State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today sent a letter to state Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Marie asking that the agency work with the Rell Administration to find a way to reduce fuel costs from mowing without allowing roadside grasses to become so overgrown that they cause a safety hazard to Connecticut motorists.
“While I share Governor M. Jodi Rell’s belief that the state must take decisive actions in order to cut costs in these difficult economic times, I feel that I must bring to your attention a situation apparently brought about by a cost cutting measure that I feel poses a hazard to motorists,” Senator Duff wrote in a letter today. “Executive Directive No. 4 ordered all state agency heads to reduce travel and cut fuel consumption. This directive has led to a reduction in the Department of Transportation’s regular schedule of mowing on our highways, most notably on entrance and exit ramps. However, the schedule has been so greatly reduced that, in some areas, grass is growing very tall and obstructing visibility.”
Senator Duff said that grass allowed to grow wild on Interstate 95 in Fairfield County has obstructed vision for motorists attempting to navigate the highway’s on and off-ramps.
“I personally contacted your department in regards to Exit 16 off of Interstate 95 in Norwalk, as the grass had not been mowed and was at least two feet high,” Senator Duff wrote. “To the department’s credit, it was extremely responsive and the grass was cut in time for the Memorial Day holiday; prior to that, however, line of sight on the ramp was greatly obstructed and navigation of the ramp was difficult.”
Governor Rell’s Executive Directive No. 4 called on all agency heads to reduce fuel consumption in the state’s fleet of vehicles.
