FIRST SELECTMAN TIMOTHY M. HERBST ANNOUNCES UPDATE ON IMPROVEMENTS TO ROUTE 111 INTERSECTION WITH NEW COMMERCIAL SHOPPING PLAZA
June 18, 2015 - - First Selectman Timothy M. Herbst on Thursday provided Trumbull residents with an update concerning ongoing meetings and planning for improvements to the Route 111 intersection that is in close proximity to the commercial shopping center that now houses the Fitness Edge, Chips, Prime 111 and other retail establishments. As a follow up to his initial report to residents in March, the First Selectman indicated that the Connecticut Department of Transportation has presented to the Town of Trumbull a preliminary design plan that will realign the entrance of the shopping plaza, along with a new four way intersection. “The design proposed by the state will create a four way intersection at Old Mine Road, with a traffic light that will help to calm traffic and guarantee safe egress into the center. This will include adding a short road opposite Old Mine Road to provide access to the center, and potentially to the condominium development in the rear of the property,” stated First Selectman Herbst. “The Trumbull Engineering Department is currently evaluating the feasibility of the State’s preliminary design.”
First Selectman Herbst also noted that the State Department of Transportation has identified potential funding sources for a portion of this work. The Town of Trumbull is also exploring other potential funding sources for the remaining portions. Some private funding will be required. “In my capacity as the Chairman of the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments, I intend to work with our Executive Director, Brian Bidoli to see if there are any grant or external funding opportunities that we might be able to take advantage of that would assist us in supplementing some of the costs associated with this construction, so as not to adversely place this burden on Trumbull taxpayers.” The First Selectman concluded that the Town has identified other short term solutions that they would like to implement as soon as possible.
“Given the complex nature of this potential situation and relatively high cost, the Town of Trumbull has also asked the State Department of Transportation to review an interim plan to increase the awareness of the location of the current Pequonnock River Trail Crossing. The state has performed the review, provided comments and indicated that any short-term improvements would have to be funded at the local level.”