The Department of Transportation has ruled out the idea of running tunnels underground in Hartford.
"The I-84 viaduct project has been moving forward and after multiple public input sessions, including hearing feedback from stakeholders, as well as analyzing impacts and costs, we have recommended that the elevated and tunneling alternatives be removed from consideration," the DOT said in a statement.
U.S. Rep. John Larson proposed that Hartford's elevated interstate highways run underground in tunnels on Monday.
"A lot of countries do that already," said Tanya Evans of Manchester. "It might be actually more helpful but it's also more dangerous getting in and out if there's an accident."
In Hartford, Interstate 84 is costing the state government hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain. DOT designers have been studying replacing the viaduct, the elevated highway.
Their Interstate 91-Interstate 95 interchange in New Haven, featuring a new Q Bridge, is a $2 billion project. Larson figures tunnels for I-91 along the river in Hartford, as well as I-84 might cost $10 billion.
"At that tab you can do a lot more," said Jay Eschoe, of East Hartford. "Put some money in the school system, and you can really put people in a better position,ultimately the whole city, versus just throwing it on the road."
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Larson's opponent in next month's election, Matthew Corey, told the Hartford Courant it was his idea in their campaign two years ago.
Neither of them were available for comment.
