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Route 41 (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Route 41 is a 17.86 miles (28.7 km) scenic state highway in rural Northwestern Connecticut. It extends from the New York
state line in Sharon
to the Massachusetts
state line in Salisbury
and is the only state-numbered route in Connecticut that has both its ends at a state border.
. Route 41 proceeds north for 3.4 miles (5.5 km) towards the Sharon Country Club, veering to the east then back north, becoming South Main Street. In the town center of Sharon, Route 41 intersects with Route 343 and Route 4
, becoming Main Street north of the junction. After about 0.2 mile (0.321868 km), Route 361
leaves to the west, with Route 41 continuing northeast on North Main Street. After leaving the town center, the road becomes Gay Street, running for another 3.1 miles (5 km) to the Salisbury
town line.
Upon entering Salisbury, the road name changes to Sharon Road as it heads for another 3.2 miles (5.1 km) towards the village of Lakeville
. Along the way, it intersects with Route 112 just south of Wononskopomuc Lake. In Lakeville, Route 41 begins a 1.7 miles (2.7 km) overlap with U.S. Route 44
(Main Street), as the road heads into the town center of Salisbury. In Salisbury center, Route 41 splits off from Route 44 along Under Mountain Road. The road travels for about 4.8 miles (7.7 km), passing by Mount Riga State Park, until the Massachusetts
state line. The road continues across the state line as Massachusetts Route 41.
. By 1928, however, US 7 was relocated to its modern alignment. In the 1932 state highway renumbering
, modern Route 41 was established from part of old New England Route 4 and old State Highway 360. No significant changes to the route have been made since.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state line in Sharon
Sharon, Connecticut
Sharon is a town located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the state. It is bounded on the north by Salisbury, on the east by the Housatonic River, on the south by Kent, and on the west by Dutchess County, New York...
to the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
state line in Salisbury
Salisbury, Connecticut
Salisbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is the northwest-most in the State of Connecticut. The MA-NY-CT Tri-State Marker is located just on the border of Salisbury...
and is the only state-numbered route in Connecticut that has both its ends at a state border.
Route description
Route 41 begins as Amenia Union Road at a junction with Dutchess County Route 2 in the hamlet of Amenia Union at the New York state line in the town of SharonSharon, Connecticut
Sharon is a town located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the state. It is bounded on the north by Salisbury, on the east by the Housatonic River, on the south by Kent, and on the west by Dutchess County, New York...
. Route 41 proceeds north for 3.4 miles (5.5 km) towards the Sharon Country Club, veering to the east then back north, becoming South Main Street. In the town center of Sharon, Route 41 intersects with Route 343 and Route 4
Route 4 (Connecticut)
Route 4 is an east–west primary state highway connecting rural Litchfield County to the Greater Hartford area of the U.S. state of Connecticut...
, becoming Main Street north of the junction. After about 0.2 mile (0.321868 km), Route 361
Route 361 (Connecticut)
Route 361 is a state highway in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of Connecticut, running from the town center of Sharon to the New York state line in Salisbury. The route was a former alignment of Route 4 from what is now Route 41 to the New York state line, where it continued as New York...
leaves to the west, with Route 41 continuing northeast on North Main Street. After leaving the town center, the road becomes Gay Street, running for another 3.1 miles (5 km) to the Salisbury
Salisbury, Connecticut
Salisbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is the northwest-most in the State of Connecticut. The MA-NY-CT Tri-State Marker is located just on the border of Salisbury...
town line.
Upon entering Salisbury, the road name changes to Sharon Road as it heads for another 3.2 miles (5.1 km) towards the village of Lakeville
Lakeville, Connecticut
Lakeville is a village and census-designated place in the town of Salisbury in Litchfield County, Connecticut, on Lake Wononskopomuc. The village includes Lakeville Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district represents about of the village center...
. Along the way, it intersects with Route 112 just south of Wononskopomuc Lake. In Lakeville, Route 41 begins a 1.7 miles (2.7 km) overlap with U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 237 miles through four states in the Northeastern region of the United States. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 209 and New York State Route 55 in Kerhonkson, a hamlet in the Hudson Valley region of New York...
(Main Street), as the road heads into the town center of Salisbury. In Salisbury center, Route 41 splits off from Route 44 along Under Mountain Road. The road travels for about 4.8 miles (7.7 km), passing by Mount Riga State Park, until the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
state line. The road continues across the state line as Massachusetts Route 41.
Special Designations
Connecticut designates various sections of its rural highways as scenic roads. The scenic designation not only encourages sightseeing but also prevents certain developments alongside and on the road itself that would alter its appearance, including rerouting and widening. In July 1990, a four-mile (6 km) section through the town center of Sharon, between Boland Road and Cole Road, was designated as a scenic road. In October 1992, the scenic designation was extended an additional 4.4 miles (7.1 km) to cover the length of the route within the town of Sharon. The following year, the town of Salisbury applied for and received approval for a scenic designation for its portion of Route 41, which resulted in the entire length of Route 41 being designated a scenic route.History
The portion of Route 41 north of modern Route 343 was part of the 1920s New England Interstate Route 4. The portion south of Route 343 was originally a secondary state highway designated as Highway 360. In 1926, New England Route 4 was designated by AASHO as U.S. Route 7U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7 is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for from Norwalk, Connecticut, to Highgate, Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut...
. By 1928, however, US 7 was relocated to its modern alignment. 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...
, modern Route 41 was established from part of old New England Route 4 and old State Highway 360. No significant changes to the route have been made since.