from nj.. i do 684 in ny up to 84, thru ct to mass pike....i sometimes do take the southern rt: wilbur cross/merritt. then onto 84 east of hartford .which doesnt have the construction problem but closer to ny, merrit can be tied up horribly its the 84 stretch west of hartford to ny border they are always fixing and never fix... .i never take 95 thru ct..horrible..... yss, merrit/wilbur is more scenic... if airfare from newark to portland wasnt outrageous id fly