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Route 75 (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Route 75 in the U.S. state
s of Connecticut
and Massachusetts
is a 17.5 miles (28.2 km) scenic route connecting the Hartford
and Springfield
areas. The route begins at Route 159
in the town of Windsor, Connecticut
and ends at the junction of Route 159 and Route 147 in the city of Agawam, Massachusetts
.
The route acquired its modern designation in the 1932 state highway renumbering
, becoming a loop route off then U.S. Route 5A (modern Route 159
) through the town center of Suffield
. In 1950, the north end was realigned to extend into Agawam. The portion in Agawam is a municipal road and is not a state highway
(i.e. not a state-maintained road).
in the town center of Windsor
near the Windsor railroad station and heads northwest parallel to the Farmington River
. It has an interchange with I-91 at Exit 38 about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) northwest of Route 159, where Route 75 also passes in front of Day Hill Mall. After another 2.1 miles (3.4 km), Route 75 crosses over the Farmington River
into the village of Poquonock, and then has an interchange with the Bradley Airport Connector
at the Windsor-Windsor Locks
town line.
Route 75, known as Ella T. Grasso Turnpike in Windsor Locks, proceeds north along the eastern perimeter of Bradley International Airport
. In this area, it intersects with SSR 401, which leads to the airport. Further north along Route 75, one can access the indoor airport parking facility and the entrance to Crown Industrial Park. Upon entering the town of Suffield
, the road becomes South Street as it heads into the town center, where the road name changes to South Main Street and North Main Street. Route 75 has junctions with Route 168 (towards Southwick
) and Route 190 (towards Enfield
) in Suffield center. In northern Suffield, Route 75 is known as North Street and eventually crosses the state line into Agawam, Massachusetts
.
In Massachusetts, Route 75 passes through the villages of Hubbard Corner and Suffield Corner within the city of Agawam heading into the downtown area. The road has an interchange with the expressway section of Route 57 north of Suffield Corner. Route 75 ends at the intersection of Route 147 and Route 159 in Agawam center just south of the West Springfield
city line.
center and Suffield
center via the village of Poquonock was a secondary route designated as State Highway 362. Old Highway 362 was renumbered to Route 75 as part of the 1932 state highway renumbering
. The original Route 75 continued past Suffield center along Mapleton Avenue (modern Route 190) to end at US 5A (modern Route 159). The route was extended north to the Massachusetts state line and into the city of Agawam in 1950. While numbered as Route 75, the road in Agawam is not officially a state highway and is maintained by the city. The former connection to US 5A became an unsigned state road for several years until the relocation of Route 190.
The portion of Route 75 in Windsor Locks was originally known as Turnpike Road and still appears as such on some maps, including Google Maps
. Its alignment alongside Bradley International Airport
sustained heavy damage on October 3, 1979, when a F4 tornado
destroyed or damaged many businesses and residences along the corridor, including the original Bradley Air Museum
. In 1981, as enacted by Public Act 81-463, this portion of Route 75, by then repaired and revitalized, was officially renamed the Ella T. Grasso
Turnpike, in honor of the first elected female governor in the United States
(and a native of Windsor Locks).
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and 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...
is a 17.5 miles (28.2 km) scenic route connecting the Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
and Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
areas. The route begins at Route 159
Route 159 (Connecticut)
Route 159 is a state highway connecting the Hartford and Springfield areas in the U.S. states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. It begins as the northern extension of Main Street in Hartford and proceeds northward along the west bank of the Connecticut River towards Agawam, Massachusetts...
in the town of Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
and ends at the junction of Route 159 and Route 147 in the city of Agawam, Massachusetts
Agawam, Massachusetts
The Town of Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,438 at the 2010 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts...
.
The route acquired its modern designation 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...
, becoming a loop route off then U.S. Route 5A (modern Route 159
Route 159 (Connecticut)
Route 159 is a state highway connecting the Hartford and Springfield areas in the U.S. states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. It begins as the northern extension of Main Street in Hartford and proceeds northward along the west bank of the Connecticut River towards Agawam, Massachusetts...
) through the town center of Suffield
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
. In 1950, the north end was realigned to extend into Agawam. The portion in Agawam is a municipal road and is not a state highway
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
(i.e. not a state-maintained road).
Route description
Route 75 begins as Poquonock Avenue at Route 159Route 159 (Connecticut)
Route 159 is a state highway connecting the Hartford and Springfield areas in the U.S. states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. It begins as the northern extension of Main Street in Hartford and proceeds northward along the west bank of the Connecticut River towards Agawam, Massachusetts...
in the town center of Windsor
Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
near the Windsor railroad station and heads northwest parallel to the Farmington River
Farmington River
The Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Via its longest branch , the Farmington's length increases to , making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by a mere over the major river directly to its...
. It has an interchange with I-91 at Exit 38 about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) northwest of Route 159, where Route 75 also passes in front of Day Hill Mall. After another 2.1 miles (3.4 km), Route 75 crosses over the Farmington River
Farmington River
The Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Via its longest branch , the Farmington's length increases to , making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by a mere over the major river directly to its...
into the village of Poquonock, and then has an interchange with the Bradley Airport Connector
Bradley Airport Connector
The Bradley Airport Connector is a expressway built to connect Bradley International Airport to Interstate 91 in Windsor, Connecticut. It begins at Exit 40 of I-91 and heads west as Route 20 roughly along the town line between Windsor and Windsor Locks...
at the Windsor-Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...
town line.
Route 75, known as Ella T. Grasso Turnpike in Windsor Locks, proceeds north along the eastern perimeter of Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
. In this area, it intersects with SSR 401, which leads to the airport. Further north along Route 75, one can access the indoor airport parking facility and the entrance to Crown Industrial Park. Upon entering the town of Suffield
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
, the road becomes South Street as it heads into the town center, where the road name changes to South Main Street and North Main Street. Route 75 has junctions with Route 168 (towards Southwick
Southwick, Massachusetts
Southwick is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,502 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
) and Route 190 (towards Enfield
Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...
) in Suffield center. In northern Suffield, Route 75 is known as North Street and eventually crosses the state line into Agawam, Massachusetts
Agawam, Massachusetts
The Town of Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,438 at the 2010 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts...
.
In Massachusetts, Route 75 passes through the villages of Hubbard Corner and Suffield Corner within the city of Agawam heading into the downtown area. The road has an interchange with the expressway section of Route 57 north of Suffield Corner. Route 75 ends at the intersection of Route 147 and Route 159 in Agawam center just south of the West Springfield
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
city line.
History
In the 1920s, when Connecticut first numbered its state highways, the road between WindsorWindsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
center and Suffield
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
center via the village of Poquonock was a secondary route designated as State Highway 362. Old Highway 362 was renumbered to Route 75 as part of 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 original Route 75 continued past Suffield center along Mapleton Avenue (modern Route 190) to end at US 5A (modern Route 159). The route was extended north to the Massachusetts state line and into the city of Agawam in 1950. While numbered as Route 75, the road in Agawam is not officially a state highway and is maintained by the city. The former connection to US 5A became an unsigned state road for several years until the relocation of Route 190.
Special designations
The northernmost 4.3 miles (6.9 km) of Route 75 within the town of Suffield is a designated state scenic road.The portion of Route 75 in Windsor Locks was originally known as Turnpike Road and still appears as such on some maps, including Google Maps
Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
. Its alignment alongside Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
sustained heavy damage on October 3, 1979, when a F4 tornado
Windsor Locks, Connecticut Tornado
The Windsor Locks, Connecticut tornado struck the towns of Windsor, Windsor Locks, and Suffield, Connecticut on October 3, 1979. The short-lived but intense tornado struck without warning and caused three deaths and 500 injuries....
destroyed or damaged many businesses and residences along the corridor, including the original Bradley Air Museum
New England Air Museum
The New England Air Museum is located at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA. The museum is housed in three large display buildings consisting of more than of exhibit space...
. In 1981, as enacted by Public Act 81-463, this portion of Route 75, by then repaired and revitalized, was officially renamed the Ella T. Grasso
Ella T. Grasso
Ella Grasso , born Ella Giovanna Oliva Tambussi, was an American politician, and first woman elected governor of Connecticut.-Biography:...
Turnpike, in honor of the first elected female governor in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(and a native of Windsor Locks).