This site is organized by route number, since that's a natural way to identify most highways in Connecticut. However, a few major routes have well-known names; in some cases (Merritt Parkway) the name is preferred to the number (15).

If you prefer looking for the Post Road or Whitehead Highway instead of first having to translate to US 1 and SR 598, this page is for you: a cross-reference to other pages explaining the highway.

Nearly every highway has a name as well as a route number; but most of those names won't be found here. Specifically, I don't include:

With so many exclusions, the following list should be all rights be empty... but a few named roads have sneaked through. Here they are. Some of these names are no longer in use. Some refer to roads that were never built.

Aetna Viaduct

This is the elevated section of I-84 between Flatbush Avenue and Asylum Avenue in Hartford. This 1960s-era viaduct has reached the end of its useful life; there's debate over how to replace, rehabilitate or remove it.

Berlin Turnpike

US 5 and CT 15 between Meriden and Wethersfield

Blue Star Highway

This highway, which opened in 1950 as a relocation of US 1, extended from the Baldwin Bridge approach in Old Lyme to the US 1 freeway in New London. It was originally built as a "Super 2" -- 2 lanes undivided, access fully controlled -- and was widened in the late 1950s to a four-lane freeway, to become part of the Connecticut Turnpike. Today, it's part of I-95, and the Blue Star name has faded into history.

The Blue Star name was originally applied to all of US 1 east of New Haven, on Dec. 1, 1949.

Bluff Point Connector

This unbuilt divided highway would have been an extension of Route 117 to Bluff Point.

Boston Post Road

This important early road will get better treatment here in the future. Most are familiar with its association with US 1, but there were actually three roads, of which the Lower Road followed US 1. The Upper Road followed US 5 to Springfield, and the Middle Road went by way of Hartford and Pomfret, before all three reunited in Boston. (That's why there are otherwise disconcerting bits of "Boston Post Road" in places like Windham.)

Bradley Field Connector

The freeway portion of Route 20 and SSR 401 connecting Bradley International Airport to I-91.

Branford Connector

The long ramps serving I-95 exit 53, to US 1, CT 142 and CT 146 in Branford. Officially this is SR 794.

Brookfield Bypass

The US 7 freeway extension to the west of Brookfield Four Corners; opened Nov. 19, 2009.

Cedar Ridge Connector

This early 1960s expressway proposal, from I-84 in Hartford to Route 15 in Wethersfield, was the reason for the Flatbush Avenue connector ramps (SR 504).

College Highway

One of the more famous "named roads" of the early 1900s, the College Highway (Route 10) extends from New Haven to Northampton, Mass., both well-known college towns.

Conland - Whitehead Highway

Also called the Whitehead Highway (there was some argument about this); extended from the Charter Oak Bridge approach to Pulaski Circle in Hartford. Now, this is part of I-91 and all of SR 598. It was once to be part of the cancelled Interstate 484.

Connecticut Turnpike

I-95 from the New York state line to I-395 in Waterford; I-395 from I-95 to SR 695; and SR 695, the spur that meets US 6 at the Rhode Island state line. This was renamed the Gov. John Davis Lodge Turnpike in 1985.

Danielson Connector

No longer exists; this was a 2-lane spur northward from the Connecticut Turnpike, where I-395 and SR 695 now diverge, to US 6 at Danielson. This was widened in 1962 to become part of what is now I-395.

East Hartford - Glastonbury Expressway

The narrow parts of Routes 2 and 17, from Main Street in East Hartford to Main Street nearing South Glastonbury. South of Hubbard Street, it's a "Super 2"; two lanes, access fully controlled.

East Rock Connector

A proposed but cancelled four-lane expressway connector from I-91 exit 6 (Willow Street) in New Haven to Whitney Avenue at Armory Street in Hamden.

Farmington Cutoff

The section of US 6 between Route 10 in Farmington and Route 71 in West Hartford. Opened in 1934, with one of the first highway grade separations in the state. Construction of I-84 caused the eastern portion (South Road) to be realigned and cut off from the western portion (Colt Highway).

Glastonbury Expressway

See East Hartford-Glastonbury Expressway, above.

Greenwich - Killingly Expressway

A 1950s name for the Connecticut Turnpike, naming the two termini of the road.

Hammonasset Connector

This easy-to-misspell freeway connects I-95 to US 1 at (copy, paste) Hammonasset State Park. It's also known as part of SSR 450.

Hartford Bypass

Older name for the planned South Meadows Expressway and Charter Oak approach; the first expressways in Hartford. Now part of Route 15.

Hartford - New Britain Expressway

Planned (1950s) 4.2-mile expressway from the Berlin Turnpike, across southern Newington into New Britain. This could have been part of the US 6 relocation, and even future I-84, but both were relocated to West Hartford and Hartford in the late 1950s. See Newington Roads for more information.

Kensington Bypass

This section of Route 72 in Berlin, opened in 1962, is now part Route 9 and part SR 571.

Meriden Cutoff

The part of CT 15 that swings by downtown Meriden to the east.

Merritt Parkway

The Queen of All Parkways and Connecticut's first modern highway, extending from the New York state line to the Housatonic River bridge at Stratford. It's part of CT 15, but it's gauche to say so in public.

Milford Cutoff

Older name for the Boston Post Road (US 1) between Bridgeport Avenue and Cherry Street in Milford. Before the Cutoff was opened, US 1 followed those streets into the center of Milford.

Milford Parkway

The short expressway from CT 15 (Merritt Parkway) to I-95 and US 1 in Milford. Has no posted route number of its own, but is officially SR 796.

Mill Street Viaduct

Built in late 1950, a roadway bridge across Mill Street, the Mad River, and Baldwin Street in Waterbury. This was demolished when I-84 was built in the area.

Mohegan Trail

Reportedly the first named road designated by the state; this is Route 12 from Norwich to the Massachusetts state line. The source doesn't say whether this is historical Route 12 along the Thames, which is now part of Route 32.

North Meadows Expressway

A 1940s name for what is now I-91 from the Bulkeley Bridge to Main Street in Hartford.

Oak Street Connector

The short Route 34 expressway in New Haven. Part transportation project, part urban renewal ("Oak Street" was the neighborhood cleared for Route 34's path). As of 2013, the city is working to dismantle the Connector and return traffic to city streets.

Post Road

See Boston Post Road, above.

Rocky Neck Connector

This short freeway, SSR 449, connects I-95 to Route 156 providing access to Rocky Neck State Park, a popular beach.

Route 1 Connector

A two-lane arterial road once proposed to connect US 1 with Route 34 east of the West Haven - Orange town line. Details on the Route 34 page.

Sandy Hook Bypass

Short-lived name for a 2-lane US 6 freeway that opened in Newtown in 1958. It was later widened and is now part of I-84.

Shelton - Derby - Ansonia Expressway

Under construction in 1949 through 1951; now part of the Route 8 freeway.

Sherwood Island Connector

The controlled-access road from US 1 to I-95 and Sherwood Island state park in Westport. This was once planned to extend to the Merritt Parkway. Officially this is SR 476.

Silver Street Expressway

This is a short (0.1-mile) 4-lane section of Route 69 in Waterbury. At its opening on Dec. 29, 1949, a Naugatuck newspaper referred to this as the "first link of the new Waterbury Expressway." I haven't seen details of how it would tie into other planned or built freeways, such as I-84.

The state highway department noted, in its Jan. 1950 newsletter: "The expressway, when completed, will carry Route US 6A close to the center of the city but congestion free on its limited access course."

South Meadows Expressway

A 1940s name for US 5 and CT 15 from the Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield to the Charter Oak Bridge in Hartford.

Thruway

This New York-ish term was applied to some planned segments of the Connecticut Turnpike in Fairfield County in the 1950s.

Waterside Interchange

A mid-1950s name for the I-95/I-91/CT 34 interchange in New Haven. The name fell out of fashion rather quickly.

Whitehead Highway

See Conland - Whitehead Highway, above.

Wilbur Cross Parkway

Extends from the Housatonic River bridge (and eastern terminus of the Merritt Parkway) to the Berlin Turnpike north of Meriden. Like the Merritt, this is part of CT 15.

Wilbur Cross Highway

Not the same as the Parkway; this highway extends from the top of the Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield to the Massachusetts state line in Union. Until 1980, this was all part of CT 15; now most of it is Interstate 84.

Woods River Expressway

Used from the 1940s through the 1960s for the proposed CT 189 expressway.

More on Commemorative Names

One reason I don't track all honorific or memorial names attached to roads and bridges: there are dozens and dozens of them, and the practice is accelerating. As of November 2002, there were about 187 bridges, highway segments, and so on given memorial names. More than one-third of these were granted in the previous five years.

Sponsoring a bill to give a stretch of highway a ceremonial name is relatively easy to do, makes for good press, and doesn't invite much opposition.

Sources include: