August 1, 2023

DOT: Route 7/15 Interchange Improvement Project Environmental Documents Available for Review, Public Invited to Public Hearing

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The Environmental Assessment/Draft 4(f) Evaluation and Environmental Impact Evaluation (EA/EIE) for the Route 7 and Route 15 Interchange Improvement project in Norwalk was published on July 18, 2023, starting a 45-day comment period that will include a public hearing on August 16, 2023

The proposed project (Project No. 0102-0358) will address the missing connections on the existing Route 15 and Route 7 interchange and will improve the mobility for motorists at the following connections:

Southbound Route 15 to Northbound Route 7
Southbound Route 15 to Southbound Route 7
Northbound Route 7 to Northbound Route 15
Southbound Route 7 to Northbound Route 15

Additionally, improvements to the Route 15 and Main Avenue ramps will address the substandard acceleration lanes, steep changes in grade, sharp curves, and limited sight distance. These factors contribute to a high number of crashes on the Merritt Parkway.

Main Avenue, Glover Avenue, and Creeping Hemlock Drive will be upgraded to expand mobility for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists. The upgrade will include installing bicycle facilities and adequate shoulder widths, where there are none currently. Sidewalks, curb ramps, and crosswalks will be installed in compliance with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The EA/EIE is part of the environmental documentation process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). An EA/EIE document was conducted to help the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) find a solution for the incomplete connections between Routes 7 and 15 and to determine if any significant environmental impacts would result from the proposed action. The EA/EIE examines several alternatives and identifies alternative 26 as the preferred alternative (page 17 of EA/EIE).

The EA/EIE, including a proposed project location map, drawings, analyses of potential impacts, project commitments and mitigation, and additional information about the proposed project is available at:

CTDOT, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131
FHWA CT Division Office, 450 Main Street, Suite 612, Hartford, CT 06103
Connecticut State Library, 231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851
Norwalk Public Library, Main Branch, 1 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850
Norwalk Public Library, South Norwalk Branch, 10 Washington Street, Norwalk, CT 06854
WestCOG, 1 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, CT 06482

The EA/EIE is available online at www.ct.gov/environmentaldocuments, or on the Route 7/15 Norwalk project website at www.7-15norwalk.com. The public is encouraged to provide comments on the EA/EIE during the comment period.

CTDOT will conduct the public hearing concerning the EA/EIE of the Route 7 and Route 15 Interchange project on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at 7 p.m. The public hearing will occur in the Community Room of Norwalk City Hall at 125 East Avenue in Norwalk. There will be an open house before the public hearing from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The public hearing is being held to provide the public and local community the opportunity to offer oral testimony regarding the 7/15 Norwalk EA/EIE document. Written statements and exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the public hearing may be submitted via comment cards during the public hearing. A recording of this hearing will be posted on the project’s website within five business days.

Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the 45-day public comment period, which began on July 18, 2023. Please direct comments and questions by August 31, 2023, to comments@7-15norwalk.com or Kevin Carifa, Transportation Planning Director, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131. Public comments may also be submitted via the project’s website at www.7-15norwalk.com. These written statements or exhibits will be made part of the public hearing record. Input received from the public and stakeholders during the public comment period will be recorded and addressed in the final environmental documents.

For more information, visit the project website at www.7-15norwalk.com.