Conn. Extends Uninsured Motorist Coverage to State’s Transportation Workers

Governor Ned Lamont has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state employee union requiring the state to extend uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) employees who maintain roads and highways.

The agreement with the Connecticut Employees Union Independent (CEUI) provides up to $1 million in coverage per person for CTDOT employees injured by uninsured or underinsured drivers while performing their job duties, including when they are outside of their assigned vehicles in active work zones.

The coverage mirrors protections already in place for the Connecticut State Police, who face similar risks on the roads while performing their jobs. The coverage will be provided under the state’s existing State Fleet Insurance Policy.

The change honors the memory of CTDOT employee Andrew DiDomenico, who was killed on June 28, 2024 at the age of 26, after being struck by an impaired, uninsured driver while he was working on a road in Wallingford.

Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said DiDomenico’s death exposed “critical gaps in worker coverage that demanded immediate action.”

Work zone safety is a concern both nationally and in Connecticut. Between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, there were 5,586 crashes and 18 fatalities in Connecticut work zones. In 2025, more than 100 CTDOT vehicles were struck by other drivers, with 15 incidents resulting in injuries requiring medical attention. CTDOT has lost 39 employees in the line of duty throughout its 131-year history.

The insurance extension is a side letter to the collective bargaining agreement between the state and CEUI. According to the governor’s announcement, the Connecticut General Assembly set aside $500,000 for this benefit for the period beginning January 1, 2027, through June 30, 2027, with the cap increasing to $1 million per fiscal year thereafter, subject to legislative approval.

“Department of Transportation workers who maintain our roads put themselves in harm’s way every day so the rest of us can get home safely, and they deserve every protection we can give them,” Lamont said. “CTDOT employees work through holidays, nights, storms, and traffic to ensure that our transportation system continues moving, and their service is deeply appreciated.”

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Connecticut