MERIDEN, CT — The Connecticut Department of Transportation announces major progress on the ongoing Interstate 91, Interstate 691, and Route 15 interchange reconfiguration project, including the on-time and on-budget completion of phase one, continued advancement of phase two, and the start of phase three. Phase two, which has been underway for two years, remains on track for completion by 2028, while the full three-phase program is expected to be complete by 2030.
Phase three is now underway. Crews are preparing the corridor for full reconstruction, including overnight work to maintain traffic flow. This phase will focus on the southbound side, adding new two-lane ramps and reconfiguring key connections to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow, with major bridge work including the Murdock Avenue Bridge scheduled to begin later this summer.
The cost of the first phase is $83.7 million and is entirely funded by the state. The second phase is supported by $50 million in state funding and $200 million in federal funding. The third phase will follow a similar model, with approximately 80 percent federal funding and 20 percent state funding. The total cost for all three phases combined is anticipated to be more than $712 million. Federal funding is primarily from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).
The project’s first phase, which was completed between 2023 and 2025, was aimed at repairing bridges, adding a lane of traffic to I-91, and making related road improvements. This included:
- Realigning and reconfiguring the ramp from I-691 eastbound to I-91 northbound (Exit 1A old Exit 11) to improve traffic flow and reduce collisions
- Bridge replacement due to the proposed ramp realignment
- Adding an auxiliary lane on I-91 northbound to relieve congestion caused by a steep uphill grade
- Bridge upgrades due to the added lane
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This second phase currently underway includes:
- Adding a new two-lane exit ramp from Route 15 northbound to I-91 northbound to reduce traffic congestion on the Exit 65A (old Exit 68 N-E) ramp
- Closing the existing Exit 17 ramp from I-91 northbound to Route 15 northbound and re-routing traffic to Exit 16 to provide a two-lane exit ramp with a right-side traffic merge onto Route 15 northbound
- Updating the existing Exit 65B (old Exit 68W) ramp from Route 15 northbound to I-691 westbound to two lanes
- Reconfiguring the acceleration and deceleration lanes to provide adequate traffic weaving distances
Third phase improvements include:
- A new two-lane exit ramp from Route 15 southbound to I-91 southbound to reduce traffic congestion on the existing Exit 67 ramp
- A new two-lane I-91 southbound ramp to Route 15 southbound to reduce traffic congestion on the existing Exit 17 ramp
- Upgrading the ramp from I-691 eastbound to Route 15 southbound (Exit 10) to two lanes
- Reconfiguring the ramp from I-91 southbound to I-691 westbound (Exit 18) to two lanes
