Larson’s GOP Opponent Blasts Tunnel Plan

The Republican who is challenging U.S. Rep. John Larson for the 1st Congressional District seat blasted the Democrat’s recent high-profile push for a two-tunnel highway system under Hartford.

“Mr. Larson made this proposal during his last campaign in 2016, and it has very little support,” Jennifer Nye, of Manchester, said in a written statement. “Federal highway funds should be used in the most efficient way to solve traffic issues, not for make work projects that last for years.”

Nye’s comments came one day after Larson convened a forum in Hartford and invited officials from Seattle where a tunnel was recently constructed. The Seattle tunnel is expected to open this fall.

Nye said she supports another alternative being studied by the state Department of Transportation to address the congestion of the interchange at I-84 and I-91 in Hartford.

The alternative, known as the Northern Corridor plan, would provide a bypass for traffic going through Hartford on I-84. The proposal would extend I-84 through the North Meadows in Hartford as a surface highway, allowing one-third of traffic to avoid downtown Hartford.

Nye said the DOT has been moving away from options involving tunnels, after years of study.

“Micromanaging local projects makes no sense,” she said. “This is one of the reasons I am running for Congress. John Larson has been in Washington too long and has lost touch with the people that he represents.”