14-14 New Haven to Hartford Connecticut: I-91 North

Follows I-95 North to I-91 North in New Haven then we jump ahead to I-91 North in Hartford to I-291 East to I-84 East

[@stevetalkstoomuch]

The I-91/95 interchange with the new "Q"/Pearl Harbor Bridge was completed in 2018, on time and on budget. The largest single construction project in CTDOT history. I had read that the reason for all the left exits in the 1960s was to save money on bridges. Now they are slowly straightening many of those out. I-84 through Waterbury is now straight as an arrow and 3 lanes each way. Just completed in 2019. Small state with big infrastructure.

[@jacobtimmons2170]

Nice job with the video Jim! It really made my day. I did start back school today so it was nice to see this video after getting home. Keep on rolling! I also find it odd that the I-91 New Haven interchange has been going on for years.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it....things in the northeast take a long time to get done it seems.

[@cjs121675]

Hartford... the home of the former Whalers hockey team- sorry could not resist that one- nice ride and great tune for the ride! Hartford is an interesting area- it also has an interesting skyline too- really enjoyed the vid! Nice green trees, excellennt traffic- and just a fun ride! Loving seeing places I more than likely will never get to visit! Awesome!

[@backstreetrules]

Thanks for taking on these amazing virtual rides..

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks for watching!

[@timothywells4027]

As a truck driver, that is my frequent route most of the time.

[@65wiseman]

Two excellent songs -

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@65wiseman]

@@Freewayjim I wish that you would use THEN CAME YOU by Dionne Warwick or TURN THE BEAT AROUND by Vickie Sue Robinson or two by Gordon Lightfoot - SUNDOWN and CAREFREE HIGHWAY. Just suggestions

[@Freewayjim]

@@65wiseman I've used Gloria Estefan version of Turn the Beat around in Miami and Carefree Highway here kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHesgId7rriirtU

[@sautania6786]

On of them was synchronizity

[@BNforever2009]

good driving, love the scenery

[@socarboy]

Very enjoyable; loved the mix of songs and production

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@PoughTownBoy]

Whoever gave Jim the thumbs down needs a smack.

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Great ride and great use of two classic songs. How can you go wrong? Nice work Jim.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, much appreciated.

[@debbiekiser7178]

Great Video and GOOD MUSIC!! Thank you from Northeast Alabama Gal

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you for the comment and for watching!

[@jimwesteven2023]

Your vids have always been some of my favorite in the genre. Great combination of music and video pacing. As a followup to talk about the 95/91 interchange, it's (finally) been finished as of 2017 or thereabouts. While nothing special by the standards of some of the infrastructure you see around the country, it's something pretty unusual in New England - a high traffic interchange built with some elegance and seemingly with fully modern highway standards. No more lane reduction on 95, no more left-split to get on 91. That and the updates to 84 in the area approaching Waterbury would be two things to look at if you find yourself up this way again in the 2020s.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you for watching! yes I'm aware of those interchange improvements, good stuff!

[@dave11686]

Great video! That track from the Police is a favorite.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@ThePKProject]

I love I-91, the ride is nice. I live near the area, and that massive construction project has caused nothing but insane backups on that stretch of I-95 you filmed (even during off-peak hours). Thanks for sharing!

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks!

[@marlineharrold1937]

I enjoyed watching this. :)

[@Freewayjim]

I'm glad that you did, thank you!

[@thebeachkid1123]

Thank you! It's nice to all different areas seems I live quite away from new haven!

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

I-91 is a main Interstate throughout the New England region. It travels 290.37 mi. from New Haven, CT connecting the New Haven Mixmaster via I-95 & US 1 to the Canadian border to Quebec connecting A-55 just nearly 50 km south of Sherbrooke.

[@itsoffmyleg]

Great Video, Great Music. To bad you didn"t go through Hartford from 91 north

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, I only have so much time and the lighting would not have been in my favor during that time of the day.

[@Pekao5]

Great ride! The view of the Hartford skyline is much better from 84 though.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks and I agree, I've got I-84 Westbound in an upcoming video.

[@davidc8116]

You got the Fog Area sign!!! Years ago, the local pop FM station KC101 had a "mascot" named the "Mayor of Foggaria". At one time, they had a contest as to where the Mayor of Foggaria resided. After a lengthy guessing period, about 2-3 months, someone finally guessed it to be "Fog Area". I still drive that stretch and to this day still think of that contest from years ago! Great video, I hope you are able to come back and do the 91-95 interchange when it is completed. It should be done in 2016, and is currently ahead of schedule.

[@ctranger]

The I-91-95 interchange was completed in July 2016. I-95 North is now left two lanes; I-91 North right two (the opposite of what it has been since the mid-1960s). GPS and navigation systems should not be used thru this area until all road database updates are completed and implemented. Much smoother traffic flow.

[@donaldpaluga]

HOsay Smith, created by Dr. Chris Evans IIRC #kc101

[@hectormcmillan1501]

Love your videos!

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you Hector!

[@swabby429]

There are more trees than I expected. Also, I got a kick out of seeing a couple of custom street rods along the way.

[@agriculturemachinedanhua3209]

Background music you choose is so good.

[@jmvfrva]

Fun ride Jim - to a place I'll probably never get to. At least I know what it looks like now.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, never say never :)

[@Daconthocon78]

I remember going through connecticut on a trip to boston two years ago.

[@ciel222]

BEAUTIFUL

[@KenR1800]

5:00 - The building on the left with the blue dome was the old Colt Firearms factory.

[@lonelyman1967]

Nice video once again .

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@MrJamesgrate]

Splendid video Jim, my wife and I had driven to Hartford Connecticut once, back in 2013 and it is a lovely drive. Since I was the one and only driver, I didn't get much of an opportunity to spectate and observe the scenery. Once again, Awesome job and your music selection is on point for the journey!!!

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you very much James!

[@BeckettSong]

I looked up New Haven county and found that it's population is approx. 862K. The metro area includes Waterbury and Meriden, the latter town shares its northern border with Hartford County's Town of Southington. Watching your Hartford videos and New Haven videos really takes me back as I'm originally from Southern New England and you, "FreewayJim", are originally from Northern New England.

[@Freewayjim]

+Steven Baldi Thanks, I never found "City Populations" to be an accurate reflection of the area, for Example, El Paso is the 19th largest city with 680K, Atlanta is 39th with 456K, but Metro El paso is only a little over 1 Million, Metro Atlanta is over 6 Million, see the difference?.

[@BeckettSong]

@ReturnoftheBrotha Connecticut is part of New England and the unofficial "capital" of that US province(yes I know it's technically a region) is Boston which is the Mass state capital.

[@tedalridge8504]

The bridge have been all done now 😊

[@davidcarson2834]

Nice video. I will say it is sad that not all of I-291 was completed.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@ctranger]

Yes, it is a shame the original plans to construct the I-291/I-491 beltway around Hartford was never done. Only the "quarter" I-291 northeast piece which includes the Bissell Bridge was completed. Many tried to get at least the southwest piece starting in Rocky Hill after Exit 23 North going, and they actually did for a short time circa 1973 but injunctions halted that after construction began. The towel was eventually thrown in on that entire project, and around 1999 the crossover bridge from what would have been Exit 23A (likely) over the southbound lanes was unceremoniously taken down (during an I-91 improvement project). Would have been a nice road actually. The much-needed southwest Hartford bypass from I-91 to I-84 eventually was incorporated into the Route 9 completion (maybe a 3-digit interstate someday, maybe). Nothing was ever done regarding the northwest part of the loop though some wanted to incorporate part of route 218 (which naturally went nowhere). The new northbound I-84 east left-hand exit ramp helped immensely with traffic in the Capitol region.

[@cparkes92]

I think part of CT-9 in SW Hartford (between I-91 and I-84) was supposed to be part of I-291

[@ctranger]

Correct. I-291 was a unilateral wet-dream, conceived in the 1950s as a beltway around Hartford (with I-491 - which was never built). The CT-9 expressway, which does connect I-91 in Cromwell with I-84 in Farmington, incorporates some pieces of the 291 originally built. Today only a small section of I-291 exists (in Windsor/So Windsor incorporating the Bissell Bridge).

[@wk7765]

Cool vids man. You're awesome! What car do you drive in your videos?

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, I drive a 2012 Acura TL Advance, that and all my other gear is posted in the closing credits.

[@AmericanRoads]

Besides, Wikipedia and Google search, do you usually have regular websites that you use as sources for your annotations, Jim?

[@Freewayjim]

Yes, some of the road related sites, for this one in particular nycroads.com was helpful as well as Kurumi.com.

[@warderjack]

Hehe, no shoutout at 5:40 for the capped landfill?

[@donaldpaluga]

Any plans on doing the Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkway(CT 15) in the near future?

[@Freewayjim]

Not really, that road doesn't really interest me to begin with.

[@ericalexandercarreiromr.artsan]

You should do a tour of Glastonbury ct

[@tz233]

Best part is that you don't have to drive thru Meriden too long lol.

[@draaier327]

What is the type car witch I saw at 2.28 min ?

[@MikeyLew47]

Looked like a whole lot of awesome old button-copy. US and state shields left green instead of filled in white.

[@TheIcpfan23]

jim is that car good on gas i was just asking.when you get up there towards canada and ma does it always look that cloudy

[@Freewayjim]

I get 29-32 MPH on the highway.

[@TheIcpfan23]

nice nice

[@Ibelikemj]

Nice to see you in my backyard. Dumb question. What do you think of the 84/384/291 Interchange?

[@Freewayjim]

I like it, very spread out and modern, you'll see that stretch in a few videos as I filmed I-84 Westbound from east Hartford to Waterbury.

[@Ibelikemj]

Well it is different and unique. Im sure you heard the stories of Interstate 84 to Providence and Interstate 86 from Sturbridge to Wethersfield. Theres a whole lot of history around here with canceled freeways. Anyways cant wait to see what else you have in store

[@ctranger]

@@Ibelikemj Oh yeah, plenty of history regarding roads planned but never built or partially built. It has kinda been a hobby of mine now for the past 10 years researching them (going back to old DOT maps) and then finding out the "what happened". You could write a book regarding the I-84 to Providence tied to the I-84/I-86 renaming fiasco. Another good one was the planned tunnel to be drilled through East Rock where I-91 Exit 6 would have kept going straight to Whitney Avenue in Hamden. Also the so-called Ring Road around New Haven, the Route 22 and Route 10 freeways, I-484, and on and on. Fun stuff.

[@alancavy]

8:14 haha my exit :)

[@CheeseMasterSports]

BTW, Cool old car you passed at 2:27 and 2:28.

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

It's so strange why I-91 parallels US 5 for it's entire length. That's something. Some Interstates parallel portions of US routes as we check the maps.

[@Freewayjim]

Early Interstate plans had them being built exactly on the US-Route alignments, this was done in places but not as much as originally planned.

[@2012alexg]

At 5:37, Is that mile sign electronically generated? It doesn't look like a photograph.

[@Freewayjim]

Yes I made that

[@2012alexg]

Adobe Illustrator?

[@Freewayjim]

MS Office

[@dvferyance]

Has CT started it's milage based exit numbering conversion yet?

[@Freewayjim]

Not that I can tell.

[@outbackigloo6489]

About a year ago, mileage-based exit numbers existed on parts of I-395, and also on CT Route 2A.

[@CheeseMasterSports]

Also, Check out 4:26 too.

[@CheeseMasterSports]

Just returned. Got Footage Of Lake Charles, Alexandria, LA, Jackson, Huntsville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Birmingham! Hope you like what is coming!!!

[@messitheking952]

the police......excelente..!!!!

[@messitheking952]

hermosa maquina que se ve en 2:27.......!!!!!!!!

[@NewHaven203]

Si una carro bien antiguo y chevere!

[@DTD110865]

I have a mix tape containing "Synchronicity," before "Synchronicity II" myself. Somehow, I don't think I'm the only person who has done that. Yes, that's right; I said HAVE, not had!

[@andyjay729]

Who else once thought "The Breakup Song" was done by Tom Petty?

[@NewHaven203]

I'm from pistol wavin New Haven! Ferry Street

[@ways7163]

Jim needs to come back to the northeast.

[@parisphillips5208]

Great video, but I hate I 91. I don’t know who thought left hand exits were a good idea

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks but yeah, you have to wonder what those engineers from the 50s and 60s were thinking with the left exits/entrances.

[@parisphillips5208]

@@Freewayjim every close call I've had on the highway was because of those left hand entrances. People drive in the left lane like its a racetrack

[@ctranger]

@@Freewayjim CT had wanted to replace all it's left-hand exits some years back. I remember when I had first heard of this crazy plan on the local TV news, I figured somebody must have been smoking something real good. That's how nuts I knew this idea was. The plan was left-hand exit replacement would be tackled on a priority-type basis. However, state DOT soon found that many were originally built that way because logistics (land availability, topography, etc.) dictated left-exit as situational-most-practical or only option available. As a matter of fact, the new I-91 north exit to I-84 east via the Charter Oak Bridge went from a right-hand to a left-hand exit (highway split actually, but still on the left). As the late great Mel Allen would say: "How about that?".

[@Freewayjim]

@@ctranger That makes sense.

[@henrybustell1622]

2 hours of video recording at 3:15.

[@patdthomas]

If you were able to look to your right at the first second of this video, you would see the house I bought in 1987 and lived in until my divorce 13 years later. Of all the millions of miles of highway available to start your recording, you chose that exact spot! 27 Oleander St. West Haven, CT. Google it. Mind blown!

[@Freewayjim]

Wow, how about that? That's pretty cool.

[@patdthomas]

Freewayjim So.... you working for the NSA now?

[@Freewayjim]

patdthomas LOL

[@viengsamphet]

patdthomas ya gonna be famous when Freewayjjm reaches 10M subscribers But it'll have to wait another 2 years to see it.