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Route 70 (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Route 70 is a 10.92 miles (17.6 km) 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.
(at Exit 26) in Cheshire. Route 70 proceeds southeast on Waterbury Road into the Mixville section of Cheshire, then meets Route 68
about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) east of the I-84 junction. Routes 68 and 70 become concurrent as they proceed east along West Main Street and Main Street into Cheshire center. After a brief (0.15 mi) three-way overlap with Route 10, Routes 68 and 70 continue eastward together as Academy Road for another 1.2 miles (1.9 km). Route 68 then splits off to the east towards Wallingford
while Route 70 heads northeast towards Meriden
(as South Meriden Road). The Route 68/70 overlap is 2.9 miles (4.7 km) long. Route 70 enters the city of Meriden, where the road name changes to River Road. Route 70 follows River Road for about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) then turns onto Main Street. After crossing the Quinnipiac River
, Route 70 turns southeast onto Hanover Avenue, ending after another 0.8 miles (1.3 km) at Route 71. Route 70 carries average traffic volumes of about 15,400 vehicles per day west of Route 10 and about 6,300 vehicles per day east of Route 10.
, modern Route 70 was created from old Highway 323 plus an extension east of Route 10 along a previously unnumbered road to the South Meriden section of the city of Meriden. The original eastern terminus was at Hanover Road (then Route 71) just after crossing the Quinnipiac River. The route was extended by 1955 along New Hanover Avenue to Old Colony Road (then US 5A). In 1962, Route 70 took over the former south end of Route 71 (Hanover Avenue) to its modern terminus at Old Colony Road (modern Route 71) after Route 71 was relocated to the former US 5A. In 1964, Route 70 was truncated in the west so that it now began at the I-84 Interchange 26 westbound onramp. The former Route 70 in Waterbury was redesignated as unsigned State Road 801.
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 Meriden
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
. The western half of the route is an important link between the Greater New Haven
Greater New Haven
Greater New Haven is the metropolitan area whose extent includes those towns in the U.S. state of Connecticut that share an economic, social, political, and historical focus on the city of New Haven...
and the Greater Waterbury areas and is part of the state primary highway system.
Route description
Route 70 officially begins as a continuation of State Road 801, known locally as Waterbury Road and East Main Street, near its interchange with Interstate 84Interstate 84 (east)
Interstate 84 is an Interstate Highway extending from Dunmore, Pennsylvania at an interchange with Interstate 81 to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, at an interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike . I-84 has mile-log junction numbering in Pennsylvania; otherwise, exit numbers are roughly sequential...
(at Exit 26) in Cheshire. Route 70 proceeds southeast on Waterbury Road into the Mixville section of Cheshire, then meets Route 68
Route 68 (Connecticut)
Route 68 is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut connecting the towns of Durham and Naugatuck.-Route description:...
about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) east of the I-84 junction. Routes 68 and 70 become concurrent as they proceed east along West Main Street and Main Street into Cheshire center. After a brief (0.15 mi) three-way overlap with Route 10, Routes 68 and 70 continue eastward together as Academy Road for another 1.2 miles (1.9 km). Route 68 then splits off to the east towards 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...
while Route 70 heads northeast towards Meriden
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
(as South Meriden Road). The Route 68/70 overlap is 2.9 miles (4.7 km) long. Route 70 enters the city of Meriden, where the road name changes to River Road. Route 70 follows River Road for about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) then turns onto Main Street. After crossing the Quinnipiac River
Quinnipiac River
The Quinnipiac River is a river in the New England region of the United States, located entirely in the state of Connecticut.It rises in west central Connecticut from Dead Wood Swamp west of the city of New Britain...
, Route 70 turns southeast onto Hanover Avenue, ending after another 0.8 miles (1.3 km) at Route 71. Route 70 carries average traffic volumes of about 15,400 vehicles per day west of Route 10 and about 6,300 vehicles per day east of Route 10.
History
The route directly connecting downtown Waterbury and Cheshire center was first improved in 1852 by the Waterbury and Cheshire Plank Road Company, which had built the toll road. The company continued operating the toll road until 1880 when the company charter was repealed by the Connecticut General Assembly. In 1922, the Waterbury to Cheshire road was designated as a secondary state highway known as Highway 323. Highway 323 began at the intersection of Meriden Road and East Main Street and followed East Main Street towards Cheshire. In Cheshire, Highway 323 followed modern Route 70 until the junction with Highland Avenue (modern Route 10). 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...
, modern Route 70 was created from old Highway 323 plus an extension east of Route 10 along a previously unnumbered road to the South Meriden section of the city of Meriden. The original eastern terminus was at Hanover Road (then Route 71) just after crossing the Quinnipiac River. The route was extended by 1955 along New Hanover Avenue to Old Colony Road (then US 5A). In 1962, Route 70 took over the former south end of Route 71 (Hanover Avenue) to its modern terminus at Old Colony Road (modern Route 71) after Route 71 was relocated to the former US 5A. In 1964, Route 70 was truncated in the west so that it now began at the I-84 Interchange 26 westbound onramp. The former Route 70 in Waterbury was redesignated as unsigned State Road 801.