Milford Parkway (Connecticut)

Milford Parkway
Daniel S. Wasson Connector
Map of New Haven County in southern Connecticut with Milford Parkway highlighted in red
Route information
Length2.70 mi[1] (4.35 km)
Existed1942–present
RestrictionsNo commercial vehicles
Major junctions
South end I-95 / US 1 in Milford
North end Route 15 / Merritt Parkway / Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford
Location
CountryUnited States
StateConnecticut
CountiesNew Haven
Highway system
  • Connecticut State Highway System

The Milford Parkway, officially the Daniel S. Wasson Connector,[2] is a controlled-access parkway between I-95 and U.S. Route 1 and the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways (Route 15) in Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut. The highway is officially designated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation as State Road 796 (SR 796) but is not signed as such. As a designated scenic road, the Milford Parkway is closed to commercial vehicles.

In 2012, the Milford Parkway had an average daily traffic count of 58,800 vehicles in the northbound direction.[1]

Route description

[edit]
Northbound on the Milford Parkway as it approaches the terminus for both the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways

The Milford Parkway begins at U.S. Route 1 in Milford at a trumpet interchange. It meets Interstate 95 shortly after, and heads north towards Connecticut Route 15. At exit 3A, the parkway shrinks to two lanes, and has a partial interchange to Wheelers Farms Road by way of Wellington Road, which is also served by exit 55A on the Wilbur Cross Parkway. After the interchange, the Milford Parkway merges with the Merritt Parkway.

On ConnDOT highway maps, the route is referred to as the "Daniel S. Wasson Milford Police Department Connector."[3]

History

[edit]

At its completion on September 2, 1940, the Merritt Parkway ended at the present-day Sikorsky Bridge crossing over the Housatonic River, and the Wilbur Cross Parkway was planned to continue in the northeast direction towards Hartford. The Milford Parkway was then built as a connection between the two parkways and U.S. Route 1 (US 1). The Milford Parkway was opened to traffic on September 2, 1942[citation needed].

The long loop ramp connecting to southbound Route 15, including the interchange with Wheelers Farms Road, was completed in 1993.[citation needed]

On June 23, 2003, the parkway was renamed to honor of Daniel S. Wasson, the first police officer to die in the line of duty in the city of Milford.[2] Wasson was killed on April 12, 1987, when he was shot by a motorist he had pulled over.[2]

The parkway is treated mostly as a ramp, signed as "To I-95 / US 1" on Route 15 and Wheelers Farms Road, as well as "To Route 15" on both I-95 and US 1. In summer 2012, exit numbers were applied to the parkway's four interchanges. Also included in the project was the removal of exit signs with the Milford Parkway name on US 1.

Exit list

[edit]

The entire route is in Milford, New Haven County.

mi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
0.000.001A
US 1 north – Milford
Southern terminus
0.260.421B
US 1 south
Southbound exit and northbound entrance
0.46–
0.67
0.74–
1.08
2 I-95 – Bridgeport, New HavenSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 2A (north) and 2B (south); exit 38 on I-95
1.622.613A
Route 15 north (Wilbur Cross Parkway) – Hartford
Northbound exit and southbound entrance; exit 54 on Route 15 / Wilbur Cross Parkway
2.323.734Wheelers Farms RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
2.704.353B

Route 15 south / Merritt Parkway south – New York City
Northern terminus; exit 54 on Route 15 / Merritt Parkway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (2012). "2012 Traffic Volumes, State Maintained Highway Network" (PDF). Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Milford Delegation Announce Ceremony For "Daniel S. Wasson Connector"". June 18, 2003. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  3. ^ Connecticut Department of Transportation (December 31, 2018). "Milford, Connecticut" (PDF). Retrieved January 28, 2020.
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