In response to Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s announcement that the state Department of Transportation is beginning the construction of six speed enforcement areas on Route 44 over Avon Mountain, state Sen. Thomas J. Herlihy, R-Simsbury, said today that he is very pleased that safety improvements along the roadway are being put into place immediately. According to Sen. Herlihy, today’s announcement is exactly what he had hoped for when he, along with Sen. Jonathon Harris, D-West Hartford, called for the creation of the Avon Mountain Accident Task Force following the horrific July 29 th accident at the intersection of Routes 10 and 44 in Avon that left four people dead and dozens injured.

“Our hope all along was that recommendations to improve motor safety could begin in a timely manner, so today’s announcement is very good news,” said Sen. Herhily who represents the area in which accident occurred. “We were concerned that because the legislature was not scheduled to meet in Regular Session until next February that there could have been a delay in safety recommendations, that is why we called upon this Task Force and thus far I am very pleased.”

Sen. Herhily said he believes it is important to bring local officials who have knowledge of the roadway together with experts to determine what could be done to improve safety. “Speed is the number one factor in highway accident fatalities, to construct these areas so our local police can have multiple places to conduct speed enforcement is vital step to improving the overall motor safety of Avon Mountain.”

Sen. Herihy said that he would continue to work with the Governor, state and local officials and experts to make sure improvements like the one announced today would continue. “Like I said this is one step, but I think the Task Force is doing a very good job in identifying potential safety problems and other potential safety improvements. The sooner the improvements are made the safer the road becomes.”