Several of Southbury’s busiest intersections are set for a full traffic signal replacement as part of a statewide project to modernize aging infrastructure.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) hosted a public information meeting on Monday, August 11 to outline the plan, which will replace traffic control systems at five key Southbury locations by summer 2027.
Local intersections slated for upgrades:
- Routes 6 & 67 (Main Street North) at State Route 492 (Main Street South) & the Southbury Shopping Center — the main four-way intersection in the center of town by Stop & Shop.
- Routes 6 & 67 (Main Street North) at Heritage Road / Old Waterbury Road — the four-way intersection near Heritage Village.
- Route 67 (Southford Road) at State Route 487 (Kettletown Road) & Community House Road — near the Transfer Station.
- Route 67 (Southford Road) & Route 6 (Main Street North) & Route 67 at the I-84 Eastbound ramps.
- Routes 6 & 67 (Main Street North) at the I-84 Westbound ramps.
The $14 million project will be funded entirely by the state for construction, with federal funds covering all design costs. CTDOT officials say the replacements will bring intersections up to current safety standards and, in some cases, add new crosswalks and pedestrian accommodations.
Preliminary and final engineering design is already underway, with final design plans expected in January 2026. The project is scheduled to be advertised to contractors in April 2026, with construction slated for spring 2027.
In addition to the five intersections in Southbury, the project includes full replacements in Middlebury, Danbury, Avon, Farmington and Kent. More than a dozen partial replacements are planned along U.S. Route 44 in Avon and Simsbury.
Technology upgrades will include vehicle detection systems and the ability for traffic lights to communicate with emergency service vehicles. The mast arms, ranging between 45 and 60 feet tall, will replace older structures.
At the Main Street North/Main Street South intersection by the Southbury Shopping Center, CTDOT proposes removing the raised island in the right-turn lane.
Historic District Weighs In
Members of the town’s Historic District Commission #1 attended the online CTDOT meeting and later discussed the project at their regularly scheduled session at Town Hall. Only one of the intersections — Heritage Road at Old Waterbury Road — falls within the Historic District’s boundaries.
“Where Heritage Road and Old Waterbury converge is the beginning of our district,” said Anne Westerman, secretary of the commission. “We should care about that.”
Westerman said the design calls for two striped pedestrian crosswalks at the intersection, along with four new mast arms. While the commission cannot approve or deny the project, they can submit public comments.
One local decision still in play is whether to paint the mast arms black rather than leaving them metallic. Members of the Historic District Commission said they would prefer it painted black, rather than a metallic shiny pole, to better fit the character of the district.
Between modernization efforts that are out of their control, and trying to preserve the rural character of the town and its historic districts, the commission said it has become difficult to reach a balance over time.
Commission members cited the installation of guardrails in the historic district in 2023, which they say were they not informed about at the time. According to meeting minutes from May 2023, the commission said it was an example of “something that is incongruous with the historical context of the district.”
Public Comment
Residents can submit feedback until Monday, August 25, by emailing DOTSignalReplacements@ct.gov or calling 860-594-2020. Comments must reference Project No. 0174-0471.
The Southbury Record 