I-84 East Asylum Street Exit Closed This Weekend

The Asylum Street off-ramp for I-84 Eastbound in Hartford will shut down and remain that way through the weekend.

 

It's all so crews can build an exit ramp for CTfastrak, which is the Hartford to New Britain busway.

 

For those heading to Union Station just off the exit it'll take a bit longer, and taxi drivers say that'll hurt their bottom line.

 

"It's going to be a pain because we have to pay more money to go around because we come off this exit," said taxi driver Keith Jones.

 

It's also a pain for anyone wanting to enjoy some live music. Tens of thousands from all over New England are expected to travel to the Festival of Jazz at Bushnell Park, so if you're not familiar with the area, the closure could catch you off guard.

 

"We didn't know about it," said Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz Vice President Rick Casciano. "The city kind of didn't let us know what was going to be open and close, so it kind of falls on us."

 

"I can't imagine them closing that exit," said New Britain Lynette Correa. "I mean I was unaware, so I'm glad that you let me know."

DOT officials say they did something similar a few months back. and it didn't cause significant traffic issues. For a detour they recommend taking the Capitol Avenue exit then go Broad Street, Farmington Avenue, and Asylum Street.

 

"Just get here and everything will work out," said Casciano.

The goal of the busway, which should be completed by 2015, is to offer commuters a way to bypass traffic on I-84.

To get around the exit closure, take Exit 48B to Capitol Avenue, follow it to Broad Street to Farmington Avenue until you can get back on Asylum.

The exit should reopen by 5 a.m. on Monday.