.gif)
Route 68 (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Route 68 is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut connecting the towns of Durham
and Naugatuck
.
in Durham and winds its way through Wallingford
, Cheshire
, and Prospect
ending at Route 63
in Naugatuck. Most of Route 68 is a two lane surface road with the exception of a 2.3 miles (3.7 km) section in Wallingford which is a four-lane undivided, partially access controlled road. This limited access section begins at the interchange with I-91 and ends at the grade-separated
junction with U.S. Route 5
. Route 68 overlaps with Route 70
in Cheshire, with both briefly overlapping Route 10 (forming a 3-way concurrency). Routes 68 and 70 continue and finally split with Route 68 heading for Prospect and Naugatuck, and Route 70 for Waterbury.
, former Highway 325 was renumbered to
Route 68. The route was later extended east to Durham in 1966 along former SR 607 (Wallingford to Durham) and SR 730 (Cheshire to Wallingford) via an overlap with Route 70. In 1973 and 1974, parts of Route 68 were rerouted in Wallingford.
Durham, Connecticut
Durham is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Durham is a former farming village on the Coginchaug River in central Connecticut. The population was 6,627 at the 2000 census. Every autumn, the town hosts the Durham Fair, the largest volunteer agricultural fair in New...
and Naugatuck
Naugatuck, Connecticut
Naugatuck is a consolidated borough and town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town spans both sides of the Naugatuck River just south of Waterbury, and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, which has its own post office, Straitsville on the...
.
Route description
Route 68 begins at Route 17Route 17 (Connecticut)
Route 17 is a primary north–south state route beginning in New Haven, through Middletown, and ending in Glastonbury, with a length of .-Route description:...
in Durham and winds its way through Wallingford
Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
, Cheshire
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
, and Prospect
Prospect, Connecticut
Prospect is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,707 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
ending at Route 63
Route 63 (Connecticut)
Route 63 is a secondary state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut, from New Haven up to Canaan, running for . It connects the Greater New Haven area to Northwestern Connecticut via the western suburbs of Waterbury.-Route description:...
in Naugatuck. Most of Route 68 is a two lane surface road with the exception of a 2.3 miles (3.7 km) section in Wallingford which is a four-lane undivided, partially access controlled road. This limited access section begins at the interchange with I-91 and ends at the grade-separated
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
junction with U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...
. Route 68 overlaps with Route 70
Route 70 (Connecticut)
Route 70 is a long state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut, connecting the towns of Cheshire and Meriden. The western half of the route is an important link between the Greater New Haven and the Greater Waterbury areas and is part of the state primary highway system.-Route...
in Cheshire, with both briefly overlapping Route 10 (forming a 3-way concurrency). Routes 68 and 70 continue and finally split with Route 68 heading for Prospect and Naugatuck, and Route 70 for Waterbury.
History
The road connecting Naugatuck and Cheshire was designated in 1922 as State Highway 325. In the 1932 state highway renumbering1932 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...
, former Highway 325 was renumbered to
Route 68. The route was later extended east to Durham in 1966 along former SR 607 (Wallingford to Durham) and SR 730 (Cheshire to Wallingford) via an overlap with Route 70. In 1973 and 1974, parts of Route 68 were rerouted in Wallingford.