Calls on State to Prioritize Interchange Rehabilitation
Project
When falling concrete from the ‘Mixmaster’ interchange in
Waterbury today resulted in the closing of the off-ramp at
Exit 19 on Interstate 84 westbound onto Route 8, it
underscored the urgent need for the state to expedite a study on the rehabilitation of the
interchange and make long-overdue safety improvements to it, said state Representative
Selim Noujaim.
“I was shocked but not surprised to hear about the incident today on the I-84-Route 8
interchange in Waterbury,” said Representative Noujaim, R-Waterbury, who, along with
other Waterbury and Greater Waterbury lawmakers, has been calling on the state Department
of Transportation to expedite a study on the rehabilitation of the interchange that would lead
to long-overdue safety improvements.
“We have been warning about possible safety problems involving the Mixmaster for some
time now,” he said.
“The falling concrete that resulted in the closing of the off-ramp from I-84 westbound onto
Route 8 clearly demonstrates that the deterioration of the interchange has gone further than
we suspected. Thankfully, no one was killed or seriously injured in today’s incident – but it
should serve as a wake up call to the Department of Transportation and the State Bond
Commission to take whatever action is necessary to make the Mixmaster safe for motorists
once again,” Representative Noujaim said.
“We have waited long enough. This incident shows our concern about potential safety
hazards on the Mixmaster were well-founded. The state needs to make upgrading the
interchange a top priority this year – not next year or the year after,” Representative Noujaim
said.
