Town: Bristol

The NVCOG, in collaboration with the CTDOT, the City of Bristol, and the Town of Southington has engaged a multidisciplinary team to conduct a corridor study along CT Route 229 between Interstate 84 and US Route 6. The intent of the study is to plan for future development while addressing safety and traffic flow concerns, and provide for improved pedestrian, bicycle, and transit-user accessibility. 

Route 229 is characterized by a variety of typologies and traverses diverse land uses. North of Route 72, King Street is a two-lane road through a residential neighborhood, providing access to the Route 6 commercial district and Bristol Eastern High School. At Broad Street, Route 229 widens to multiple lanes in both directions. The intersections of Middle Street and Route 72 and Middle Street and Pine Street/Mountain Road are of particular hazard due to high vehicle volumes, multiple lanes, and a large number of vehicles entering and exiting the roadway. This section of roadway is a hotspot for crashes. South of Pine Street, Route 229 becomes a four-lane undivided highway and remains four lanes until the Southington town line. This is a regionally significant commercial and industrial district and a significant employment center. The region’s largest employer, ESPN, is located on Middle Street, just north of the Southington town line. Additionally, the seasonal theme park, Lake Compounce, is accessed from Middle Street. The corridor’s only transit route, CTfastrak, services the Lake Avenue park-and-ride. At the Southington town border, the road narrows to one southbound lane and is the site of recurring congestion. The road remains as such until roughly 1500 feet north of I-84 Interchange 31. Land use throughout the West Street portion of the corridor is a mix of commercial and residential with several substantial business parks located in the close vicinity on intersecting streets. 

As part of the study, we will collect and analyze traffic and safety data, work with the public to identify weaknesses and opportunities along the corridor, propose countermeasures to improve safety and traffic flow, produce a final report summarizing the analysis and recommendations, and provide conceptual engineering drawings for spot improvements along the length of the corridor needed to create a safer environment for all users, better traffic flow and support ongoing economic development. 

The study is being conducted by a team of planning experts and key stakeholders, led by BL Companies, a multi-discipline firm with extensive expertise in planning and traffic engineering. Additional expertise in real estate market trends and land use demand is being provided by The Williams Group.

Staff Contact:

Rich Donovan
Transportation Planner
rdonovan@nvcogct.gov

Public Involvement Process

We strive to create a public involvement process that is collaborative, accessible and inclusive. During the course of the study, our team will use a variety of tools to engage the public in a discussion and dialogue regarding the future of Route 229 and how future improvements can better integrate all users. 

We will conduct interviews with stakeholders, prepare an online survey, develop an interactive map, conduct public information meetings, and provide frequent updates via this website and NVCOG’s social media platforms. Additionally, all documents related to the project will be posted to this website. All are encouraged to participate in this project. If you have a question or would like to provide a comment, suggestion or have an idea, please email rdonovan@nvcogct.gov.  If you would like to share your ideas and vision for the corridor, please take part in our survey linked above before November 12, 2021. 

Stakeholder Interviews

We will conduct several in depth interviews with key project stakeholders such as business owners and daily users along the corridor. The goal of this effort is to have in-depth conversations about issues and opportunities along Route 229 and to incorporate this feedback into the recommendations for improvements.  

Public Meetings

Three public meetings will be conducted with the dual purpose of sharing our findings and hearing directly from the community about their concerns and ideas for Route 229. These meetings are open to all. If you cannot attend, all meetings will be recorded and put onto the website. The first meeting was held using a virtual workshop format. Meeting #2 was able to be held as a hybrid, offering an online and in-person option at the Bristol Public Library. The schedule and format of meeting #3 will be subject to public health limitations/guidance regarding in-person gatherings. Recordings and materials from meetings #1 and #2 are linked below. 

Social Media

In addition to this website, we will keep you up-to-date regarding the project’s status and progress on NVCOG’s social media platforms, which include Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Follow us there! 

We want your feedback! Follow this link or scan the below QR code to take a brief survey to share your thoughts and concerns about Route 229. Whether you live near, work near, or simply travel through the corridor, your opinions are critical as we imagine the future of this route. This survey will be available until the end of the day on Friday, November 12th. 

Take the survey here.

Below is a map showing the three segments of this corridor as it travels between US Route 6 in Bristol and Interstate 84 in Southington. 

Project Timeline

The draft Existing Conditions report is now available! Please send comments to Rich Donovan at rdonovan@nvcogct.gov for consideration before the report is finalized. Comments will also be accepted at a public meeting to be held on September 29 at the Bristol Library. More details on this meeting can be found below.