Installation of the new traffic light on Route 7 at the driveway of three senior communities - The Regency at Ridgefield, Laurel Ridge Health Care Center, and Ridgefield Crossings - is almost complete. On May 28, workers from NY-CONN Corp., the contractors on the job, were hanging the lights and finalizing the electrical and mechanical fittings. This traffic light, just north of the intersection of Route 35 and Route 7, addresses the safety concerns for this heavily travelled section of road where many accidents have occurred in the past.
The origins of this light stems as far back as 1997 when Laurelwood (now Laurel Ridge), a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, was being built on the property. After multiple attempts to secure a light, the request was revived in 2005 when the Toll Brothers' "Regency at Ridgefield" 55+ senior complex was under development. After years of persistence and a direct request from State Rep. John Frey (R-Ridgefield) to the CT DOT Commissioner, a traffic study finally concluded a new traffic light would be necessary based on increased traffic flow, speed, and safety concerns. In addition to the light, Rep. Frey was instrumental in obtaining a STEAP Grant in 2012 for $75,000 for the installation of this traffic light. The remaining $100k for the installation was negotiated by the stakeholders in the light to cover the cost: The Regency at Ridgefield by Toll Brothers, Laurel Ridge and its owner Athena Health Care; and Ridgefield Crossings (assisted living) and its owner Benchmark Senior Living.
The light will be green for the normal traffic flow and will be interrupted briefly with red lights to allow cars to exit safely from the shared driveway.