House Republican Press Release

February 26, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Noujaim: Concrete Falling on I-84-Route 8 Interchange Underscores Urgent Need for Safety Upgrades

Calls on State to Prioritize Interchange Rehabilitation Project

When falling concrete from the ‘Mixmaster’ interchange in Waterbury today resulted in the closing of the off-ramp at Exit 19 on Interstate 84 westbound onto Route 8, it underscored the urgent need for the state to expedite a study on the rehabilitation of the interchange and make long-overdue safety improvements to it, said state Representative Selim Noujaim.

“I was shocked but not surprised to hear about the incident today on the I-84-Route 8 interchange in Waterbury,” said Representative Noujaim, R-Waterbury, who, along with other Waterbury and Greater Waterbury lawmakers, has been calling on the state Department of Transportation to expedite a study on the rehabilitation of the interchange that would lead to long-overdue safety improvements.

“We have been warning about possible safety problems involving the Mixmaster for some time now,” he said.

“The falling concrete that resulted in the closing of the off-ramp from I-84 westbound onto Route 8 clearly demonstrates that the deterioration of the interchange has gone further than we suspected. Thankfully, no one was killed or seriously injured in today’s incident – but it should serve as a wake up call to the Department of Transportation and the State Bond Commission to take whatever action is necessary to make the Mixmaster safe for motorists once again,” Representative Noujaim said.

“We have waited long enough. This incident shows our concern about potential safety hazards on the Mixmaster were well-founded. The state needs to make upgrading the interchange a top priority this year – not next year or the year after,” Representative Noujaim said.