Major Changes Planned For Route 15 In Hamden: DOT

HAMDEN, CT — The Connecticut Department of Transportation is planning on making major changes to the Wilbur Cross Parkway interchange near the Hamden-North Haven town line, according to officials.

The state DOT is developing plans to improve interchange 61 at Route 15 (Wilbur Cross Parkway) and State Route 707 (Whitney Avenue) in Hamden and North Haven, officials recently announced in a news release.

The project involves the removal of stop signs and the addition of “acceleration and deceleration lanes to the Route 15 interchange 61 ramps to allow entering traffic to safely reach freeway speeds,” according to the news release.

“Additionally, plans are being developed to remove the southbound exit 61 off-ramp and install traffic control signals on Whitney Avenue to facilitate north and southbound turning movements at the northbound exit 61 off-ramp and southbound exit 62 off-ramp,” officials wrote in the news release. “Furthermore, CTDOT is developing plans to reconfigure the Whitney Avenue Corridor in the area of Interchange 61 and add bicycle facilities and sidewalks.”

Officials said the project was initiated to reduce the number of crashes, as well as “provide operational improvements at the Route 15 interchange 61 ramps and improve mobility for all roadway users on Whitney Avenue.”

The design is expected to be completed in September 2027, with construction anticipated to start in spring 2028, “assuming acceptance of the project, availability of funding, and receipt of any required right-of-way and environmental permits,” according to officials.

The project will be undertaken with 80 federal funds and 20 percent state funds, officials said.