Sometimes, it seems like road construction can take forever. If you’ve ever experienced lane closures or repaving on your daily commute, you are well aware of how slow the wheels of bureaucracy turn. Did you know we’ve got a highway to nowhere in Connecticut that has remained unfinished for decades? This abandoned road project looks like something out of an apocalyptic film. The carefully-forged roadway is now being reclaimed by nature. Check it out:
Connecticut Route 11 runs through east-central Connecticut. Originally, the road was intended to run from Colchester to Waterford, but only about half of the freeway exists.
Pi.1415926535/Wikimedia Commons
Construction began on Route 11 in 1966. The project ran out of funding, but the completed portion opened in 1972.
JJBers/Flickr Many jokingly refer to the highway as “Route Five and a Half” due to the fact it’s only partially completed.
Parts of the road had been cleared and flattened in preparation for completing the project.
Joe Baril/Youtube
Rock was cut into, bridges and ramps were built: everything seemed set for the road to continue on as planned.
JJBers/Flickr
Progress stalled, at first due to money constraints, then due to environmental concerns.
JJBers/Flickr Later, Native American artifacts were discovered in areas the road would have had to go through. If the road continues, it will undoubtedly disturb these archaeological sites.
Supporters of the road hope that the construction can one day continue, perhaps via use of toll collecting to pay for construction costs.
Joe Baril/Youtube
It seems like the Route 11 project gets brought up every few years, but it is extremely unlikely that the road will ever be completed.
Joe Baril/Youtube For now it remains an interesting side note in the Connecticut interstate system that is being reclaimed by nature.
Check out this video from Youtube user Joe Baril: it shows a great look at this “highway to nowhere” in Connecticut.
Pi.1415926535/Wikimedia Commons
JJBers/Flickr
Many jokingly refer to the highway as “Route Five and a Half” due to the fact it’s only partially completed.
Joe Baril/Youtube
Later, Native American artifacts were discovered in areas the road would have had to go through. If the road continues, it will undoubtedly disturb these archaeological sites.
For now it remains an interesting side note in the Connecticut interstate system that is being reclaimed by nature.
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