CT 165
  • Length 20 miles; 16.01 miles in Connecticut
  • From Route 2 in Norwich
  • To RI 3 in Austin, R. I.

Route 165 provides an alternate "back road" into Rhode Island from Norwich. In Voluntown, it's part of a rare triple overlap with Route 49 and Route 138. It crosses into Rhode Island on a causeway across Beach Pond. After crossing I-95 with no interchange, it ends at Rhode Island Route 3. Ten Rod Road continues, merges with RI 102, and eventually reaches US 1 in North Kingstown.

In Preston, the short Old Shetucket Turnpike is locally called Route 165A – though the state has never defined that route.

CT 165 History

Rock painted like dog, Route 165, in 1940.A rock formation along Route 165 in Voluntown is painted like a dog in this photo taken in 1940. Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection. larger photo

In the 1920s, State Highway 165 followed today's Route 94 from Glastonbury Center to Buckingham School, just beyond today's Route 83.

Commissioned in 1932, the modern Route 165 originally extended 11.54 miles, from Route 12 in Norwich to Route 138 in Voluntown. The original route, from west to east:

Correspondence in 1938 had the western terminus of Route 165 at the Norwich city line.

Changes - Voluntown to Rhode Island

At the time, the Beach Pond Road segment of today's Route 165 heading to Rhode Island from Voluntown was actually part of Route 138.

In 1938, Route 138 was moved from Beach Pond Road to Rockville Road, where it is today. Beach Pond Road became unsigned SR 420.

In 1947, Route 165 was extended eastward along SR 420 into Rhode Island. Also, its western end was removed from the 8th Street connector to Route 12, and moved to the intersection of Hamilton Avenue with Route 2.

Changes - Norwich to Preston

In 1960, a section of Route 165 in Norwich and Preston was relocated slightly to the north. Long Society Road, the old alignment, became SR 519 in 1960, but was turned over to the towns in 1962.

Changes - Preston City

In 1939, Route 165 and Shetucket Turnpike were relocated to the north, to cross Route 164 in place of the short overlap. The old route, Old Shetucket Turnpike, became SR 443. It was turned over to the town in 1962. (Locally, and unofficially, the road is called Route 165A.)

CT 165 Sources