Until the late 1950s, the future Route 229 was a series of locally maintained streets -- King Street and Middle Street in Bristol, and West Street in Southington.

In 1957, Southington officials began lobbying the state to take over West Street, as traffic was increasing between Southington and Bristol. The state demurred, saying Route 10 was sufficient as a parallel route. As the location of future I-84 became more definite, it became apparent traffic on West Street would increase even more, as a southern connection to Bristol. The state accepted the road from Hart Street (near the proposed I-84 interchange) to the Bristol town line as SR 491 on Oct. 14, 1959.

On Feb. 21, 1961, the state highway department approved bills submitted by Bristol officials to add King and Middle Streets to the state highway system. On Aug. 20, 1962, the state took over those streets. Former SR 491 was extended and became SR 529.

In 1963, the unsigned SR 529 became signed Route 229.

Overpass at US 6 once requested

In 1961, Bristol officials, concerned about traffic tieups at King Street and US 6, asked the state to build an overpass there. The state declined; if they had agreed, today's Route 229 terminus at US 6 would be some sort of interchange.

Four lanes, or two?

In the early 1970s, the state was planning to reconstruct Route 229 from I-84 to the Bristol town line, and widen it to four lanes. In early 1974, however, the state announced the plan had changed to two lanes, with 8-foot shoulders.

In February 1980, the state announced plans to narrow a four-lane section of Route 229 in Bristol to two lanes, to improve safety and traffic flow. The affected section was from Redstone Hill Road to the town line. That section remains four lanes wide today.