Citizens for a Sensible Seven in the corridor from Norwalk to Danbury in western Connecticut have enlisted U.S. Rep. James Maloney to back their demand that any major expansion of U.S. Route 7 undergo a major investment study (MIS) before proceeding.

In a December letter to a Federal Highway Administration regional office in Glastonbury, Maloney writes that his contituents were assured in the spring of 1996 that an MIS would precede any work to develop "Super 7," as the long-discussed highway project has been dubbed. But in an August, 1997 meeting, concerned citizens from the area were told that ConnDOT and the FHWA had agreed that an MIS was not necessary.

Maloney contends that the three segments of Super 7 contemplated for construction or expansion by Conn-DOT — totaling $100 million — must be looked at as one large investment and subjected to a rigorous altenratives analysis. The segments ConnDOT and FHWA appear to be treating as separate projects are: extension of the divided superhighway from its current terminus in Norwalk to Wilton; widening of the 2-lane Rte 7 surface road through Wilton; and widening of Route 7 from Danbury Airport to Branchville.