Ansonia schools to start Thursday, police urge drivers to use caution

 

Derby Police issue advisory about night road work on Derby Avenue

 

 Traffic Advisory – Nightly Road Work on Derby Avenue 

Burns Construction began nightly road work on Derby Avenue between Bank Street and Division Street from 7 p.m.-5 a.m. Crews are installing a new gas line, and this project is anticipated to continue into Fall 2026.

Motorists should expect lane shifts, traffic delays, and the presence of construction personnel and equipment during overnight hours. Please consider using alternate routes when possible.

When traveling through the area, reduce your speed and proceed cautiously through the work zone to ensure the safety of workers and fellow drivers.
Your patience and cooperation are appreciated as this infrastructure improvement project moves forward.

Shared from the Derby Police Department Facebook page.

Bridge work on Route 8 in Shelton slated in April

 

Shelton Police caution drivers about icy road conditions tonight

Attention Shelton residents: Due to icy road conditions, please use extreme caution while traveling tonight. Reduce your speed, allow extra stopping distance, and avoid unnecessary travel if possible.

Shelton public safety crews are actively monitoring conditions. Stay safe and check on neighbors as needed!

Ansonia Police advise motorists to slow down; extra patrols added

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Police Department is advising motorists to SLOW DOWN on Ansonia streets. 

As part of enforcing this advisory, the Ansonia Police Department has added extra patrols for speed enforcement. 

These extra patrols are funded by State of Connecticut grants to combat speeding on rural and city roads. 

Over the past two days, over 80 vehicles have been stopped for excessive violation of the speed limits on numerous streets including one motorcycle going over 100 mph. 

Tickets and arrests have been a result of the majority of these stops. These extra patrols will continue to be added to help reduce the violations and the accidents that result from the speeding vehicles. 

Please slow down, those extra couple of seconds you may be saving to reach your destination are not worth it.

This is shared from the APD Facebook page.

Route 15 tree removal planned in New Haven, area towns this weekend

The Connecticut Department of Transportation Friday announced a tree removal operation will be performed on Route 15 Northbound in New Haven, Woodbridge, Hamden, and North Haven, beginning Saturday, March 16.

The project consists of cutting dead trees, high limbing, and clearing signs which will be performed on Route 15 Northbound in New Haven, Woodbridge, Hamden, and North Haven.
This project is scheduled to occur Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17.

Land closure info
Motorists can expect lane closures on Route 15 Northbound between Exit 59 (Route 69, Whalley Avenue) and Exit 63 in New Haven, Woodbridge, Hamden, and North Haven.

A moveable sign pattern will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. 

The regular work schedule for this project is from 6 a.m. to noon.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. 

Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity.

This is a press release from state Sen. George S. Logan. 

Derby to start demolition of 128-142 Main St. Wednesday

Logan offers info about weekend tree removal, lane closures on parkway

In Orange, Woodbridge, New Haven

Sharing email message from state Sen. George S. Logan, R-Ansonia:

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing a tree removal operation will be performed on Route 15 (Wilbur Cross Parkway) northbound and southbound in Orange, Woodbridge, and New Haven on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9-10.

The project consists of cutting dead trees, high limbing and clearing signs.

LANE CLOSURE INFO

Motorists can expect lane closures on Route 15 Northbound and Southbound between Exit 58 (Route 34, Derby Turnpike) and Exit 59 (Route 69, Whalley Avenue) in Orange, Woodbridge, and New Haven. 
A moveable sign pattern will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. 
The regular work schedule for this project is from 6 a.m.-noon.

Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. 
Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity.

Gentile, Logan urge caution during Rt.115 resurfacing project

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced a nighttime milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Rt. 115 (Derby Avenue) in Derby and Ansonia, from this Sunday to the morning of May 9. 

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, and state Sen. George S. Logan, R-Ansonia, would like to caution drivers during this construction period. 

“I am asking all motorists and commuters to be patient and to use caution while the DOT undergoes this project,” Gentile said. 

“Safety is of the upmost importance and I hope that residents will take precautions during this time.”

"Many residents may not be aware that this road work will be taking place," Logan said. "We are helping ConnDOT spread the word so that area motorists can plan accordingly."

The project consists of milling and resurfacing a .85 mile segment of Rt. 115 in Derby and Ansonia. Work hours will be from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. 

Motorists should expect lane closures on Rt. 115 between Rt. 34 and Division Street.  

Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. The regular work schedule for this project is 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. (Sunday-Friday).

Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions.  

Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity. 

This is a press release from the House Democrats' office.

         

DOT to resurface Rte. 8 in Seymour, lane closures planned

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced that a nighttime milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 8 Northbound in Seymour beginning Thursday.

The project consists of milling and resurfacing a 0.135-mile segment of Route 8, NB in Seymour. 

The project is scheduled to occur from 8 p.m.-5:30 a.m. Thursday, through Saturday morning.

LANE CLOSURE INFO

Motorists can expect lane closures on Route 8, NB between the Exit 19 (Wakelee Avenue) on ramp and Exit 21 (Derby Avenue) off ramp. 

Impact attenuators, state police, and signing patterns will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. 
The regular work schedule for this project is 8 p.m.-5:30 a.m. (Thursday through Saturday).

Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. 
Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity.


This is a press release from the website of state Sen. Rob Kane.

DOT ready to resurface Route 115 in Ansonia

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia/Derby, is asking that motorists drive safely during an upcoming construction project.

A more than two-mile section of Route 115/Main Street in Derby and Ansonia is getting a facelift. 

The Department of Transportation will resurface the road between State Street and Division Street beginning Sept. 25.  

Crews will work between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. with the project expected to be completed Oct. 7. 

Weather conditions could alter this construction plan.

Most important, for everyone’s safety, motorists should use caution when driving through the work zone. There will be lane closures, sign patterns and traffic control while the work is being done.

You can view the Connecticut DOT Press Release here: http://bit.ly/2d4MaMt.

This is a press release from Gentile's office.

Work on Rt. 34 bridge planned in Derby this weekend

Dear Valley readers,

I'm sure most local folks know by now the Department of Transportation will be working this weekend on the heavily-traversed Route 34 span over the Naugatuck River in Derby.

But I'm sharing this information anyway, since it is a big deal for all of us who daily drive around these parts. 

Part of a press release follows:

"Lawmakers and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) are advising motorists to be aware of some much-needed work this weekend on the Route 34 bridge carrying traffic over the Naugatuck River in Derby.

"State Representatives Linda M. Gentile (D-Ansonia/Derby), Theresa Conroy (D-Beacon Falls/Derby/Seymour), and  Themis Klarides (R-Woodbridge/Orange/Derby, and State Senator Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. (D-Woodbridge) have been advised by the DOT that, weather permitting, crews will close the Route 34 bridge between Friday, Sept. 9 at 10 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 12 at 5 a.m.  

"The closure will allow placement of a new concrete bridge deck. The bridge project is due to be completed in November."

Connecticut State Police urge residents to use caution as new school year starts

      MIDDLETOWN - Connecticut State Troopers urge drivers, parents and children to prepare for back to school safety.

As more than half-a-million Connecticut children head back to school over the next few weeks, Connecticut State Troopers urge all parents and guardians to discuss school, traffic, and personal safety with their children.  

Troopers also caution all drivers to be aware of “back to school” bus, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic.  

Drivers are urged to use extra caution as they travel on Connecticut’s roadways, and to be alert to children who may be hurrying to and from school.

Under state law, it is mandatory that drivers stop for school buses that have their flashing red warning lights activated, whether they are approaching or following the school bus. 

The yellow flashing lights are a warning to drivers that the bus will be stopping to pick up and/or drop-off students.  

Drivers should anticipate that the red flashing lights will come on shortly after seeing the yellow flashing lights as the bus comes to a stop.  

The red flashing lights on a school bus indicate that the bus is stopped and students are either getting on or off the bus. 

Failure to obey this law not only puts our children at great risk, but it carries a hefty penalty for drivers. Fines for passing a school bus that has its flashing red warning lights activated starts at $465 for a first offense. 

Parents should remind their children to wait in a safe place, out of the travel portion of the roadway, and only cross the street after looking both ways, even if the red lights are activated.  

Urge children to tell an adult and the police about anything that makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable on the way to/from school and while they’re in school. Children should be reminded not to speak to, or get into the vehicles of, people they don’t know.

All Resident State Troopers and Troopers on patrol will periodically monitor school bus stops to help ensure the safety of all students as they travel back to school to begin the 2016-2017 school year.

This is a press release from the Connecticut State Police.

Opinion: Lawmaker opposes state mileage tax idea

By State Rep. Linda M. Gentile

HARTFORD - Recently, there has been a lot of talk about a mileage tax – the idea of taxing drivers based on the distance they drive their vehicles.  

Let me be clear. 

I am absolutely against any consideration of a mileage tax! 

Talk about the tax is a political ploy aimed at getting voters riled up.  

Leadership in both the House and Senate chambers of the General Assembly insist that they have no interest or plans to institute a mileage tax.  

Let me just say, I have no interest or plans to institute a mileage tax, as well.  

In fact, I believe it is a half-baked, crazy idea and I think using this idea as a political ploy to rile up voters is shameless!

Unnecessary burden 

I am against a mileage tax for many reasons. 

First and foremost, I believe it would be an unnecessary burden on motorists and taxpayers.  

It is unclear to me how such a tax would be implemented and it is certainly unclear how much it would cost to implement.  

I have heard suggestions of a tracking-type device being attached to cars to record the number of miles driven.  I firmly believe such a device would be an infringement on personal privacy.  

Furthermore, any device or computer chip attached to a vehicle could probably be circumvented or hacked, creating opportunity for vandalism and fraud.  

And, what if a motorist travels out of state for personal business or vacation? Would it be fair to tax the driver for miles driven on non-state roads? I don’t think so!  

I do not believe a mileage tax is fair nor do I think it should ever be considered as an option to raise funds for any transportation project!  

I want to assure you that I am absolutely not in favor of a mileage tax and I will work to defeat any attempt to implement any such proposal.  

Talk of mileage tax began last year when the Governor’s Transportation Finance Panel recommended studying its potential implementation.  

ConnDOT applied for a federal grant ($300,000) to pay for the study, joining with Vermont, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.  

I did not support the idea then, and I most certainly do not support the idea now. 

DOT officials say the mileage tax could be an option to raise revenues. I think not!  

The mileage tax proposal is simply an idea that is under consideration by the state Department of Transportation as a means to raise funds to pay for the maintenance of our highways, roads and bridges.  

But it is nothing more than that - an idea. An idea that I can’t and simply won’t support.

Gentile represents Ansonia and Derby in the General Assembly. This column was sent by Gentile's office.