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Mickeyfan0805's avatar
Mickeyfan0805
Explorer
Jul 30, 2014

I95 in CT - I need input from those familiar

I will be departing Providence, RI at 7:30am on Monday, headed towards Washington DC. As I see it, I have two choices:

1) I95 (which would have me entering New Haven, and the southwest corridor of CT, around 9:15-9:30)

2) A circuitous route of state and county highways over to Hartford, then I84 west to I684.

I would prefer I95, simply because it is more direct and less navigation, but I'm concerned about traffic. Figuring New Haven around 9:15-9:30 and Bridgeport closer to 10am, will the worst of the traffic be cleared, or am I better taking the state/county highway route?
Roads and Routes
  • suprz's avatar
    suprz
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    I have gone on I95 thru CT at varying times of the day , you will hit traffic no matter what time you go during the day. And it comes up quick... (65mph one minute and then turn a corner and BANG... 10 mph! Panic.stop time) I just deal with it... I just refuse to go thru NY!
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2014
    As you are already an citizen of the Megopolis, you might survive that. If you are not comfortable driving in kamakazi NYC traffic (On offense to real Kamakazi intended). The take I84 up to the Tappen Zee. I have been through there for many years, but I did live there for a while.

    Matt
  • CloudDriver's avatar
    CloudDriver
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    Back in the late 90's our son was attending UCONN in Storrs and my parents lived on Cape Cod. On several occasions, we used route 6 out of Providence to drop him off at Storrs and then picked up I84 near Hartford to I684 over the Tappan Zee.
  • K_Charles's avatar
    K_Charles
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    I live in north east CT and I take 91 95 and the Tappan Zee from time to time. Stop and go traffic should be gone by then and slow traffic will still get you there faster then going around just to get Hartford traffic
  • ChooChooMan74's avatar
    ChooChooMan74
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    I hate driving 95. As others have said, you will hit traffic. I rather do night travel if I was going this way.
  • Vet_Man's avatar
    Vet_Man
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2014
    To avoid the New haven area, there is big road work replacing bridges. No time is a good time. How about rt95S to rt9N you get on rt9 in Old Saybrook. Take it all the way to rt84 West, Highway all the way. Sometimes a slow down in Middletown ct. during rush hr.
  • Gene_Ginny's avatar
    Gene_Ginny
    Explorer
    Jul 31, 2014
    Going along with what Vet Man said, the bridge construction is right after exit 49. You have to pay carefull attention to the lane markings around exit 48 or you could end up in a lane going to rt91 or rt34. As I recall only the left 2 lanes continue South on 95.

    I go there every few months to visit my audiologist and am generally in that area about 10:30am going to rt34. Sometimes it gets a little crazy but mostly it is moving.
  • ct1964ups's avatar
    ct1964ups
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2014
    Vet Man wrote:
    To avoid the New haven area, there is big road work replacing bridges. No time is a good time. How about rt95S to rt9N you get on rt9 in Old Saybrook. Take it all the way to rt84 West, Highway all the way. Sometimes a slow down in Middletown ct. during rush hr.


    I'd use this rt 9 as Vet Man said..nice road...on rt 9 when you get to I-91 take 91 south to I-691 over to I-84..roads marked a little better and quicker
    then I would stay on 84 into Newburgh,NY..no backup on the Newburgh,NY take I-87 south to Sufferin,NY and take I-287 to I-78...about 45 miles ..stay on 78 to 81 and then in Harrisburg,Pa..pickup I-83 right to the DC area
    Chuck

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