While Westport’s attention is focused on the Cribari Bridge — and the traffic issues that already plague Saugatuck — an “06880” reader urges us not to forget about the “worst intersection” in town (and perhaps the state).
That is, of course, the cluster**** that is Riverside Avenue, Wilton Road and Post Road West. The reader writes:
Below is a 5 p.m. Google Maps screenshot of “live” traffic on the Tuesday of school vacation last week.
Wilton Road at top; Riverside Avenue at bottom; Post Road West cutting through.
I can only imagine how red the lines will be now that schools are back in session, and everyone rushes to get home from school, work and play.
A quick AI search on “06880” turns up several suggestions, offered in the past:
Traffic Officers: Some suggest assigning police officers or traffic agents to direct traffic, especially during peak hours. This has been noted to significantly improve traffic flow at similar problematic intersections, such as the Cribari Bridge. (Click here for a previous “06880” story.)
Traffic Light Timing and Configuration: Many readers suggest altering the timing of traffic lights to allow for better flow. One idea is to have green lights for only one direction at a time (e.g., green for northbound Wilton Road traffic only, then green for Post Road West traffic only; then green only for the other 3 streets, moving counter-clockwise one at a time. That would prevent backups caused by cars waiting to turn while opposing traffic is also trying to move. (Click here for a previous “06880” story.)
Installing a left-turn arrow for cars on Wilton Road turning onto Post Road West has also been suggested. (Click here for a previous “06880” story.)
An all-too-typical scene on Wilton Road.
Road Widening and Lane Adjustments: Past opportunities were missed to widen the road or create turning lanes by acquiring properties at the intersection corners. While difficult now, widening the road, particularly at the intersection of Wilton Road and the Post Road, could create a much-needed right turning lane. (Click here for a previous “06880” story.)
Many of these suggestions involve state roads, which means changes require the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s planning, funding, and approval. (Click here for a previous “06880” story.)
In the mid-2010s, David Waldman proposed a creative solution: move the building at the corner northwest corner of Wilton Road and the Post Road — at that point, it was a liquor store — to create a turning lane.
Town officials turned him down.
Now, in 2026, the state is looking to acquire 77 square feet with eminent domain at the same location, according to recent media reports.
The Department of Transportation would install Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks ramps, and a pedestrian push button there.
Aerial view of the intersection — without, remarkably, any traffic.
But instead of incremental tweaks to lights and sidewalks, why don’t we take time — and perhaps one of the Cribari Bridge Committees — to engage with DOT and the town, for a holistic look at the intersection for more permanent solutions?
It may be expensive to buy and/or move buildings (including, perhaps, the one at the foot of Post Road West on the eastbound side, where traffic turns sharply onto Riverside Avenue). That’s another solution proposed in the past.
But unless we build another bridge, in addition to the Cribari Bridge changes or bore a tunnel under the Saugatuck River, the traffic problems will continue to get worse in Westport.
Who is interested in shaping another solution to make Westport safer and faster?
(“06880” regularly covers transportation, local politics, real estate — and, like today, their “intersection.” If you appreciate stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
I’ll write more later, but I live 1/2 block from this intersection and I just had a meeting last week at town hall about this specific problem, this is maybe one of the easiest traffic problems to improve in our town. More later….
Westport pd really needs to train the traffic agents. One or two of them really do a good job and keep traffic moving . The rest are horrible and just sit at the control box pushing buttons. Yesterday was horrible , and it wasn’t the competent agent. The difference could mean 5-10 versus 20-30 minutes to get from one side of the train station to the other and the the bridge.
Preserving the Cribari Bridge makes the traffic at this intersection much worse by directing all trucks bound for this side of Westport up Route 33. Supporting preservation of the outmoded Cribari Bridge is supporting the continued degradation of traffic congestion and safety on this entire side of town. You can’t have it both ways.
The loud but tiny minority of people obsessed with the issue are the same types who opposed the Hamlet and will now leave us with a bland, Soviet-style apartment block instead of a neighborhood revitalization. Remember that.
Hold on, now. The Hamlet was wrong in so many ways, including the inexperience and incompetence of the developers, their disregard for the community, their exploitation of investors, and their aggressive napoleonic attorney.
didnt the town have an opportunity to buy 1 wilton road and make a third lane to turn from wilton road to post road south and chose not to? traffic in this town is laughable, and summer hasnt started yet….
and made incrementally worse by the entitled people who think they can cruise down the left turn – onto 33 going east – lane and then either force their way into the right lane just before the light or, worse still,stop in the left turn lane with indicators on waiting for someone to let them in, thus blocking traffic that does want to turn left.
WPD would be well served to sit there for an hour or two and hand out tickets to these offenders.
Good morning all yes David Waldmen was going to do that. then the p and z under Chip Steven and cathy Walsh and jim Marpe and it was under them it was going to happen make the intersection better as a former rtm member downtown who live down the street from there I agree with you who walks down there there. Please look at record at town hall call the p and z
It’s a problem that I agree is getting worse. Red arrow runners “block the box” constantly. There are office workers, diners and shoppers who cross at that intersection. Delivery trucks need to park and the whole shebang is a game of chicken for pedestrians and motorists. The development of the apartments and office space up the hill on PR West will also contribute to the mayhem.
“The development of the apartments and office space up the hill on PR West will also contribute to the mayhem.”- agreed, especially if the traffic coming out of Lincoln Street is allowed to turn left onto the Post Road thus trying to cross 2 lanes of traffic with horrible sight lines- then there will all sorts of a cluster@.
I don’t understand why people want to do anything to improve intersections or traffic flow in Westport. We all know that if traffic flow is improved, it will simply encourage more people to use Westport’s roads and we certainly wouldn’t want that. I mean, Westport’s roads might revert to what they were like in Jack Backiel’s day.
Westport is a quiet residential town and people need to be discouraged from cutting through using Westport’s streets. It’s so much better to keep all these “traffic quieting” obstacles and poorly timed traffic lights as-is. Sure, maybe at the cost of occasionally having to put up somewhat annoying slowdowns and traffic jams, but that’s a small price to pay considering the alternative. It’s for Westport’s own good.
Finally, thank goodness the forward thinking P&Z and the 1 Wilton Rd preservationists blocked Waldman’s nefarious plan to improve the Rt 33/Post Road intersection. Just imagine what it would be like had it been approved. Oh, the horrors.
Atlanta has highways 18 lanes wide. Never sat in more non accident related traffic in my entire life.
I agree, don’t facilitate the flow, the demand for a quicker route will immediately meet the supply of a new solution.
I ment to say under chip Stevens and Cathy Walsh and jim Marpe David Waldmen it was going to become a private and public partnership they did not support it to be clear so please it should have been done along time ago please ask Jim Marpe or jen why it was not done ok I live down here look at records of p and z at that time all