DOT Presents Its Route 69, 72 Intersection Improvement Plan

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

January 24, 2022

The Connecticut Department of Transportation presented its State Routes 69 and 72 intersection improvement plan before the Bristol Board of Public Works Thursday, a project slated to cost around $7,700,000.

This project, that will demolish five buildings in the area, will begin in late October. During the meeting no end date was listed.

Project leaders said the road realignment and streetscape endeavor is meant to improve operation, reduce vehicle congestion, increase safety and better accommodate both bicyclist and pedestrian travel.

“About 15,300 is the average number of vehicles traveling through there in a day,” Project Manager Joseph Arsenault said previously. “So we do see congestion in that area pretty much along all the legs, especially in the morning rush hour or evening rush hour.”

Project Designer Jared Hendrickson introduced concerns with the current intersection’s layout by saying the intersection of Landry, Park and Divinity streets were in close proximity to the intersection of Divinity, West and School streets, thus causing traffic congestion and delays.

According to Hendrickson, there are no left turn lanes on Route 72 leading to Route 69, which is causing the buildup of traffic. The overlapping left turn lanes on Route 69 leading to Route 72 are causing conflicting turning movements and crashes within the intersection. Hendrickson said “poor geometry” at the intersection of Landry, Divinity and Park streets further contributes to intersection operational issues. Narrow shoulders on roadway edges also discourage bicyclists from traveling in the area.

“It’s really functioning as one big six-leg intersection versus two intersections,” Arsenault said.

Hendrickson also pointed out that vehicles continually bypass backups on Route 72 by taking Divinity Street, which is considered a low speed road not meant to carry high volumes of traffic. Trucks have a hard time turning due to sharp curves and come into oncoming traffic. Sight lines are obscure due to approaching road curvature as well.

Proposed changes mean to address these issues by creating a more conventional four-way intersection meeting pedestrian and traffic needs, Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility issues and 4-foot wide shoulders for bicyclist travel.

The alignment on Route 72 East with the intersection will be shifted northward, leading into the intersection and providing more sightline to drivers. The intersection of Divinity, Landry and Park streets will be removed so traffic will no longer be able to bypass Route 72 by using Divinity Street. Curvature will be softened on Route 72 east and west of the intersection to make it more standard with other intersection models. Left turn lanes will be added on Route 72 to move traffic more effectively onto Route 69. Turns at the intersection will be softened to allow for better truck turns. Two new parking lots will also be added for surrounding businesses and patrons. The overlapping left turns lanes on Route 69 and Route 72 will be eliminated.

As a result of roadway realignment, four buildings will be demolished northwest of the intersection to allow the roadway curvature to be softened and alignment shifted. Another will be demolished as an extension is created to Pratt Street from Route 72 West with a left turn lane added. A four-way stop will be implemented where the extension, Divinity and Pratt streets meet.

Traffic lights, posts and pedestrian push lights will be installed and painted black and then maintained by the city in the future. Decorative lighting will be added to the area as requested by the city also. Streetscape plans will include urban trees and low maintenance plantings, said Landscape Designer Sue Fiedler. New roadside areas are intended to be created at all four corners of the intersection and be used as community spaces. Parts of these will include colored, stamped concrete as well as permeable paving. Streetscaping attempts intend to accentuate already existing historic architecture in the area.

Final plan designs are slated for completion April 6. The design will be completed May 18 and the project awarded to a construction firm in September. Around 80% of the project’s funding comes from federal dollars while 20% comes from the state.

"There are several projects that will be going on over the next probably four to five years in the downtown and Route 72 corridor," said Bristol Mayor Jeff Caggiano.