Route 93 was commissioned in 1932, and followed (with some differences) today's Route 169, from Norwich into Massachusetts. It was changed to 169 in 1959, to avoid a numbering conflict in Massachusetts with Interstate 93. Had old Route 93 not crossed a state line, it might have kept its number.
Another route renumbered (partially) for the same reason: part of Route 190 became Route 168 in 1977 when Interstate 190 opened in Massachusetts.
Original Route 93
Route 93's 1932 alignment was different from today's Route 169 in a few places. From south to north:
- today's Route 169, from Route 2 in Norwich to Route 101 in Pomfret
- west on Killingly Road today's Route 101 to US 44
- overlap with US 44 along Averill Road, connecting with Railroad Street. The old railroad crossing here is gone.
- continue north with US 44 to Route 97
- east with US 44 to Woodstock Road
- north on Woodstock Road to today's Route 169
- today's Route 169 to the state line
In 1951, it looks like two improvements took place:
- a new alignment of US 44 and Route 93, underpassing the railroad (now the Airline Trail). At some point Railroad Street, the old alignment, became SR 872; and was turned over to the town in 1962.
- a new segment of Pomfret Street continuing straight north-northeast from the northern 44/97 junction. The old segment of Woodstock Road became SR 559; and was turned over to the town in 1962.