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Route 72 (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Route 72 is a state highway in the western part of the Greater Hartford
area. Route 72 is an L-shaped route with a north–south section in Plymouth
and Harwinton
and an east–west section from Bristol
to New Britain
. Route 72 is a freeway from Route 9 in New Britain to Route 177
in Plainville
.
The plan to extend the highway through the Forestville section of Bristol as a four-lane boulevard
is nearly complete. The construction project broke ground on October 15, 2007 and is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2011. The contractor for the project is Manafort Brothers, based out of Plainville. West section of the new route 72 was opened on September 27th, 2010.
in New Britain
, expanding to six lanes after the junction with Route 71 at Exit 9. Route 72 overlaps with I-84 as it crosses from New Britain into the town of Plainville
. In Plainville, Route 72 has an interchange with Route 10, then crosses the Pequabuck River, with the freeway soon ending at an intersection with Route 372 (Forestville Avenue). Route 72 continues along Forestville Avenue as a two-lane surface road to the Bristol
city line. Within Bristol, Route 72 runs 5.5 miles (8.9 km) along several city streets, in particular, East Main Street, Broad Street, Middle Street (where it overlaps with Route 229), Riverside Avenue, Main Street, School Street, Divinity Street, Park Street, and Terryville Road. The route runs parallel to the Peqaubuck River in Bristol and crosses it several times. Route 72 then enters the town of Plymouth
, where the road turns north to follow South Riverside Avenue, North Riverside Avenue, and Poland Brook Road. In Plymouth, Route 72 intersects with U.S. Route 6 in the Terryville
section of town. Route 72 continues north in the rural town of Harwinton
where it goes along Terryville Road, eventually ending at Route 4
. Route 72 is 20.1 miles (32.3 km) long.
between Route 66
(then Route 14) in Middletown
to Route 10
in Plainville
. Since then, the route has been extended west and north and relocated to an expressway. The original route has been transferred to Routes 3 and 372
.
In 1942, a portion of US 6
in Bristol and Plymouth was transferred to Route 72 after a realignment of US 6 to use former US 6A. Another section of Route 72 was realigned in Berlin
the same year with the construction of an interchange with the Berlin Turnpike
. In 1954, the former Routes 117 (Bristol to Torrington) and 49 (Torrington to Norfolk) were transferred to Route 72, extending the route through Torrington
to the Massachusetts
state line.
In 1962, the section of Route 72 north of modern Route 4 was transferred to a relocated Route 4 and a new Route 272
, resulting in the current northern/western terminus. The section from Plainville to Berlin was later upgraded to an expressway. In 1978, the old surface route of Route 72 was assigned as Route 372. In 1990, a freeway connection from the east end of the Route 72 freeway to the west end of the Route 9 freeway opened. The Route 9 designation was extended westward to the current Route 9/72 interchange. Route 372 was extended east along the old Route 72 alignment to Route 3
while Route 3 was extended south along the old Route 72 alignment to Route 66.
(US 5
and Route 15). In 1969, Route 72 was rerouted from Berlin into New Britain, leaving the freeway section west of the current Route 9 in Berlin to be reassigned to SR 571. The first section of this reroute, from SR 572 to Ellis Street, was opened this year. In 1970, the second section of the rerouting to New Britain was opened from Main Street to I-84. In 1979, the final part of the rerouting to New Britain was opened, connecting Ellis and Main Streets.
In 1980, Route 72 in Plainville from the overlap with I-84 to Forestville Avenue was rerouted to the current route. This road, which begins as a freeway and narrows to a divided two lane road, was constructed in two stages, in 1975 and from 1978 to 1980. With the completion of the freeway from Plainville to Berlin in 1980, Route 72 was formally designated on the freeway and the former surface alignment became Route 372. In 1990, Route 9 took over the eastern end of the Route 72 freeway truncating Route 72 to the current 9/72 interchange and extending Route 372 eastward along the former Route 72.
Greater Hartford
Greater Hartford is a region located in the state of Connecticut, centered on the state's capital of Hartford.Hartford's role as a focal point for the American insurance industry is known nationally. The vibrant music and arts scene defines the region's culture...
area. Route 72 is an L-shaped route with a north–south section in Plymouth
Plymouth, Connecticut
Plymouth is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England. The population was 11,634 at the 2000 census. The Town of Plymouth includes the villages of Terryville and Pequabuck.-Geography:...
and Harwinton
Harwinton, Connecticut
Harwinton is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,283 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is a portmanteau of Hartford and Windsor, which is where its settlers came from.-Geography:...
and an east–west section from Bristol
Bristol, Connecticut
Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
to New Britain
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
. Route 72 is a freeway from Route 9 in New Britain to Route 177
Connecticut Route 177
Route 177 is a state highway in central Connecticut, running from Plainville to Canton.-Route description:Route 177 begins as Town Line Road at an intersection with Route 10 in Plainville, just north of the Southington town line. It heads west for then turns north onto South Washington Street...
in Plainville
Plainville, Connecticut
Plainville is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 17,328 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.8 square miles , of which 9.8 square miles is land and 0.1 square miles is water...
.
The plan to extend the highway through the Forestville section of Bristol as a four-lane boulevard
Boulevard
A Boulevard is type of road, usually a wide, multi-lane arterial thoroughfare, divided with a median down the centre, and roadways along each side designed as slow travel and parking lanes and for bicycle and pedestrian usage, often with an above-average quality of landscaping and scenery...
is nearly complete. The construction project broke ground on October 15, 2007 and is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2011. The contractor for the project is Manafort Brothers, based out of Plainville. West section of the new route 72 was opened on September 27th, 2010.
Route description
Route 72 begins as a four-lane freeway at Route 9Route 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...
in New Britain
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
, expanding to six lanes after the junction with Route 71 at Exit 9. Route 72 overlaps with I-84 as it crosses from New Britain into the town of Plainville
Plainville, Connecticut
Plainville is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 17,328 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.8 square miles , of which 9.8 square miles is land and 0.1 square miles is water...
. In Plainville, Route 72 has an interchange with Route 10, then crosses the Pequabuck River, with the freeway soon ending at an intersection with Route 372 (Forestville Avenue). Route 72 continues along Forestville Avenue as a two-lane surface road to the Bristol
Bristol, Connecticut
Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
city line. Within Bristol, Route 72 runs 5.5 miles (8.9 km) along several city streets, in particular, East Main Street, Broad Street, Middle Street (where it overlaps with Route 229), Riverside Avenue, Main Street, School Street, Divinity Street, Park Street, and Terryville Road. The route runs parallel to the Peqaubuck River in Bristol and crosses it several times. Route 72 then enters the town of Plymouth
Plymouth, Connecticut
Plymouth is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England. The population was 11,634 at the 2000 census. The Town of Plymouth includes the villages of Terryville and Pequabuck.-Geography:...
, where the road turns north to follow South Riverside Avenue, North Riverside Avenue, and Poland Brook Road. In Plymouth, Route 72 intersects with U.S. Route 6 in the Terryville
Terryville, Connecticut
Terryville is a census-designated place in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is a village of the Town of Plymouth, Connecticut. The population was 5,360, at the 2000 census. The village is named for Eli Terry Jr.,the son of the well-known clockmaker Eli Terry Sr.. Terryville is...
section of town. Route 72 continues north in the rural town of Harwinton
Harwinton, Connecticut
Harwinton is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,283 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is a portmanteau of Hartford and Windsor, which is where its settlers came from.-Geography:...
where it goes along Terryville Road, eventually ending at 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...
. Route 72 is 20.1 miles (32.3 km) long.
Special designations
The section of Route 72 from Route 9 to Route 372 (Corbin Avenue) in New Britain is also known as the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Highway. The section from Route 372 (Corbin Avenue) in New Britain to the freeway end at the Plainville-Bristol town line is also known as the Polish Legion of American Veterans Memorial Highway.History
Route 72 was established 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...
between 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:...
(then Route 14) 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...
to Route 10
Connecticut Route 10
Connecticut Route 10 is a state highway that runs between New Haven and the state line near Granby.-Route description:Route 10 begins at Interstate 95 as Ella T. Grasso Boulevard in the city of New Haven. It then passes by Southern Connecticut State University before entering the town of Hamden...
in Plainville
Plainville, Connecticut
Plainville is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 17,328 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.8 square miles , of which 9.8 square miles is land and 0.1 square miles is water...
. Since then, the route has been extended west and north and relocated to an expressway. The original route has been transferred to Routes 3 and 372
Connecticut Route 372
Route 372 is a state highway in central Connecticut running from Plainville to Cromwell, and serving to communicate between the numerous freeways in the area. The section of Route 372 from Route 10 in Plainville to the Plainville-New Britain town line is designated the Joseph E. Tinty Memorial...
.
In 1942, a portion of US 6
U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut
U.S. Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 within the state of Connecticut. West of Hartford, the route either closely parallels or runs along Interstate 84. Interstate 84 has largely supplanted Route 6 as a through route in western Connecticut. East of Hartford, the route serves...
in Bristol and Plymouth was transferred to Route 72 after a realignment of US 6 to use former US 6A. Another section of Route 72 was realigned in Berlin
Berlin, Connecticut
Berlin is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 19,866 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1785. The geographic center of Connecticut is located in the town. Berlin is residential and industrial, and served by the Amtrak station of the same name...
the same year with the construction of an interchange with the 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...
. In 1954, the former Routes 117 (Bristol to Torrington) and 49 (Torrington to Norfolk) were transferred to Route 72, extending the route through Torrington
Torrington, Connecticut
Torrington is the largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the northwestern Connecticut region. It is also the core city of the largest micropolitan area in the United States. The city population was 36,383 according to the 2010 census....
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 1962, the section of Route 72 north of modern Route 4 was transferred to a relocated Route 4 and a new Route 272
Connecticut Route 272
Route 272 is a state highway in northwestern Connecticut running from Torrington to the Massachusetts state line in Norfolk.-Route description:...
, resulting in the current northern/western terminus. The section from Plainville to Berlin was later upgraded to an expressway. In 1978, the old surface route of Route 72 was assigned as Route 372. In 1990, a freeway connection from the east end of the Route 72 freeway to the west end of the Route 9 freeway opened. The Route 9 designation was extended westward to the current Route 9/72 interchange. Route 372 was extended east along the old Route 72 alignment to Route 3
Route 3 (Connecticut)
Route 3 is a long route connecting Middletown to the Glastonbury-East Hartford town line. It passes through the towns of Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Glastonbury. The northernmost of Route 3 is an expressway that was originally intended for the cancelled...
while Route 3 was extended south along the old Route 72 alignment to Route 66.
Expressway relocation
In 1961, an expressway section in Berlin was opened from Route 71A to the Berlin TurnpikeBerlin 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...
(US 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...
and Route 15). In 1969, Route 72 was rerouted from Berlin into New Britain, leaving the freeway section west of the current Route 9 in Berlin to be reassigned to SR 571. The first section of this reroute, from SR 572 to Ellis Street, was opened this year. In 1970, the second section of the rerouting to New Britain was opened from Main Street to I-84. In 1979, the final part of the rerouting to New Britain was opened, connecting Ellis and Main Streets.
In 1980, Route 72 in Plainville from the overlap with I-84 to Forestville Avenue was rerouted to the current route. This road, which begins as a freeway and narrows to a divided two lane road, was constructed in two stages, in 1975 and from 1978 to 1980. With the completion of the freeway from Plainville to Berlin in 1980, Route 72 was formally designated on the freeway and the former surface alignment became Route 372. In 1990, Route 9 took over the eastern end of the Route 72 freeway truncating Route 72 to the current 9/72 interchange and extending Route 372 eastward along the former Route 72.
Junction list
| County | Town | Mile | # Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Destinations | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford Hartford County, Connecticut Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut.... |
New Britain New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254.... |
0.32 | 10 N–S | N: ---- S: |
Signed as exits 10N (north) and 10S (south) Eastern terminus of Route 72 |
| 0.31 | 9 | No westbound exit | |||
| 0.95 | 8 | Columbus Boulevard – Downtown New Britain New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254.... |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| 1.89 | 7 | ||||
| 2.55 | 6 | Westbound junction only | |||
| Plainville Plainville, Connecticut Plainville is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 17,328 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.8 square miles , of which 9.8 square miles is land and 0.1 square miles is water... |
|||||
| 4.13 | 4 | Eastbound junction only. Same interchange as Exit 3. |
|||
| 4.13 | 3 | Woodford Avenue | Eastbound exit only. Same interchange as Exit 4. |
||
| 5.27 | 2 | No eastbound exit | |||
| 5.76 | 1 | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |||
| 6.33 | At-grade intersection | ||||
| Bristol Bristol, Connecticut Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to... |
8.34 | ||||
| 9.93 | |||||
| Litchfield Litchfield County, Connecticut Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927... |
Plymouth | 13.02 | |||
| Harwinton Harwinton, Connecticut Harwinton is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,283 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is a portmanteau of Hartford and Windsor, which is where its settlers came from.-Geography:... |
20.10 | Northern/western terminus of Route 72 |