State engineers weigh tunneling I-95 through Fairfield and Bridgeport
GM2 proposes underground options to reduce crashes on a corridor handling up to 130,000 cars daily.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Transportation officials in Connecticut are evaluating a plan to route Interstate 95 underground through Fairfield and Bridgeport. The proposal aims to ease traffic and improve safety on one of the state's busiest highway corridors.
The engineering firm GM2, which has completed other infrastructure projects in the state, is leading the design study. JJ Samus of GM2 stated the team intended to explore every possible option during the conceptual phase. The review includes redesigning on-ramps, adding new lanes, and lowering or tunneling specific highway segments.
The corridor currently manages between 120,000 and 130,000 vehicles per day. Drivers frequently cite heavy congestion as a primary issue. Officials link this traffic density to a rise in accidents. Matthew Vail, the project manager, noted that rear-end collisions are common. He also pointed to side-swipe incidents that occur when vehicles attempt to merge or exit the highway.
Beyond vehicle safety, the study seeks to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists. The highway currently divides local neighborhoods, making it difficult for residents to cross. Proposed fixes include wider sidewalks, high-visibility crosswalks, and safer connections for people walking or biking across the interstate.
The most ambitious concept involves covering or lowering sections of the I-95. Officials suggest this could reconnect communities that have been separated for decades. If implemented, the project would alter the physical layout of the area while addressing traffic flow.
The ideas remain in the evaluation stage. No construction has begun, and the final design is still under review by state transportation authorities.
