From 1932 to 1951, Route 65 extended 9.66 miles from US 1A (now US 1) in Bridgeport to Route 8 (now Route 110) in Shelton, along what would later become a segment of Route 8. Its path, from south to north, was:

• Noble Ave., from Boston Ave (old US 1A) to Huntington Tpke.
• Huntington Tpke. to Penny Ave.
• A section of 2-lane road leading to Huntington St. which was replaced by the Route 8 freeway
• Bridgeport Ave. and Center St. (now SR 714) to Howe Ave. (old Route 8)

At this time, Route 8 had a similar alignment to today north of Shelton, but followed the west bank of the Housatonic River to end in Stratford while Route 65 continued to Bridgeport (see map at right). This routing dates back to the original New England Interstate Route 8, laid out in 1922. Route 65 was created in 1932 from the old state highway 316.

As plans for a Route 8 freeway emerged in the late 1940s, it was decided to send Route 8 to Bridgeport instead of Stratford. Route 65, in the crosshairs of a very large gun, became part of the relocated Route 8 on Sept. 27, 1951. Route 65A was also renumbered on that date.

• "State to Renumber 4 Sections of Roads." Hartford Times, Sept. 27, 1951.

From 1944 until 1951, Route 65A was a 2.91-mile western alternate route to Route 65. Its path, from south to north:

• Huntington Tpke., from Penny Ave. to Shelton Rd.
• Shelton Rd. to Bridgeport Ave.

On Sept. 27, 1951, because of changes to Route 8 and Route 65, the state extended Route 113 to incorporate most of Route 65A. A short segment of Route 65A southwest of Route 113 became SR 711, which still exists today.

In 1963, Route 113 was changed again; most of former Route 65A, except for a short segment of Route 108, is now locally maintained.

• "State to Renumber 4 Sections of Roads." Hartford Times, Sept. 27, 1951.

38.37 miles; from I-91 and I-691 in Meriden to US 6 in Windham. Route 66 starts as a continuation of the I-691 freeway (I-691 was originally part of Route 66 there). In Middlefield, it tapers into a recently widened four-lane undivided highway, leading past Mt. Higby Reservoir. In Middletown, Route 66 turns north on Main Street, then overlaps with Route 17 to take the Arrigoni Bridge over the Connecticut River.

In Portland, Routes 66 and 17 continue eastward as a four-lane divided highway. Shortly after Route 17 diverges north, Route 66 narrows to two lanes, and remains a rural highway until it reaches Willimantic. After a "bump" intersection with US 6, Route 66 follows former US 6 through Willimantic, ending at the eastern terminus of the US 6 freeway.

Route Numbering

In the 1920s, Route 66 was part of the old State Highway 111; in 1932, this became part of Route 14.

In 1941, Route 14 between Woodbury and Willimantic was renamed rnl(US 6A), to encourage its use as an alternate cross-state route. This was one of several US 6A's that existed through the 1960s.

In 1965, the Highway Department announced plans to decommission US 6A, for "the convenience of the motoring public and to connect Route 2 to I-84." The portion from US 6 in Woodbury to I-84 in Waterbury would become Route 64. The portion from I-84 in Southington to US 6 in Columbia would become Route 66. These changes took place in 1967.

Much of today's Interstate 691 opened to traffic as part of Route 66. A segment leading easterly from US 5, across I-91, and ending in Middlefield, opened in 1966. (The portion east of I-91 remains part of Route 66.) A segment from Exit 4 (today's Route 322) to US 5 opened in 1971. Officially, the state applied the I-691 number to the freeway (both completed and uncompleted parts) from I-84 to I-91; but I-691 was not signposted until the freeway was completed in 1987.

In 1983, the state abandoned the idea of I-84 to Providence, and on Dec. 12, 1984 made several numbering changes to the area. Among these, US 6 was shifted to the former I-84 freeway north of Willimantic, and Route 66 inherited the 6-mile part of US 6 through downtown.

On Dec. 1, 1987, I-691 was completed to I-84 and took over the 66 freeway west of I-91. The 2-lane portion of 66 in Southington was given to Route 322, which now ends where the old 66 freeway began at exit 4.

The Arrigoni Bridge

The four-lane Arrigoni Bridge, crossing the Connecticut River at Middletown, opened in 1938. At the time, it was the longest bridge (3,420 feet) in New England.

Freeway plans

In 1963, the state added a 40-mile US 6A freeway to its long-range plans. The highway would follow today's I-691 and Route 66 from Southington to Willimantic. Only the portion from Southington to just east of I-91 was built, most of it now I-691.

In the late 1960s, the state studied the Route 66 corridor between Middletown and Route 2, where the new freeway would intersect in either Marlborough or Colchester. The recommended new Route 66 would pass south of downtown Middletown, across a new Connecticut River bridge (see Arrigoni Bridge for more info) into Portland, and then south of downtown East Hampton.

The 1975 Master Transportation Plan called for extending the existing Route 66 expressway eastward, through Middlefield and Middletown, to touch down across the Connecticut River in Portland. Estimated cost of the 8.7-mile link, including a new river bridge, was $125 million.

The state might have reserved an exit number on Route 2 in Marlborough for a Route 66 expressway interchange, which would explain why there is no exit 14. I have no proof though.

In 1993, the Route 66 freeway from Middlefield to Middletown was cancelled, for reasons including environmental impact to the Higby Reservoir. Signs on I-91 northbound at Meriden advise Middletown-bound drivers to use Route 9 instead of Route 66.

In 2000, the Connecticut Road Builders Association recommended dusting off the proposal, creating an expressway from Meriden to Route 2 in Marlborough. The group cited increased traffic and tourism in southeastern Connecticut as a driver for better transportation facilities.

Other improvements

In 1994, a segment of Route 66 in Middletown was widened to four lanes, leading from the Washington Plaza shopping center into downtown. By 2007,

The four-lane divided section of routes 66 and 17 in Portland dates back to the early 1940s. In 1997, safety and capacity improvements were done, including removing some U-turns, adding median railings, and adding left-turn pockets.

Route 66 is severely congested in two areas: Middlefield to Middletown, and Portland to East Hampton.

Middlefield - Middletown: Widening to four lanes

Meriden and Middletown are not separated by the Himalayas. That the fastest route between them has been to drive the long way around (up 91 and down 9) has long been an absurdity.

Meriden Record-Journal editorial, Sept. 17, 2004

The Route 66 expressway between I-91 and Route 9 was dropped from state plans in 1993 because of environmental concerns. In its place, a four-lane undivided treatment was proposed. After much design and negotiation, construction started in late 2003.

The $21.6 million project will widen Route 66 to 4 lanes from the expressway terminus in Middlefield to the Washington Plaza shopping center in Middletown. (East of that point, Route 66 is already four lanes wide leading to Main Street.) The project will not only add capacity, but also eliminate dangerous curves near the reservoir.

The widening proposal was not without controversy. Residents opposed to it cited the dangers to the reservoir, and the damage to Middlefield's character; the state responded that it is building in a closed loop pollutant containment system, and that the undivided four-lane road is an alternative to the expressway originally planned.

In June 2000, the state EPA commissioner overturned initial approval of the plan, in response to opposition from local residents. The commissioner said ConnDOT failed to provide that widening to four lanes would improve safety, and gave the state 60 days to back up its claims.

In January 2002, the state Department of Environmental Protection approved the project, after changes were made to address environmental concerns, including an "innovative" storm drainage system and some alignment changes to the road.

In March 2002, the state announced that construction would be scheduled for late spring or early summer; but fiscal issues ended up delaying it. Construction began in late 2003.

The work is split into two projects: one leading from the expressway end to Jackson Hill Road in Middlefield (began late 2003), and the other leading from there to Washington Plaza (will start in 2005).

Portland - East Hampton

In 1998, the Middletown-based Mid-State Regional Planning Agency released a Technical Memo for Route 66 in the East Hampton-Portland corridor; the most drastic alternative entailed widening the road to four lanes, with a median, into East Hampton.

In late 2003, the DOT presented its plan. No major widening will be done, but some realignment, turning lanes, and traffic signals are intended to improve traffic flow and safety. The plan includes:

• moving 850 feet of Route 66 at the Belltown Curve to align it with the west intersection of Old Marlborough Road
• added left-turn lanes on Route 66 and a right-turn lane on Route 196 at their intersection
• reconstructing 350 feet of Route 196 there, removing a traffic island, and adding a signal light

I liked having a cross-state Route 14 in the 1930s (no, I wasn't alive at the time) and favor reinstating that number along Routes 66, 322, and 64 (as well as 317 and 67 to end at US 7 in New Milford).

Extending the four-lane divided Route 66 eastward to Route 16 seems like a decent idea, as some traffic splits off there.

• "To renumber Connecticut Road." New York Times, Nov. 15, 1940.
• "Survey Plots Expressway Plans." Hartford Times, Oct. 11, 1963.
• "Highway Dept. Explains Route Number Changes." Hartford Courant, Nov. 30, 1965.
• ConnDOT. Planning study for the improvement of Conn. 66: Marlborough and Hebron Dec. 1970.
• "1975 Master Transportation Plan." Connecticut Department of Transportation.
• Route Change Notice, ConnDOT, Dec. 31, 1984.
• Route Change Notice, ConnDOT, Oct. 22, 1987.
• "Route 66 Stretch To Become Safer." Hartford Courant, June 22, 1995.
• "Instant Replay for Route 66 Reconstruction Project Hearings." Hometown News (Moodus, Conn.), Jan. 18, 1998.
• "DEP Hearing on Route 66 Project." Hometown News (Moodus, Conn.), Jan. 25, 1998.
• "At this meeting, support overwhelming for Rt. 66." Middletown Press, Mar. 3, 1998.
• "The people have spoken -- against Rt. 66 change." Middletown Press, Mar. 20, 1998.
• "DEP chief rejects plan to widen Rt. 66." New Haven Register, June 11, 2000.
• "Quirks and kicks on Route 66." Hartford Courant, Oct. 10, 2000. A travelogue of sights along the way, with some history from this page :-)
• "State DEP to issue permit for Route 66 expansion." Middletown Press, Jan. 4, 2002.
• "DOT, activists reshape project." Hartford Courant, Feb. 12, 2002.
• "State Sets Schedule For Route 66 Widening." Hartford Courant, Mar. 22, 2002.
• "DOT presents plan for Route 66 improvement." The Regional Standard [Colchester, Conn.], Nov. 7, 2003.
• "Work has begun on Route 66 widening project." Record-Journal [Meriden, Conn.], Nov. 28, 2003.
• "In the high 60s." Editorial, Record-Journal (Meriden, Conn.), June 21, 2004.
• "Dig they must." Editorial, Record-Journal (Meriden, Conn.), Sept. 17, 2004.

• Route 14
• SR 597 (the Route 10 connector; proposed northward connection to I-84)
• US 6A
• Interstate 91
• Interstate 691
• Arrigoni Bridge
• I-691 history (Steve Anderson)
• CT 66 Reconfiguration (Owen McGaughey's recommendations)

31.00 miles; from US 7/202 in New Milford to Route 63 in Woodbridge. About 5/6 of a mile (from Ranney Hill Road south past Route 317) of Route 67 is a scenic byway. There is a 4-lane divided section with US 6 in Southbury.

Commissioned in 1932. At that time, the north end was in Bridgewater at the corner of Main Street and Clapboard Road. Main Street (now Route 133) was then part of Route 25; Clapboard Road (now SR 867) was the old western alignment of Route 67.

Route Changes - Bridgewater

Between 1943 and 1947, Route 25 was moved to its current alignment in Bridgewater, leading to the "Four Corners" at US 7 in Brookfield. Route 67 was extended along Main Street North and New Milford Road West (the old Route 25 alignment) toward New Milford. Route 133 was extended to Brookfield center along Main Street South, ending at Clapboard Road (still part of Route 67).

Between 1955 and 1957, Route 67 was moved from Clapboard Road to New Milford Road East, and Route 133 was extended along Main Street (part of the former 67 alignment). In 1960, Clapboard Road became Route 67A, a short-lived numbering that became unposted SR 867 in 1963.

For maps of all these changes, see Bridgewater Roads.

Old Alignments in Oxford

Four short roads in Oxford are left over from small Route 67 realignments made in the 1930s. Their names are evocative: Old State Road 67, and Old State Roads number 1, 2, and 3.

Route 67 in New Haven

Originally, Route 67, not Route 63, followed Whalley Avenue into New Haven. At some time in the 1940s, this role was given to Route 69, then later Route 63.

Overpass raised in Seymour

In October 1998, the state replaced a railroad overpass in Seymour; the tracks passed only 12.5 feet over Route 67, causing trucks -- about one per month -- to get stuck. The new bridge has a 14.5 foot clearance, and Route 67 is lowered as well. An infrared device was installed west of First Street to warn too-tall trucks to detour onto Route 115, but still truckers were getting stuck. [New Haven Register]

Small realignment proposed in New Milford

The state is proposing changes to Route 67 and Grove Street in downtown New Milford to reduce congestion and increase safety. Grove Street would be realigned, and Route 67 and US 202 changed slightly, with the triangular intersection removed. At a December 2001 town hearing, however, about 125 residents spoke up in opposition to the plan, with none in favor.

Traffic study underway in Seymour

Route 67 is the primary east-west highway through Seymour, and suffers from traffic congestion (over 20,000 ADT on a two-lane road) and safety problems. In 2002, the town's Board of Selectmen formed a Route 67 Study Committee: three residents to study the entire length of the highway within Seymour town borders. The trio would work with the Valley Regional Planning Agency (now the Valley Council of Governments) and the town of Oxford.

As of mid-2004, the study has unfortunately been all-volunteer, since funding could not be obtained. In May 2004, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro asked Congress for $400,000 toward a complete engineering and environmental impact study, placing the project on a high priority list for the 2005 federal transportation bill.

Widening planned in Seymour

The Valley COG (formerly Valley Planning Region) Arterial and Collector Street Improvement Program compiled in 2003 includes an $8 million project to widen Bank Street (Route 67) in Seymour to four lanes.

In Roxbury and Washington, reroute northward along Route 199 to Route 47; Route 14 will inherit the leftover east-west part of 67.

• "Realigning Route 202 seen as curse or relief." News-Times (Danbury, Conn.), Dec. 19, 2001.
• "Residents pan state plan to straighten Route 67." News-Times (Danbury, Conn.), Dec. 20, 2001.
• Shelton Economic Development Corporation. "Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy: Naugatuck Valley Corridor." May 2003.
• "DeLauro lists Route 67 as funding priority." New Haven Register, May 5, 2004.
• Valley Council of Governments. Regional Transportation Plan: Valley Region. Update 2003, February 2004.

• Bridgewater Roads

No longer assigned; From 1960 to 1963, the number was used for Clapboard Rd (now SR 867), between Routes 67 and 133 in Bridgewater (see Bridgewater Roads for a map). This was part of Route 67 itself until about 1956. An older name (Old Roxbury Road) that and the "Route 67A" appellation lived on long past the numbering change.

• Bridgewater Roads

22.05 miles; from Route 63 in Naugatuck to Route 17 in Durham. Route 68 passes under Route 15, the Wilbur Cross Parkway, with no interchange (use Route 150 or US 5 instead). To the east, Route 68 gets more interesting: after overpassing US 5, a 2.5-mile stretch of four-lane partially controlled access highway continues to Interstate 91.

Commissioned in 1932 from the old State Highway 325, Route 68 originally existed only between Route 63 in Naugatuck and Route 70 in Cheshire. Two unsigned state roads, SR 730 (Church St) and SR 607 (Barnes Rd) continued through Wallingford to Durham.

Extension to Durham, and I-91

In 1964, possibly to give Yalesville and Durham better access to the planned I-91, Route 68 was extended over SR 730 and SR 607 to Route 17 in Durham. Signing changes appear to have taken place in 1966, when I-91 opened here.

The "Super 4" segment in Wallingford

In 1973 and 1974, Route 68 was relocated in Wallingford, leading to the 2.5-mile segment of four-lane, undivided, access controlled road (almost a Super 4). Several parts of the former Route 68 exist as Barnes Road, which the new highway parallels. The state labeled these parts as SR 752A in 1973, and turned them over to the city in 1974.

Other changes

In Cheshire, Route 68 was straightened out west of where it crosses Broad Brook Reservoir in 1966. The original route followed a sharp curve north, closer to the shore.

Another realignment was done in Wallingford in 1968, but I have no details for it.

In 2002, a one-mile segment from Williams Road to Leigus Road was widened (mostly four lanes with turning lanes), and two side streets were made into cul-de-sacs to decrease the number of access points. This widening was first suggested in a 1988 study of Route 68 between Durham and Cheshire.

In 2004, the interchange with I-91 was slightly realigned, with the overpass widened to five lanes, to add left-turn lanes onto the entrance ramps. This was supposed to finish in fall 2003, but a structural problem, requiring redesign and reordering of bridge supports, delayed its completion.

Proposed freeway

The state once had grander plans for Route 68: a freeway, leading from a proposed Route 10 freeway in Cheshire across Wallingford into Durham. This was in the category of "proposed highways for future traffic needs", and was never constructed. In fact, I haven't seen evidence of any public hearings or detailed design for the Route 68 freeway itself.

Proposed Extension to Haddam

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.

Though congestion and a commercial boom in Wallingford had touched off calls to widen Route 68 near US 5, the state says it will not be widened in that area.

"There are still drivers who can remember when there was no such animal as Route 68 stretching its snaky way from Durham to Union City. If that constituted a "route" 30 or 40 years ago, no one knew it. But over the intervening years, thanks to I-91, Route 8, and the increasing mobility of our population, the scarcity of east-west routes has been noted and eased by piecemeal improvements to what is now 68."

• "Route 68 widening project slated for fall." New Haven Register, March 7, 2001.
• "Reconstructed Bridge." Editorial, Record-Journal (Meriden, Conn.), Nov. 27, 2001.
• "In the high 60s." Editorial, Record-Journal (Meriden, Conn.), June 21, 2004.
• Connecticut Department of Transportation. "Route change table.xls". Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file, received April 4, 2008.

• Route 68 - Google Maps

35.16 miles; from Route 63 in New Haven to Route 4 in Burlington. It's Beavis and Butthead's favorite highway.

Route 69 is four lanes wide in parts near Interstate 84; and I-84 east has separate exits for 69 north and south.

Commissioned in 1932, from the old Routes 348, 199, and 172, Route 69 originally extended from Route 63 in Bethany to Route 14 (E. Main St) in Waterbury. The section between Waterbury and Bristol was called Route 119, but a few years later became part of Route 69. In 1963, Route 69 was extended north to Route 4.

In March 2000, officials in Woodbridge and Bethany proposed making part of Route 69 a scenic route; the state is reviewing their application. The portion reviewed begins at Bond Road in Woodbridge and ends at Route 42 in Bethany. Route 69 is locally known as Litchfield Turnpike and Carrington Road.

The Central Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (COGCNV) in 2000 started a study along a 9-mile stretch of Route 69 from Route 68 to Route 322 in Prospect, Waterbury, and Wolcott. The problems include congestion, safety hazards, and a lack of room to widen the road. East Main Street is a particular chokepoint. The goal of the study: "to identify problem areas and present achievable solutions. The improvements will consider all modes transportation in the corridor including cars, buses, trains, bicycles, and pedestrians. Highway access management is being considered." The study was planned to continue to about mid-2001.

• "Committee looks to change Route 69 traffic flow." The Republican-American [Waterbury, Conn.], Jan. 9, 2000.
• (No title) ConnDOT press release, March 16, 2000.
• "Residents loathe driving Route 69." The Republican-American [Waterbury, Conn.], June 15, 2000.
• CNVCOG Transportation Planning page