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Route 17 (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Route 17 is a primary north–south state route beginning in New Haven
, through Middletown, and ending in Glastonbury
, with a length of 36.33 miles (58.5 km).
begins at the interchange and continues eastward while Route 17 turns northward. Route 17 is a 4-lane principal arterial road in New Haven, becoming 2 lanes as it passes through North Haven, Northford, Durham, and Middletown. In Middletown
it becomes a 4-lane freeway for 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) leading to an interchange with the Route 9
freeway. Route 17 then runs on Route 9 for about 0.8 miles (1.3 km). Route 9 then briefly becomes a surface road at which point Route 17 then splits off and overlaps with Route 66
for about 3 miles (4.8 km) including a Connecticut River
crossing into Portland town on the Arrigoni Bridge
. From Portland to Glastonbury, Route 17 is a secondary 2-lane arterial road, bypassing the downtown Portland area. A 3.02 miles (4.9 km) long alternate route, Route 17A, serves the town center. The last 1.4 miles (2.3 km) in Glastonbury is freeway, ultimately ending at an interchange with Route 2
.
Memorial Highway. The 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) freeway section from South Main Street to Route 9 in Middletown is known as the Catholic War Veterans Memorial Highway. A 1.4 miles (2.3 km) section in Durham, from the junction with Route 77 to just north of the junction with Route 68, is a designated state scenic road.
in colonial times. In 1813, the road became a private turnpike
known as the Middletown, Durham and New Haven Turnpike. The turnpike corporation was dissolved in the late 19th century. By 1922, Connecticut had numbered roads that were maintained by the state, which included all of modern Route 17. The roads were designated as Highway 114 from New Haven to Durham; part of Highway 112 from Durham to Middletown; and Highway 104 from Middletown to Glastonbury.
In the 1932 state highway renumbering
, the road from New Haven to Glastonbury became part of the newly-established Route 15
. At that time, Route 15 used all of modern Route 17, then continued north along Main Street in East Hartford, then northeast via modern Route 30
, Route 190, and Route 171 to the Massachusetts state line. In 1948, the Route 15 designation was reassigned to the Merritt Parkway
, Wilbur Cross Parkway
, Berlin Turnpike
, and Wilbur Cross Highway
. The old Route 15 south of Glastonbury was renumbered to Route 17.
center, and back to Route 17. It serves as the Main Street of the town. The original Route 17 (then Route 15) used the 17A alignment. The main route bypassed the town center by 1940 and Main Street became Route 15A. When Route 15 was relocated and the route through Portland became Route 17, Route 15A was also renumbered to 17A.
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, through Middletown, and ending in Glastonbury
Glastonbury, Connecticut
Glastonbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, founded in 1693. The population was 31,876 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Glastonbury in Somerset, England. Glastonbury is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, 7 miles southeast of Hartford. The town...
, with a length of 36.33 miles (58.5 km).
Route description
Route 17 officially begins about 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) west of its interchange with Interstate 91 (at Exit 8). Route 80Route 80 (Connecticut)
Route 80 is a long secondary east–west state route in Connecticut from New Haven to Deep River. It serves as a more inland alternate route to US 1 in eastern New Haven County and Middlesex County.-Route description:...
begins at the interchange and continues eastward while Route 17 turns northward. Route 17 is a 4-lane principal arterial road in New Haven, becoming 2 lanes as it passes through North Haven, Northford, Durham, and Middletown. In Middletown
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
it becomes a 4-lane freeway for 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) leading to an interchange with the Route 9
Route 9 (Connecticut)
Route 9 is a , 4-lane freeway beginning in Old Saybrook and ending at the Farmington-West Hartford town line.-Route description:Route 9 begins at an interchange with I-95/U.S. 1, on the west banks of the Connecticut River...
freeway. Route 17 then runs on Route 9 for about 0.8 miles (1.3 km). Route 9 then briefly becomes a surface road at which point Route 17 then splits off and overlaps with Route 66
Route 66 (Connecticut)
Route 66 is a Connecticut state highway running from Meriden to Windham, serving as an alternate east–west route to US 6 through east-central Connecticut.- Route description:...
for about 3 miles (4.8 km) including a Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
crossing into Portland town on the Arrigoni Bridge
Arrigoni Bridge
The Arrigoni Bridge carries Route 66 and Route 17 over Route 9 and across the Connecticut River, connecting Middletown, Connecticut to Portland, Connecticut...
. From Portland to Glastonbury, Route 17 is a secondary 2-lane arterial road, bypassing the downtown Portland area. A 3.02 miles (4.9 km) long alternate route, Route 17A, serves the town center. The last 1.4 miles (2.3 km) in Glastonbury is freeway, ultimately ending at an interchange with Route 2
Route 2 (Connecticut)
Route 2 is a state highway in Connecticut and is in length. It is a primary state route, with a freeway section connecting Hartford to Norwich and a non-freeway section extending to Stonington.-Route description:...
.
Special designations
The southern surface road section from New Haven to Middletown is also known as George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
Memorial Highway. The 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) freeway section from South Main Street to Route 9 in Middletown is known as the Catholic War Veterans Memorial Highway. A 1.4 miles (2.3 km) section in Durham, from the junction with Route 77 to just north of the junction with Route 68, is a designated state scenic road.
History
The road between New Haven and Middletown via Durham was one of the routes used by the Boston Post RoadBoston Post Road
The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts that evolved into the first major highways in the United States.The three major alignments were the Lower Post Road The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York...
in colonial times. In 1813, the road became a private turnpike
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
known as the Middletown, Durham and New Haven Turnpike. The turnpike corporation was dissolved in the late 19th century. By 1922, Connecticut had numbered roads that were maintained by the state, which included all of modern Route 17. The roads were designated as Highway 114 from New Haven to Durham; part of Highway 112 from Durham to Middletown; and Highway 104 from Middletown to Glastonbury.
In the 1932 state highway renumbering
1932 state highway renumbering (Connecticut)
In 1932, the Highway Department of the U.S. state of Connecticut , decided to completely renumber all its state highways. The only exceptions were the U.S. Highways and some of the New England Interstate Routes. Between 1922 and 1932, Connecticut used a state highway numbering system shared with...
, the road from New Haven to Glastonbury became part of the newly-established Route 15
Route 15 (Connecticut)
Route 15 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut that runs from a connection with New York's Hutchinson River Parkway in Greenwich, Connecticut to its northern terminus intersecting with Interstate 84 in East Hartford, Connecticut...
. At that time, Route 15 used all of modern Route 17, then continued north along Main Street in East Hartford, then northeast via modern Route 30
Route 30 (Connecticut)
Route 30 is a Connecticut state highway running from South Windsor to Stafford. Although officially designated north–south, the section from South Windsor to Vernon is a major east–west arterial road.- Route description:...
, Route 190, and Route 171 to the Massachusetts state line. In 1948, the Route 15 designation was reassigned to the Merritt Parkway
Merritt Parkway
The Merritt Parkway is a historic limited-access parkway in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The parkway is known for its scenic layout, its uniquely styled signage, and the architecturally elaborate overpasses along the route. It is designated as a National Scenic Byway and is also listed in the...
, Wilbur Cross Parkway
Wilbur Cross Parkway
The Wilbur Cross Parkway is a limited access road in Connecticut, comprising the portion of Route 15 between Milford and Meriden. It is named after Wilbur Lucius Cross, a former governor of the state...
, Berlin Turnpike
Berlin Turnpike
The Berlin Turnpike is a 4-lane/6-lane divided arterial road carrying U.S. Route 5 and Route 15 through the towns of Berlin, Newington, and Wethersfield, Connecticut, United States. The road begins at the Meriden-Berlin town line. The official length of the Berlin Turnpike is 11.02 miles but the...
, and Wilbur Cross Highway
Wilbur Cross Highway
The Wilbur Cross Highway is the designation for the portion of old Route 15 from Wethersfield in Connecticut, through Hartford and Manchester, to the Massachusetts Turnpike in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The highway was built in the 1940s before the Interstate Highway era...
. The old Route 15 south of Glastonbury was renumbered to Route 17.
Junction list
Route 17A
Route 17A is an alternate route running for 3.02 miles (4.9 km) from Route 17 and 66, through PortlandPortland, Connecticut
Portland is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,732 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place . It is situated across the Connecticut River from Middletown....
center, and back to Route 17. It serves as the Main Street of the town. The original Route 17 (then Route 15) used the 17A alignment. The main route bypassed the town center by 1940 and Main Street became Route 15A. When Route 15 was relocated and the route through Portland became Route 17, Route 15A was also renumbered to 17A.