′ high, under the existing trees on the slope, and larger ones, 5′-6′ high, along the top of the slope where the trees have been cleared for the current construction project. The new landscaping is expected to fill-in quickly and, combined with the existing shade trees, continue to grow into a mature forest between the highway and the community near the lake .

“I want to thank DOT Commissioner Redeker for following through and addressing the concerns brought forth by my constituents. The installation of a fence and trees are a good temporary resolution to noise and safety abatement issues for Newtown’s Riverside section. Of course, we wanted more and, ultimately, we’ll continue to follow-up for barrier walls in the area. I understand the state’s position that, at this time, they do not have the funds for the construction of fixed sound barriers but I do plan to keep this need before ConnDOT and hope our request will get priority reconsideration during better financial times,” said Rep. Bolinsky.