The Economic Value of the Waterbury Mixmaster

Two types of analyses were conducted. One method is a general assessment of the overall value of the Mixmaster to travelers, and the other is more narrowly focused on the impacts on the economy. The first is a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) that compares the cost of replacing the aging structure to the benefits to be gained by all users of a new I-84 facility in Waterbury. The second is an Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) that measures the impact of the Mixmaster on the state’s economy – most importantly on business sales and output. Both analyses show the Mixmaster to be a valuable transportation and economic asset that cannot be allowed to deteriorate without imposing huge costs on travelers and causing major losses in business sales and output.

The analyses were conducted as a worst-case scenario intended to gauge the potential economic losses to the region if the structure deteriorates to an unsafe condition that requires closure. It assumes a decade of diminishing funding for repairs resulting in deterioration and then closure in 2026. Both the BCA and EIA for this worst-case scenario clearly demonstrate that the benefits of replacing the Mixmaster far outweigh the cost of constructing a new facility.