Improvements needed on Rt. 85 in Salem

SALEM, Conn. (WTNH) -- Icy roads may have caused a deadly crash on Route 85 in Salem but the first selectman there is once again calling for improvements to that road and nearby Route 11.

A stretch of Rt. 85 is known to be dangerous no matter what the weather conditions are and Wednesday's accident only added to concerns.

Black ice may have been a factor in the deadly crash along Route 85 that took the life of an East Hampton man and renewed concerns about the two lane road and the high speed traffic.

"With some of the turns it's a little bit narrow, a little bit dangerous," said Dan Myers of Salem.

Salem's First Selectman says Route 85 needs to be improved especially since Route 11 continues to go unfinished and ends in Salem and sends highway traffic through town.

"About 15,000 cars a day dump onto Route 85 on that portion," said First Selectman Kevin Lyden.

That has spelled trouble long before Wednesday's accident near Skyline Drive,  where the road curves and cars suddenly appear.

"We need safety upgrades on Route 85," said Lyden.

Lyden also said Route 11 is known as the road to nowhere and needs to be finished. There is now talk of tolls to pay for its completion.

"Route 11 is something our region needs for both safety and economic development," said Lyden.

The first selectman said this is one of three trouble spots along the stretch of Rt. 85 which he said needs to be improved regardless of what happens with Route 11.

Lyden calls it a chronic problem.

"We need to make a by-pass lane there. We need to maybe straighten out the curve and improve the site lines," said Lyden.

Because Route 85 is a state road, the first selectman has been in touch with folks from the DOT. He said he's been told they're working on it.