The idea is not that far fetched - but our DOT having it done in three months time is.

I was in the Navy before (on an aircraft carrier) and this is very similar to what they have onboard.

I think it's a great idea.

Judging from the progress other road
projects, I'll give it about 2 years.

Yes, I think the technology works
rather well.....

I think it will work, I don't know if they can get it done in 3 months. It doesn't seem like they get anything done in three months let alone a LARGE project.....

Mark...are you kidding......the way they pick contractors in this state, that would mean non-stop construction 24 hrs a day for that to happen, costing MILLIONS....besides...the enviromental imoact studies and other various " consulting" will take at least 2 years before they even start construction.......

I agree with John, the studies will take six monthes

It can happen. They can get it done in 1 month, if they just try hard enough. Excuses Excuses. Stop with the excuses and get it done!!!!

Sounds like a good idea, but as others have said..I don't see our state getting it done in 3 months.

Some places I see, even around my own city, takes them 6 months to fill a few potholes.

I drive this mountain every day to and from work and so far since this ban has gone into affect I've passed 3 trucks over the limit from the Nassua furniture store over to West Hartford. I saw 2 today going over and the other day passed 2 dump trucks pulling trailers, so I guess this ban isn't working.

Nets? good idea, but not going to happen. Where would they go? By the end of the year? Come on now, everyone knows that won't happen. It's going to take at least 6 months for a study, and revisions of the study over and over again, then bidding the job out for someone to do, because the DOT will stand and watch as they hold the shovels, and so on.

It'll be done in about a year if not longer, go over budget, then have to be redone because something got screwed up in the process.

IMO, more then just a net or runoff ramp needs to be done.

1) ban left hand turns on that road, thats just as bad

2) widen it, there is plenty of room to add a third lane and make the middle a left turn lane

3) ban trucks and buses, I see the day coming when a ct transit runs through that intersection (god i hope not) but has anyone been on one of them buses coming down that mountain? one word. SCAREY! ! ! !

A run off ramp is good for the short term, but something for the long term needs to be done.

Enforce the ban and when the state decides to do something make sure its going to work.

What happens if a truck is running down and misses the ramp? The samething is going to happen?

I don`t know why thats the only route,something needs to be done.The plans are there and the weather is about to turn bitter cold,working won`t be easy but the Police say it will be worth it so,I would put the plans on paper into Action,before something else happens.~Peace Glenna~

That road was never built to carry heavy loads. It looks like an old trail that slowly became a road. With todays traffic and lax truck inspections as well as Truck owners trying to save on maitnance. Its a deathtrap waiting to happen.Im sure the wealthy folks in Avon and Simsbury deserve a safer road than what the state has provided. Overall that whole road is hills and curves It needs a complete overhaul from top to bottem.Putting a runaway ramp is just a patch to apease people. Come on Rell Do your job !! Stop playing games, It gets old...

What about a big tunnel through the mountain similar to what was done on the Wilbur Cross in New Haven near Hamden?

Mark I agree with my pal John here. Morning all by the way.

Constuction workers never finish projects on time. They have more excuses for delays than Carter has liver pills.

But, I think it is a great idea if it will help sav lives and slow the trucks down.

On another note...I admitt I do NOT know the area. But, if trucks would slow down we might not have as much of an issue.

GLEN

Justin,
The tunnel under West Rock was not built for truck safety. It was built to preserve the park. They did not want a road going through the middle of the park, hence the tunnel. If you notice as you approach the tunnel from the west, the mountain dips there. it would have been easier to build a road over the top. I guess back in those days, they paid more attention to preserving the dignity of the park.

A tunnel will cost more than the rd in that area is worth with todays cost.

If you drive Route 40 near ASHEVILLE, NC, there are "Runaway Truck Ramps" in numerous places. Most of them are just unpaved uphill slanted sandboxes... trucks run into ramp and they run into the sand which slows & stops them. They are frequently used, since when you drive by them you will frequently see the tire tracks from a recently-stopped truck.

To make sure that trucks don't go on that stretch of road, perhaps having a 10-ft or some other determined height bar across road, so that tall trailers can't get thru, just like you have the 7-ft high warning bar at entrance to many parking garages. If some smaller, legal but tall vehicle needs to go down road, there could be a bypass for them to get around bar....

Also, in NC, they have all along downhill those radar units that tell you your speed (and what trck should be doing at that point) if they see that their speed is higher than it should be, they have to further slow down or prepare to use the runaway ramp...

The CT DOT people in charge of this should take a ride down to the ASHEVILLE, NC area to get some ideas on how to do this THE RIGHT WAY!!!!

A similar system is used on aircraft carriers to catch aircraft that miss the cables with their tailhook, they're going faster,than the truck, works fine.

Charlie -

I know the tunnel wasn't built to cater to 18-wheelers but I know that if they want to build a tunnel for this reason, they can make it. It would be horridly expensive and probably take half of the average person's lifetime to complete, but if this is what it takes, so be it.

I completely disagree with the "truck net." It sounds pretty ridiculous. What if a driver is having a medical problem, or misses the entrance to the net?

The state needs to do something about Avon Mountain for the long run, none of this cheapo 'catch a truck in a net' garbage. If they're going to do something, I think they should do it right.

The mountain isn't going away, nor are the trucks that travel over it.

Well, blow me over with a feather. The state is actually coming up with meaningfull solutions. My hat of to Governor Rell.