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Once a toll road, the Connecticut Turnpike is much safer than it was 20 years ago, when two horrible accidents (the Mianus River Bridge collapse and the Stratford toll plaza multi-vehicle crash) made national headlines. However, as with other urbanized sections of I-95 in the Northeast, frequent entrance and exit ramps do not combine well with high-speed through traffic, resulting in numerous accidents. Do not even think about traveling the Connecticut Turnpike through Fairfield and New Haven counties during the morning and afternoon rush, or you'll be stuck for hours. (The nearby Merritt Parkway does provide some relief, but only if you're driving a non-commercial vehicle.)
Work along I-95 during the past two decades has brought rehabilitated bridges and a smoother road surface. Ongoing work in Bridgeport and New Haven, which will continue for several years to come, is bringing safer interchanges and increased capacity.
Driving north along I-95 north of New York City, one encounters almost uninterrupted urbanization until East Haven. From Branford north, the highway takes on a completely different personality as it narrows from six lanes to four (and still is congested). However, there are a couple of nice surprises in the form of wide bridges in Old Saybrook and New London.
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