The most recent accident on Route 34, which unfortunately took the life of a young mother from Seymour, is yet another painful reminder that 34 is an incredibly dangerous road and has become a serious problem here in the Valley.
The stretch between the Stevenson Dam and the Derby Dam has been the scene of dozens of serious accidents over the past five years, including several that resulted in a loss of life. Of particular concern is the area known as Pink House Cove in Derby, which has been the site of multiple fatalities in the past few years.
The CT Department of Transportation is aware of the danger this area poses, yet nothing has been done to address the issue.
In a letter I wrote to DOT Commissioner Redeker dated July 25, 2011, I asked that the DOT address a dangerous intersection at Route 34 and Route 188 in Seymour. In addition, I asked that the DOT “begin exploring ways to reduce speeding, reckless driving, and possibly overall traffic through this highly concentrated residential area,” referring to the entire stretch of road between the two dams.
The response I received from the Commissioner was that the intersection was too expensive to fix due to “funding constraints.” I received no response to my second request. In fact, it wasn’t even acknowledged in the Commissioner’s response, and in that time at least three people have died at Pink House Cove.
Considering the letter, the follow-up I wrote expressing my disappointment with their response, and most importantly the concerns expressed by local officials in Derby, Seymour, and Oxford, the CTDOT is absolutely aware of the hazardous conditions of this road. Why haven’t they acted on this issue? This is the question that our current elected officials and our local media outlets must bring to the Commissioner.
I’m not an engineer and I don’t know what the solution is, but I do know that the CT DOT’s stated mission is “to provide a safe and efficient intermodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region.” As far as I’m concerned, the CT
DOT is failing that mission. They need to be held accountable, and they need to work to find a solution to this growing problem.
The writer, a Seymour resident, is a former state representative. He is running as a Republican candidate for the Seymour Board of Selectmen.
