Whitehead - I-84 connector

[Bill Mocarsky]

Most people I know that care about the urban fabric of Hartford are glad that the Whitehead - I-84 connector was defeated more than 3 decades ago.

I think Hartford already suffers with the the two worst segments of the I-484 concept, however.

One of these is the large footprint of I-84 (near the Capitol) with it's multi tiered design that was built to accomodate the never built intersection. The other is the Colan-Whitehead itself, which covers the Park river. (Yes, the Whitehead was built before the concept.)

Is the actual tunnel any worse than the other two segments?

[MadVlad]

I don't find the tunnel to be a problem, at least it's sunken in one piece coming out the west side and could be covered in theory. The multi-tiered section is the real problem, if the reconfigured the area from Sisson/Park to the tunnel, sinking it and making a tunnel that whole length, it would be a much better area, helping to link the city to it's other parts.

[Theophrastus Bombastus]

I agree that we are stuck with the 2 worst parts. Here's an idea (assuming 84 will be lowered/buried): bury the whole connector, then recreate the Park River ON TOP of it!!

[MadVlad]

I agree that we are stuck with the 2 worst parts. Here's an idea (assuming 84 will be lowered/buried): bury the whole connector, then recreate the Park River ON TOP of it!!

[Theophrastus Bombastus]

Ick, I can smell disaster all over that idea, as much as I'd like it to happen.

[HartfordTycoon]

It's possible.............

http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/waterbridge.asp

[beerbeer]

If they would just cover the Whithead and put a park on top, that would be a big improvement. But it needs to be a real park with grass and trees and not the crap they but over 1-84.

[MadVlad]

It's possible.............

http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/waterbridge.asp

[mikel]

I am against any burial of highways. These are huge projects that cost too much to upkeep and tend to be problematic (see Dig, Big..).

Reroute I-84 and I-91 outside the city centre, that's the only way to solve the problem. Someday I believe it will happen. For now, we have to deal with it until public opinion finally turns against these highways.

[spatulashack]

I am against any burial of highways. These are huge projects that cost too much to upkeep and tend to be problematic (see Dig, Big..).

Reroute I-84 and I-91 outside the city centre, that's the only way to solve the problem. Someday I believe it will happen. For now, we have to deal with it until public opinion finally turns against these highways.

[zimbu1228]

It's possible.............

http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/waterbridge.asp

[mikel]

How about just eliminating the connector totally and recreating the Park River where the connector is now.

[Bill Mocarsky]

I for one am at least happy that 84 is sunken under Main and Trumbull! One wonders why they didn't continue it a little further!

[drc72]

How about just eliminating the connector totally and recreating the Park River where the connector is now.

[blink55184]

We could always look at the other side of this....

WHEN Hartford gets some major features and attractions, the main large roads into the city will already be in place!

[Yankee.Peddler]

I-84 was designed with the intent of I-484 (the Whitehead connector) being built shortly after.

My question is, How do you think that segment of highway would have been designed if the I-484 interchange wasn't on the horizon at the time?

Regarding the interchange site:

I don't think the main issue here is simply "lets bury the highway". I think it is cleaning up and shrinking the huge footprint..............and putting in a few city streets in that would connect Union Station to Capitol Avenue.