And the roundabout is not on the state entrance ramp. It's on a city street.

the whole deal wis a joke always complaigning the state is broke and they have money for this waste.. its so wasteful those who are in office and voted in favor of it should have to pay the money back.. I also think the roundabout is a joke and a hazord as well i am waiting for a headon soon. just hope no one gets hurts.

The point of the project is to reduce hospital/medical traffic on Wakelee Ave (a cost only Ansonia residents bear) by getting people directly on Route 8 and also allowing the state to close the "suicide lanes" to/from Griffin around Dworkin Chevy.
And the state didn't pay for the project the feds did.

Planner, thank you for the detailed explanation. You are always helpful.

HOWEVER, the construction equipment and trailers are gone, the large cones seem to have been left behind as they are there 24/7 and sure enough there are large tire tracks across one side of the landscaped are inside the roundabout (for over a week now).... because someone drove over it. Exactly what I was worried about!

I see why the roundabout was done and I don't want people reaching highway speeds either. However, clearly the roundabout was deeded a hazzard by someone (the state?) who now has cones on on side of it to make sure drivers see it and we have evidence at least one driver DID hit it not expecting one before a highway entrance ramp. I trust his happened at night.

If this is on a city street what does Derby do when someone NOT speeding hits that roundabout and damages their car, hits it and looses control and is injured or worse? Are lawyers on standby because someone is going to slam into that and get hurt.

I'll add that Derby has another problem on it's hands here. Forget the hazard (and lawsuit in waiting) Derby created by putting a roundabout before a highway entrance ramp. Have you seen the mess that is now the intersection of Wakelee and Division at peak hours?

The intersection is already scary because coming from Griffin you have a stop sign at a traffic 'triangle" followed by a traffic signal at the intersection. NOW, you have many more cars using that route to get to the new Route 8 ramp. End result? A line of cars heading towards the ramp often blocking the intersection because you can only put maybe two cars between the light and the stop sign behind it. It won't be long until two cars slam into each other.

That intersection was not designed for the additional traffic created flowing to the ramp from Griffin and should have also been reconfigured as part of the project... perhaps with some of the money used laying new brick crosswalks instead of just painting stripes on the road.

The road is in Ansonia. Neither the roundabout or Wakelee/Division are finished, and you can blame Griffin Hospital for refusing to contribute the grassy area at the end of their parking lot (land previously taken under eminent domain by the state for the Griffin expansion) so that the entire intersection could be redesigned from all directions.

One Question: Where were all you geniuses during the public hearings for this project?? I was there (usually alone) raising some of the same objections as you. Must be pretty easy to just be a Monday-Morning Quarterback?

Planner needs to be blocked as you are extremely rude. I for one work late hours and don't have time to make it to the meetings. Apparently you have nothing going on in your life but answer in a rude tone or close a topic. We can air our conplaints as much as we like and this site is monitored. If you want to add some knowledge to a topic do so, but inna respectful manner. Otherwise keep it to yourself

Sorry about some typographical errors in my post but I have big fingers for a little iphone

Rude? I'm sick of people who can't be bothered to avail themselves of the facts and then complain after something has been built. You don't deserve to be called out for thinking that posting to a website unassociated with your government is sufficient to participate in your community life?
Your just a bunch of whiners! Now go see if you can have me banned from SCF because I hurt your widdle feewings.

FIRST, unless you are the owner of this site "banning" people is not part of your role. Some people communicate in a more "cut and dry" fashion in writing. I have found that Planner seems very well informed so keep that in mind. Sniping at each other clutters the site and does not move us forward.

That said, we need to clear up once and for all that this site IS where residents are going to post issues and expect city officials take notice. I realize the towns in the valley are not (yet) paying for SCF but the prior mayor of Ansonia was very vocal on here about the city monitoring this site and thanking people for posting. SO, that horse is out of the stable. It's 2016, people do not have time to attend meetings or track down what ward they are in and who to call (wards in the 21st century?). Local media links to this site which directs people here... so if the cities don't like it.. too late.

I thank Mr. Raymond for his comments. I have participated here because I know where to access information and participate in the process in the real world.
That said, all of this information regarding the projects was available online both on community and government websites. Plans could be reviewed there and comments submitted electronically. My point in criticizing a lack of public participation is that citizens are wrong to believe that if they go to a single website that is set up like SCF to monetize public participation in communities, you are just not doing enough to participate in your community life. You can still do it online but it requires a little more work than just going to the most convenient website.
I am very supportive of SCF and wish that municipalities would invest in the interface and adopt the application as their virtual community conversation. But clearly those of us who prefer this venue have not made it clear enough to our public officials that they need to spend money and budget for this interface.
Until you accomplish at least that much, you have an obligation to do what is necessary to participate in your community, including seeking out information that you may not find readily on a site like this.

I ask that planner be respectful and not call people names. State your opinions as others are allowed to do in this public forum. Respect others and as we appreciate your knowledge of the subject you should just tell the people what you know
and not lower your opinions to name calling. People can complain and if you don't like it you can move on. As for me I will move on because I have better things to do in my life thank goodness

Thank you Francis.

Planner, the sad reality is in 2016 people do not have time to normally attend town meetings or call city hall. They barely can stop for lunch and I don't see Ansonia or Derby moving town meetings to Saturday afternoon and doing an e-mail blast to residents telling them. Just as banks and restaurants and supermarkets have made it easier to shop with the world's changing schedules municipalities must adapt and make it easier for residents to chime in with sites like this.

Well, THAT we can agree on!

This morning I see we have now added cones to separate the two lanes in front of Hancock Pharmacy. That wouldn't be done unless somehow drivers found changes there confusing and were not staying in their lane.

SO, we have a dangerous roundabout with tire treads on it, a nasty intersection at Division and Wakelee because it wasn't designed for the increased traffic flow created by the new entrance ramp AND cones so people stay in their lane now that changes have been made. Smooth!

Ryan- can you point us to any roadway that you think functions well? Where the government and consultants did a good job?

Your misunderstanding of how roads work, jumping to conclusions and constant, gratuitous criticism before a project is even completed are really not helpful and serve to misinform the public.

Today's cones are there to protect workers in the area while alternating lanes were closed.

Hi Planner,

I see MANY projects the cities can be proud of. However, this site it’s normally used for applause.

That said, I have seen or pointed out over time some VERY glaring oversights in both Ansonia and Derby. Having worked in civil engineering I have seen so often that small cities and towns don’t have the expertise to properly think out some projects even though all are well intended.

You need STRONG legal counsel that specializes in urban planning and traffic design at these meetings (not corporation council who is often a “jack of all trades and master of none”. I am NOT thinking of any specific person. Just my experience. You also need a strong civil engineer who has worked on large projects and can point out areas of concern with council. Yes, they are costly but better than the lawsuits and issues that avoid.

1. One does not put a roundabout in front of a highway entrance ramp no matter the intended purpose. A good engineer and council would rightfully point out that the city will be sued the moment a motorist strikes it and is injured. I know many towns love to find ways to slow traffic (illegally installing speed bumps on town roads have often been suggested here by users) but that roundabout should not have gotten approval in its current form. The first settlement will cost more than a better safer solution.

2. A details traffic flow study would have shown the intersection at Wakelee and Division was already a very poor configuration before the on ramp. The on ramp should not have proceeded without a redesign of that intersection mandatory. Griffin not cooperating? That’s what eminent domain is for. Now we have an intersection that is a danger handling far more cars than it was designed for. Stand by for cars getting hit or rear ended especially since the space between the stop sign and signal at the triangle is far too short.

I will hold my responses on the Ansonia Riverwalk to nowhere that is to continue along Pershing Drive and down Main Street. Both heavily traveled ROADS not a river. Ansonia would be wise to stop now if they can’t re-route it near the river as Derby and Shelton did. Yes, they have to overcome Route 8 but its one spot and they did their best. Or Main Street to Division which should have been widened to four lanes when Target, Marshalls, etc. were approved. The road cannot handle the load of cars and backups are constant. Should have been part of the approval process even if the state had to be brought in.

I’ll also save the railroad crossing on Division where driving towards Pershing the road goes from two to three lanes without warning and cars endlessly weave without signal to change lanes before the light causing others to slam on their brakes to avoid collisions.

Yes, many other projects are fine and some of these are state roads. If so, our representatives, the Mayors, etc should be IN HARTFORD pushing heavy for funds to get these issues corrected. Not saying “Sorry, state road”. It’s in your town people, you’re paid to resolve things.

Remember it's "See Click FIX" not "See Click CHEER". A thicker skin please!

Civil engineering firm that designed this project for the state returned for a final inspection based in part on these complaints and state reaffirmed their support for the current design.