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Construction News & Schedule
for the ONE-WEEK period of
Monday, October 18 - Friday, October 22, 2021
OVERVIEW:
Nighttime work related to Downtown Crossing will occur between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. throughout the week of October 11th in various locations in the vicinity of Congress Avenue, Lafayette Street, and College Street near South Frontage Road. This work will create noise that may be loud at times.

This work is being done at night to maintain hospital access and public safety. If done during the daytime hours, this work could inhibit access to Yale New Haven Hospital as it requires additional lane closures, beyond the existing South Frontage Road closure between College and Church Streets.

There will be no changes to the existing traffic patterns this week. South Frontage Road remains closed between College & Church Streets with detours for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists in effect. Please see below, towards the end of this newsletter, for graphics of the various detour routes.

Additional, various single lane closures may also occur and are listed in more detail immediately below.


LANE CLOSURES
Throughout the one-week period of Monday, October 18 and Friday, October 22, 2021 various lane closures may occur on the following roads to accommodate construction:

  • State Street & Union Avenue at North Frontage Road: single lane closures near the intersection of Water Street.
  • South Frontage Road: single lane closures may occur on SFR between York Street and South Orange Street.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard: single lane closures between Church Street and Orange Street.

WORK HOURS
Downtown Crossing-related work for the one-week of period of Monday, October 18 through Friday, October 22, 2021 will occur during both daytime and nighttime work hours.

Daytime work hours are on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

Nighttime work hours are on weekdays between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

On-road signage will alert travelers to lane closures & detour routes.

Please pay attention to this signage, slow down, and stay safe!

Soon-to-Open: Orange Street Intersection!
A new date will be set for the opening of the Orange Street intersection in the coming weeks. Please see below for important information for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Navigating the Orange Street Intersection

When the Orange Street intersection opens, it will create a significant change in the overall traffic pattern. Drivers will be sharing the road with pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians and bicyclists will need to cross the large intersection in two phases.


Pedestrians & bicyclists please note:

When crossing the intersection in the north/south direction, it will take two traffic signal phases. In other words, one will need to use the 'crosswalk' button twice and pause on one of the pedestrian islands in between the first and second crosswalk phases. (Pedestrian islands are highlighted in orange in the graphics above this section.)

  • 1st Crosswalk Phase: The first crosswalk phase will allow crossing from the sidewalk to one of the pedestrian islands.

  • 2nd Crosswalk Phase: The second crosswalk phase will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to move from the pedestrian island to the sidewalk on the other side of the intersection.


Drivers please note:

  • Drivers exiting I91 and I95 to approach Downtown New Haven (Exit 1 from I91 South and Exit 47 from I95 North) will now come across their first traffic signal at Orange Street, much earlier than before.

  • The new intersection and traffic signals are at a location that drivers are used to speeding past. Drivers are urged to pay attention to on-road signage, slow down, and stay safe!

  • The speed limit on the exit ramps from both I91 and I95 is 30 MPH! Obey the speed limit.

  • The new intersection and its traffic signals are designed for pedestrians and bicyclists, not only drivers! Drivers should be especially cognizant that they are utilizing a shared-use road along with pedestrians and bicyclists. Drivers should pay attention to road signage and obey the speed limit to keep all road users safe.

  • From any point in the intersection, drivers can turn right or go straight upon a green traffic signal. There are NO left-hand turns allowed for drivers from any point in the intersection.


CLOSED PORTION OF SOUTH FRONTAGE ROAD
SOUTH FRONTAGE ROAD DETOURS

Please note:

  • On-road signage will guide drivers through the detour routes.

  • Howard Ave., Ella Grasso Blvd., and Columbus Ave. detours are designed to keep traffic out of the construction area altogether in an effort to reduce congestion and delays.

  • The detour immediately around the closed portion of South Frontage Road will serve those who cannot avoid the construction area. 


Please pay attention to this signage, slow down, and stay safe!
Close-up: Motor Vehicle Detour Immediately Around Construction Site
SOUTH FRONTAGE ROAD MOTOR VEHICLE DETOURS
SOUTH FRONTAGE ROAD PEDESTRIAN DETOUR
SOUTH FRONTAGE ROAD BIKE DETOUR
Service Drive Shift
Other Road Mitigations Designed to Improve Traffic Flow
Portion of Columbus Avenue Permanently Reopened
Pedestrian Detour At Union Avenue Underpass

A minor pedestrian detour went into effect on Monday, March 9, 2020 and was originally expected to last until mid-May. However, this detour will now remain in place through the spring of 2021 to accommodate the installation of a public art project on the west side of the Union Avenue underpass, where Union Avenue meets North Frontage Road, State Street, and Water Street. Pedestrians will be able to access the area simply by using the sidewalk at the east side of the bridge, which is located just across the street.

Below:
  • Photo of the vicinity of the Union Avenue underpass pedestrian detour
  • Rendering of "Lighting Your Way" be Sheila Levrant de Bretteville of Site Projects New Haven.