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Route 85 (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Route 85 a north–south state highway in the east-central portion of the U.S. state
of Connecticut
linking the city of New London
to the town of Bolton
.
in New London, with junctions with I-95
and I-395
in Waterford
. Route 85 continues north through the towns of Montville
and Salem
as a 2-lane rural arterial road up to the junction with Route 82. The road continues further north into the towns of Colchester
, Hebron
, and Bolton as a collector road
(with arterial sections near the Route 2
and Route 16
junctions). There is a brief overlap with Route 16 in Colchester. Route 85 ends in Bolton at US 6
and US 44
with a partial interchange with I-384
just before its terminus.
from old Highways 102 and 366, with an extension north via Bolton center to Route 83 in Manchester
(using Campmeeting Road and Charter Oak Street). In 1950, the northern terminus was moved to its current location at US 6 (along former SR 807). The northern terminus was moved back to its original location in 1954, then shifted again to its current location in 1963. The original northern end became SR 534.
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...
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...
linking the city of New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
to the town of Bolton
Bolton, Connecticut
Bolton is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,017 at the 2000 census. Bolton was incorporated in October 1720 and is governed by town meeting.-History:...
.
Route description
Route 85 begins as a four-lane urban arterial road at US 1U.S. Route 1 in Connecticut
In the U.S. state of Connecticut, U.S. Route 1 is a major east–west state highway along Long Island Sound. It has been replaced by Interstate 95 as a through route, which it closely parallels, and now primarily serves as a local business route...
in New London, with junctions with I-95
Interstate 95 in Connecticut
Interstate 95, the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, runs in a general east–west compass direction for 111.57 miles in Connecticut from the Rhode Island state line to the New York State line. I-95 Southbound from East Lyme to the New York State...
and I-395
Interstate 395 (Connecticut)
Interstate 395 is a 67-mile-long north–south Interstate Highway that begins at Interstate 95 in East Lyme, Connecticut and ends at Interstate 90 in Auburn, Massachusetts, where it becomes Interstate 290. The original designation for the freeway was Route 52...
in Waterford
Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Waterford, Ireland. The population was 19,152 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place .-Geography:...
. Route 85 continues north through the towns of Montville
Montville, Connecticut
Montville is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,546 at the 2000 census and 19,571 at the 2010 census....
and Salem
Salem, Connecticut
Salem is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,858 at the 2000 census.- Pre-incorporation :The area was originally inhabited by Mohegans. The very first settlement of European origin in present-day Salem was deeded in 1664. In the early 18th century, more...
as a 2-lane rural arterial road up to the junction with Route 82. The road continues further north into the towns of Colchester
Colchester, Connecticut
Colchester is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,551 at the 2000 census. In 2005 it was ranked 57th on the "100 Best Places to Live" in all of the United States, conducted by CNN...
, Hebron
Hebron, Connecticut
Hebron is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Hebron was incorporated May 26, 1708....
, and Bolton as a collector road
Collector road
A collector road or distributor road is a low to moderate-capacity road which serve to move traffic from local streets to arterial roads. Unlike arterials, collectors are also designed to provide access to residential properties...
(with arterial sections near the Route 2
Route 2 (Connecticut)
Route 2 is a state highway in Connecticut and is in length. It is a primary state route, with a freeway section connecting Hartford to Norwich and a non-freeway section extending to Stonington.-Route description:...
and Route 16
Route 16 (Connecticut)
Route 16 is a primary state route connecting Middletown and Colchester via Route 66. It begins in East Hampton at Route 66 then has an interchange with Route 2 in Colchester. It then runs through Colchester center, then goes to the outskirts of Lebanon town as a rural collector...
junctions). There is a brief overlap with Route 16 in Colchester. Route 85 ends in Bolton at US 6
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
and US 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...
with a partial interchange with I-384
Interstate 384
Interstate 384 is an Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Connecticut. It runs east to west, going from Interstate 84 in East Hartford to U.S. Route 6/U.S...
just before its terminus.
Special designations
Route 85 is designated Governor's Road from its southern terminus to the intersection with Route 2 in Colchester.History
The section of Route 85 south of Colchester can be traced to the 19th century Hartford and New London Turnpike. This portion of the former turnpike was designated as State Highway 102 in 1922, when state highways were first signed in Connecticut. The northward continuation from Colchester to Hebron was assigned as State Highway 366. Modern Route 85 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...
from old Highways 102 and 366, with an extension north via Bolton center to Route 83 in Manchester
Manchester, Connecticut
Manchester is a township and city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 58,241.- History :...
(using Campmeeting Road and Charter Oak Street). In 1950, the northern terminus was moved to its current location at US 6 (along former SR 807). The northern terminus was moved back to its original location in 1954, then shifted again to its current location in 1963. The original northern end became SR 534.
Major Junctions
| Town | Names of Route 85 | Major junctions | Milepost |
|---|---|---|---|
| New London New London, Connecticut New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut.... (0.56 miles) |
Broad Street | 0.00 | |
| Waterford Waterford, Connecticut Waterford is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Waterford, Ireland. The population was 19,152 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place .-Geography:... (4.87 miles) |
Broad Street, Hartford Turnpike | 0.93-1.08 | |
| 3.45-3.55 | |||
| Montville Montville, Connecticut Montville is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,546 at the 2000 census and 19,571 at the 2010 census.... (3.03 miles) |
Hartford New London Turnpike | 6.96-6.97 | |
| Salem Salem, Connecticut Salem is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,858 at the 2000 census.- Pre-incorporation :The area was originally inhabited by Mohegans. The very first settlement of European origin in present-day Salem was deeded in 1664. In the early 18th century, more... (6.45 miles) |
New London Road, Hartford Road | 11.26-11.27 | |
| Colchester Colchester, Connecticut Colchester is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,551 at the 2000 census. In 2005 it was ranked 57th on the "100 Best Places to Live" in all of the United States, conducted by CNN... (6.52 miles) |
New London Road, South Main Street, Main Street, Broadway, Amston Road |
(Access to Westbound Route 2 only) | 18.02 |
| 18.24 | |||
| (Begin Multiplex) | 19.04 | ||
| (End Multiplex) | 19.11 | ||
| Hebron Hebron, Connecticut Hebron is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Hebron was incorporated May 26, 1708.... (12.02 miles) |
Church Street, Gilead Street, North Street | 23.91 | |
| 25.52 | |||
| 34.27 | |||
| Bolton Bolton, Connecticut Bolton is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,017 at the 2000 census. Bolton was incorporated in October 1720 and is governed by town meeting.-History:... (4.43 miles) |
West Street, Clark Road, Bolton Center Road | 36.90-37.04 | |
| 37.38 |