Thea Digiammerino

Route 34-Downtown Crossing Project Moves Forward in New Haven

The multi-million dollar Route 34 Downtown Crossing Project in New Haven is crossing into its second phase, and people in New Haven are watching carefully. 

"I’ve seen a lot of awesome improvements," said Maya Szatai who works in the area.

According to Mayor Toni Harp, the $45 million project is rebuilding the Route 34 expressway into a system for urban boulevards, reconnecting city streets and reclaiming portions of land long underdeveloped.

"This project will connect Temple Street through Route 34 to the other side. We’ll have buildable land there. There will be covered bicycle paths there, as well as walking paths that weren’t there before," she said.

The three-phase project, paid for by federal, state and local funds is now crossing into "phase two." The focus, the mayor says, is to connect the Hill neighborhood with downtown. The long split city is slowly coming together.

Phase two will reconnect Orange Street to South Orange Street while phase three will bring together Temple Street and Congress Avenue. All phases are giving special consideration to pedestrians and bike riders.

"It’s so important for people to know that you don’t have to use your car all of the time," said Mayor Harp.

It is also important for the public to give their input on the project. The City of New Haven is holding a meeting on Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gateway Community College where residents can come express ideas and concerns.

For more information on the project, visit the website.

Contact Us