CTDOT renaming Route 8 exits

WINCHESTER, Conn. (WTNH) — The Connecticut Department of Transportation started installing hundreds of new highway signs and renumbering the exits along the Route 8 corridor from Bridgeport to Winchester on Monday.

CTDOT spokesperson Josh Morgan said departments is renumbering the exits because of a federal mandate moving to mileage-based exit numbers.

“It’s helpful for people to know how far they’ve been traveling along a corridor,” Morgan said. “It’s helpful for first responders. If you say, ‘I’m at Exit 20,’ they will know that you are 20 miles onto Route 8. They know exactly where you are instead of trying to figure out where Exit 27A may be.”

For example:

• In Bridgeport: Exit 4 is now Exit 2A.
• In Shelton: Exit 12 is now Exit 9.
• In Beacon Falls: Exit 24 is now Exit 21.
• In Waterbury: Exit 36 is now Exit 32.

The $10 million project features larger, heavier signs with updated reflectors for safety.

Morgan said the construction project will be similar to how CTDOT previously replaced highway signs and renumbered exits along Route 9 and Interstate 691.

“When the new exit numbers are installed, we also leave a sign that says, ‘old exit number,’ mounted there as well,” Morgan said. “So, if that’s a number that people were familiar with, that will be there as a reference point.”

Morgan said the “old exit number” signs will be posted for about two years, installation should have minimal impact on traffic, and GPS tech providers are aware about the change.

“When ultimately [the GPS tech providers] push that out on their platforms is out of our control, but we do share this with them anytime that there’s a renumbering project in Connecticut,” Morgan said.

The project is expected to be finished later this year.

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