WATERBURY, Conn. — After years of construction, the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s "Mixmaster" rehabilitation project in Waterbury is nearly complete.
It's a $223 million project that ensures the interchange between Route 8 and Interstate 84 in Waterbury can safely handle the heavy traffic volumes that come through the city for the next 25 years.
It has been in the works since 2018, causing drivers to take detours to avoid construction.
CTDOT said it will be completed on Thursday. Their work has included deck patching, paving, and steel repairs and strengthening, just to name a few of the many tasks.
“I think it was worth it. I appreciate everybody who did it [and] made sure it was safe to drive on,” Brooklyn Igomigoh, a Waterbury resident, said.
Igomigoh used to drive around the streets of downtown Waterbury to get to her job at Fedex. She now uses the the Route 8 and I-84 interchange in Waterbury that many Connecticut drivers know all too well.
“It’s gotten a lot faster and it’s great that I don't have to go through the city. I can just go around it,” Igomigoh said.
Ari Chan said it helps people get to their destination faster, but she finds the interstate dangerous.
“There’s constantly a lot of accidents involving big trucks,” Chan said.
Going on the interstate cuts Igomigoh’s commute down by 10 minutes, which she said "is a lot better on gas."
“Now I don’t have to rush,” Igomigoh said.
The DOT’s next project for their new "Mixmaster" program will be removing the exit 21 off-ramp from I-84 eastbound.
Their design is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and construction will start in 2026.
Cayla Cade is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at ccade@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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