Connecticut Route 111

	11.71 miles; from Route 15 (the Merritt Parkway) in Trumbull to Route 34 in Monroe. South of Route 15, the road continues as is secret route SR 731. Until a SPUI interchange was built at Route 15 in 2004, signs on the parkway read Main Street, not Route 111: a "stealth" junction. New signs installed there do mention Route 111 now.
	In the 1920s, State Highway 111 followed today's Route 66 between today's Route 10 (Milldale) and Route 2 (Marlborough). In 1930, it was even co-signed with the old New England Interstate Route 3 to Waterbury. The modern Route 111, commissioned in 1932, originally ended at Route 25 in Trumbull. The original Route 25 continued south along Main Street (Newtown Turnpike) to US 1. When the 25 freeway opened on June 1, 1982, Route 111 was extended south along former Route 25 to end at Route 15.
	A reconstruction of Route 111 in Monroe is proposed, to increase safety and capacity without radically changing its character. Probably minor widening is planned. The project is in the 1995 Greater Bridgeport and Valley Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), slated for a 2007-2015 time frame. In April 2003, Congressman Christopher Shays requested $10 million in federal funds toward this project. The state had developed a widening plan in the mid-1990s, addressing a 2.29-mile segment from Purdy Hill Rd. to Fan Hill Rd. Many residents opposed the plan, fearing it would detract from the town's rural charm. As of mid-2005, a new plan was proposed: From Purdy Hill Rd. to vic. of Elm St.: four 12-foot travel lanes with 4-foot shoulders. Turn lanes at several commercial properties. From vic. Elm St. to Cross Hill Rd.: two lanes, with center lane for left turns. From Cross Hill Rd. to Fan Hill Rd.: two 12-foot lanes with 4-foot shoulders; minor widening for a uniform width, and slight realignment for safety and visibility. At Route 110: modify to a straight T-intersection and install a traffic signal. Estimated cost is $10 million. In August 2005, Congressman Christopher Shays secured $1.2 million in federal funding for the work. Residents and officials seem happier with the compromise plan.
	"REP. SHEA: Can I just respond to that since I was on the positive end of things. I will tell you that I'm also in a district that dealt with exactly what you said. We have Route 111. The State wanted to come in and widen it and all the plans were in motion and the townspeople came out and said no, we don't want you to do that. So that was the end of the improvement of Route 111." Conn. State Transportation committee hearing, Feb 14, 2000
	Route Change Notice, ConnDOT, June 18, 1982. "Greater Bridgeport and Valley Transportation Improvement Program (1995)." Available at National Transportation Library, http://ntl.bts.gov/DOCS/GB.html. (22 Aug 2003) "Monroe receives fed $$ for Rt. 111 study." Monroe [Conn.] Chronicle, Aug. 24, 2005. "Testimony of Congressman Christopher Shays before the House Transit and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit." http://www.house.gov/shays/news/2003/april/aptest.htm. (22 Aug 2003)
	Route 111 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)