Connecticut Routes 180-184

Before 1932: Bethel

In the 1920s, State Highway 180 followed today's Route 58 and Route 107 south of Route 302 in Bethel.

In 1935: Proposed Durham - Haddam road

In 1935, the state assigned Route 180 to a proposed trunk line route from Durham to Haddam. The road was never built. I haven't found details, but imagine Route 180 would have extended east from near today's Route 17 / Route 68 intersection in Durham to the Route 81 / Route 154 intersection in Higganum.

If Route 180 were built today, it would form a natural extension of Route 68. The latter route didn't exist in Durham in 1935 when Route 180 was proposed.

Connecticut Department of Transportation. "Route change table.xls". Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file, received April 4, 2008.

7.86 miles; from US 44 in Barkhamsted to Route 20 in Hartland.

In the late 1920s, State Highway 181 followed today's Route 30 between Route 83 in Vernon and Route 74 in Tolland.

Today's Route 181, commissioned in 1932, was originally more of an east-west route, leading from Barkhamsted to Granby. Its original alignment:

River Rd., Pleasant Valley Rd. and Center Hill Rd. (today's Route 181), from US 44 to Beach Rock Rd.
An extension of Day Road easterly to Route 179. This road was severed by the Barkhamsted Reservoir.
Gavitt Rd (today's Route 219) from Route 179 to Route 20

When the Saville Dam and Barkhamsted Reservoir were created in 1940, the middle segment of Route 181 was submerged. At Day Road on the west bank, Route 181 was rerouted north along its modern alignment, ending at Route 20.

One of many bridges destroyed in the 1955 flood was a Route 181 bridge over Morgan Brook in Barkhamsted. The replacement bridge opened to one-way traffic on Nov. 30, 1956.

"Rebuilt Bridge On Route 181 Set To Open Today." Hartford Courant, Nov. 30. 1956.

Route 181 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

A 1960 internal state highway map shows Route 181A as the designation for Morgan Brook Road. a short connector between US 44 and Route 181 in Barkhamsted.

I haven't seen this on a map for the public, though its short length may be the reason. It was also mentioned in a 1956 Hartford Courant article about its bigger brother.

"Rebuilt Bridge On Route 181 Set To Open Today." Hartford Courant, Nov. 30. 1956.
Edwards & Kelcey. "The Functional Reclassification of all public roads, State of Connecticut." March 1961.

3.81 miles; from US 44 in Norfolk to Route 183 in Colebrook.

Commissioned in 1932 from the old State Highway 327, Route 182 originally incorporated what is now Route 182A. Around 1941, Route 182A was created, and Route 182 was moved to where it is now.

Smith Hill Road once tapped for state route

Smith Hill Road, maintained by the town of Colebrook, connects Route 183 (across from the Route 182A terminus) to Route 8 (across from the Route 20 terminus). In 1961, two state senators submitted a bill to add it to the state highway system. The state highway department was conducting a Route Reclassification at the time, which would lead to many roads changing hands between town and state maintenance.

In 1962, Smith Hill Road was slated to be included as a state road. However, the segment of Stillman Hill Road (Route 182) between Route 182A and Route 183 would be turned over to the town. The probable route number change would eliminate Route 182A and extend Route 182 along its alignment.

In 1962, the town took a vote on the issue. Some residents were concerned that Smith Hill Road, 18 feet wide, would be expanded to match existing Route 182, which was 36 feet wide, leading to property loss. In any case, Route 182 was never changed, and Smith Hill Road remains a town road.

If the change had gone through, Smith Hill Road would have been a natural extension of Route 182 to Route 8. However, what if Route 20 had been extended the other direction? It could have replaced Route 182 for its entire length, leading to US 44.

"Walsh, Groppo Present Bill on Sunday Hunting." Hartford Courant, June 5, 1961.
"Road Takeover Issue To Be Put to Voters." Hartford Courant, June 13, 1962.

Route 20
Route 182 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

1.29 miles; from Route 182 to Route 183 in Colebrook. Officially, it continues another 0.80 miles shared with Route 183 to meet Route 182 again, but it isn't signed that way. Route 182A is Connecticut's only surviving 3-digit "A" highway.

Dates back to about 1941; was previously part of Route 182. Few or no changes since then.

Route 182a Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

About 45 miles, from Route 4 in Torrington to US 7/20 in Lenox, Mass. 19.06 miles in Connecticut.

In the 1920s, today's Route 183 from Winsted to Colebrook was represented by state highways 174 and 314, funded as a state aid road: improvements were partially funded by the towns. In 1926, a Colebrook lawmaker succeeded in having the road become a trunk line route to the Massachusetts state line; both states proceeded to improve the route as a third road through the Berkshire mountains. The improved access led to a small real estate boom along the road.

Today's Route 183 was commissioned in 1932, from US 44 to the state line. In 1954, it was extended south to Route 4; this might have been done at the same time Route 72 was extended in the area, on May 1, 1954.

The original stone-and-mortar Colebrook Bridge over Center Brook, dating back to 1784, was widened in the late 1980s. Instead of discarding the old stonework, they took it apart and replaced it on the outside of the new structure. This idea earned the state DOT an Award of Merit in Historic Preservation And/Or Cultural Enhancement in 1990.

Extend south along Route 222 and Route 262 to Route 73.

"Will Build Third Route Through Hills." Hartford Courant, Nov. 1. 1926.

Route 183 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

15.66 miles; from I-95 in Groton to Route 216 (near I-95) in North Stonington. Route 184 has a dramatic start, as a short freeway that leaves I-95 near the Gold Star Bridge and provides an interchange with Route 12. Soon afterward, it narrows to two lanes and serves local traffic. One of Connecticut's few remaining rotary intersections is Route 2 at Route 184 in North Stonington.

Bloomfield

The original Route 184, commissioned in 1932, served Bloomfield: starting at US 44, it followed Blue Hills Avenue (now Route 187), Park Avenue and Mountain Avenue (most of which is now Route 178) and West Street to end at Route 185. In 1963, this Route 184 was decommissioned, and Routes 187 and 178 got some of the pieces.

Southeast

Most of the modern Route 184 started in the 1920s as State Highway 311. This route followed present-day 184 from the Thames River into Stonington, and present-day Route 201 and Mystic Road (SR 627) to Route 2 in North Stonington.

In 1932, SH 311 was decommissioned and Route 84 born; instead of going northeast from Old Mystic, Route 84 instead continued east along present-day Route 234 to Pawcatuck. Some maps also show Route 84 following the old SH 311/new Route 201 to Route 2 for a few years.

Even in the 1920s and '30s, the need was seen for bypass routes to relieve the congested shore route, US 1. Bypasses to the west were built as Route 80 and the Merritt Parkway. East of the Thames River, this role was given to Route 84.

In 1936, a new road opened east-northeast from old Mystic to the state line, and Route 84 was rerouted there. (This date is from the 1938 WPA book "Connecticut: A Guide to its Roads, Lore, and People"; however, the 1934 official state map already showed Route 84 in its new configuration.) Route 84 was soon billed as a boring but functional inland alternative to crowded US 1. Also in 1936, the Route 201/SR 627 segment became Route 119.

In 1947, Connecticut proposed rerouting US 1 between New London and Providence to CT 84 (now Route 184) and RI 3 -- a more direct route between the cities. Rhode Island declined: it didn't want to remove US 1 from its shore towns, and lose money for four-laning the road there.

Rhode Island countered with a US 1A proposal for the 84/3 route. Connecticut agreed, and it was sent to AASHO. Afterward, it was either rejected or retracted, because US 1A was never posted along the route.

A 1953 State plan called for Route 84 to become a freeway; however, that became Interstate 95 instead.

In 1958, Route 84 was renumbered CT 95, for number compatibility with the completed sections of I-95 elsewhere; in 1964, when I-95 opened in Groton and Stonington, state route 95 was renumbered 184, which it remains to this day. One of the first Hartford Courant articles to mention Route 184 by name discusses the adverse effect of the opening of I-95 on some Route 184 businesses dependent on drive-by business.

"Route 184 Extension"

Present-day Route 184 ends at Route 216, but the original Route 84 continued east into Rhode Island, becoming RI 3. Today, a road still continues into Rhode Island, but ends shortly after crossing a 1930s concrete bridge just east of the state line. On the Connecticut side, it's called the Providence - New London Turnpike (and SR 626). On the Rhode Island side, it's called Route 184 Extension. There's no public access from this road to the rest of Rhode Island without going back into Connecticut.

On July 22, 1998, ConnDOT held a public information meeting in Groton concerning its plans for improving the Route 184 interchange at Route 12. Route 184 would be reconstructed 2/3 mile from I-95 to Kings Highway, and the interchange ramps would be realigned. The project also proposed replacing the Route 184 overpass, increasing the vertical clearance from 12'-2" to 16'-3".

Work started March 2001, and finished around 2003. The overall geometry of the 5-ramp interchange was unchanged.

"RI opposes shift of Rt. 1 inland." Hartford Times, Nov. 9, 1947.
"State seeks change in Providence route." Hartford Times, Nov. 11, 1947.
"Highway Hijacks Business." Hartford Courant, Dec. 20, 1964.
Traffic shift at Routes 12/184, ConnDOT press release, April 2001.
Bailey, Steve. "... found something you might be interested in." Personal email, Jan. 15, 2002. [topic: Route 184 extension]

Home > Roads > Connecticut > Routes 180-184

Updated June 14, 2008

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	Before 1932: Bethel In the 1920s, State Highway 180 followed today's Route 58 and Route 107 south of Route 302 in Bethel. In 1935: Proposed Durham - Haddam road In 1935, the state assigned Route 180 to a proposed trunk line route from Durham to Haddam. The road was never built. I haven't found details, but imagine Route 180 would have extended east from near today's Route 17 / Route 68 intersection in Durham to the Route 81 / Route 154 intersection in Higganum. If Route 180 were built today, it would form a natural extension of Route 68. The latter route didn't exist in Durham in 1935 when Route 180 was proposed.
	Connecticut Department of Transportation. "Route change table.xls". Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file, received April 4, 2008.

	7.86 miles; from US 44 in Barkhamsted to Route 20 in Hartland.
	In the late 1920s, State Highway 181 followed today's Route 30 between Route 83 in Vernon and Route 74 in Tolland. Today's Route 181, commissioned in 1932, was originally more of an east-west route, leading from Barkhamsted to Granby. Its original alignment: River Rd., Pleasant Valley Rd. and Center Hill Rd. (today's Route 181), from US 44 to Beach Rock Rd. An extension of Day Road easterly to Route 179. This road was severed by the Barkhamsted Reservoir. Gavitt Rd (today's Route 219) from Route 179 to Route 20 When the Saville Dam and Barkhamsted Reservoir were created in 1940, the middle segment of Route 181 was submerged. At Day Road on the west bank, Route 181 was rerouted north along its modern alignment, ending at Route 20. One of many bridges destroyed in the 1955 flood was a Route 181 bridge over Morgan Brook in Barkhamsted. The replacement bridge opened to one-way traffic on Nov. 30, 1956.
	"Rebuilt Bridge On Route 181 Set To Open Today." Hartford Courant, Nov. 30. 1956.
	Route 181 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

	A 1960 internal state highway map shows Route 181A as the designation for Morgan Brook Road. a short connector between US 44 and Route 181 in Barkhamsted. I haven't seen this on a map for the public, though its short length may be the reason. It was also mentioned in a 1956 Hartford Courant article about its bigger brother.
	"Rebuilt Bridge On Route 181 Set To Open Today." Hartford Courant, Nov. 30. 1956. Edwards & Kelcey. "The Functional Reclassification of all public roads, State of Connecticut." March 1961.

	3.81 miles; from US 44 in Norfolk to Route 183 in Colebrook.
	Commissioned in 1932 from the old State Highway 327, Route 182 originally incorporated what is now Route 182A. Around 1941, Route 182A was created, and Route 182 was moved to where it is now. Smith Hill Road once tapped for state route Smith Hill Road, maintained by the town of Colebrook, connects Route 183 (across from the Route 182A terminus) to Route 8 (across from the Route 20 terminus). In 1961, two state senators submitted a bill to add it to the state highway system. The state highway department was conducting a Route Reclassification at the time, which would lead to many roads changing hands between town and state maintenance. In 1962, Smith Hill Road was slated to be included as a state road. However, the segment of Stillman Hill Road (Route 182) between Route 182A and Route 183 would be turned over to the town. The probable route number change would eliminate Route 182A and extend Route 182 along its alignment. In 1962, the town took a vote on the issue. Some residents were concerned that Smith Hill Road, 18 feet wide, would be expanded to match existing Route 182, which was 36 feet wide, leading to property loss. In any case, Route 182 was never changed, and Smith Hill Road remains a town road. If the change had gone through, Smith Hill Road would have been a natural extension of Route 182 to Route 8. However, what if Route 20 had been extended the other direction? It could have replaced Route 182 for its entire length, leading to US 44.
	"Walsh, Groppo Present Bill on Sunday Hunting." Hartford Courant, June 5, 1961. "Road Takeover Issue To Be Put to Voters." Hartford Courant, June 13, 1962.
	Route 20 Route 182 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

	1.29 miles; from Route 182 to Route 183 in Colebrook. Officially, it continues another 0.80 miles shared with Route 183 to meet Route 182 again, but it isn't signed that way. Route 182A is Connecticut's only surviving 3-digit "A" highway.
	Dates back to about 1941; was previously part of Route 182. Few or no changes since then.
	Route 182a Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

	About 45 miles, from Route 4 in Torrington to US 7/20 in Lenox, Mass. 19.06 miles in Connecticut.
	In the 1920s, today's Route 183 from Winsted to Colebrook was represented by state highways 174 and 314, funded as a state aid road: improvements were partially funded by the towns. In 1926, a Colebrook lawmaker succeeded in having the road become a trunk line route to the Massachusetts state line; both states proceeded to improve the route as a third road through the Berkshire mountains. The improved access led to a small real estate boom along the road. Today's Route 183 was commissioned in 1932, from US 44 to the state line. In 1954, it was extended south to Route 4; this might have been done at the same time Route 72 was extended in the area, on May 1, 1954. The original stone-and-mortar Colebrook Bridge over Center Brook, dating back to 1784, was widened in the late 1980s. Instead of discarding the old stonework, they took it apart and replaced it on the outside of the new structure. This idea earned the state DOT an Award of Merit in Historic Preservation And/Or Cultural Enhancement in 1990.
	Extend south along Route 222 and Route 262 to Route 73.
	"Will Build Third Route Through Hills." Hartford Courant, Nov. 1. 1926.
	Route 183 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

	15.66 miles; from I-95 in Groton to Route 216 (near I-95) in North Stonington. Route 184 has a dramatic start, as a short freeway that leaves I-95 near the Gold Star Bridge and provides an interchange with Route 12. Soon afterward, it narrows to two lanes and serves local traffic. One of Connecticut's few remaining rotary intersections is Route 2 at Route 184 in North Stonington.
	Bloomfield The original Route 184, commissioned in 1932, served Bloomfield: starting at US 44, it followed Blue Hills Avenue (now Route 187), Park Avenue and Mountain Avenue (most of which is now Route 178) and West Street to end at Route 185. In 1963, this Route 184 was decommissioned, and Routes 187 and 178 got some of the pieces. Southeast Most of the modern Route 184 started in the 1920s as State Highway 311. This route followed present-day 184 from the Thames River into Stonington, and present-day Route 201 and Mystic Road (SR 627) to Route 2 in North Stonington. In 1932, SH 311 was decommissioned and Route 84 born; instead of going northeast from Old Mystic, Route 84 instead continued east along present-day Route 234 to Pawcatuck. Some maps also show Route 84 following the old SH 311/new Route 201 to Route 2 for a few years. Even in the 1920s and '30s, the need was seen for bypass routes to relieve the congested shore route, US 1. Bypasses to the west were built as Route 80 and the Merritt Parkway. East of the Thames River, this role was given to Route 84. In 1936, a new road opened east-northeast from old Mystic to the state line, and Route 84 was rerouted there. (This date is from the 1938 WPA book "Connecticut: A Guide to its Roads, Lore, and People"; however, the 1934 official state map already showed Route 84 in its new configuration.) Route 84 was soon billed as a boring but functional inland alternative to crowded US 1. Also in 1936, the Route 201/SR 627 segment became Route 119. In 1947, Connecticut proposed rerouting US 1 between New London and Providence to CT 84 (now Route 184) and RI 3 -- a more direct route between the cities. Rhode Island declined: it didn't want to remove US 1 from its shore towns, and lose money for four-laning the road there. Rhode Island countered with a US 1A proposal for the 84/3 route. Connecticut agreed, and it was sent to AASHO. Afterward, it was either rejected or retracted, because US 1A was never posted along the route. A 1953 State plan called for Route 84 to become a freeway; however, that became Interstate 95 instead. In 1958, Route 84 was renumbered CT 95, for number compatibility with the completed sections of I-95 elsewhere; in 1964, when I-95 opened in Groton and Stonington, state route 95 was renumbered 184, which it remains to this day. One of the first Hartford Courant articles to mention Route 184 by name discusses the adverse effect of the opening of I-95 on some Route 184 businesses dependent on drive-by business. "Route 184 Extension" Present-day Route 184 ends at Route 216, but the original Route 84 continued east into Rhode Island, becoming RI 3. Today, a road still continues into Rhode Island, but ends shortly after crossing a 1930s concrete bridge just east of the state line. On the Connecticut side, it's called the Providence - New London Turnpike (and SR 626). On the Rhode Island side, it's called Route 184 Extension. There's no public access from this road to the rest of Rhode Island without going back into Connecticut.
	On July 22, 1998, ConnDOT held a public information meeting in Groton concerning its plans for improving the Route 184 interchange at Route 12. Route 184 would be reconstructed 2/3 mile from I-95 to Kings Highway, and the interchange ramps would be realigned. The project also proposed replacing the Route 184 overpass, increasing the vertical clearance from 12'-2" to 16'-3". Work started March 2001, and finished around 2003. The overall geometry of the 5-ramp interchange was unchanged.
	"RI opposes shift of Rt. 1 inland." Hartford Times, Nov. 9, 1947. "State seeks change in Providence route." Hartford Times, Nov. 11, 1947. "Highway Hijacks Business." Hartford Courant, Dec. 20, 1964. Traffic shift at Routes 12/184, ConnDOT press release, April 2001. Bailey, Steve. "... found something you might be interested in." Personal email, Jan. 15, 2002. [topic: Route 184 extension]