Connecticut Route 12

Route 12 and mis-signed US 44 at Route 171, in Putnam. Photo taken Sept. 2002 by Kurumi.

259 miles; from I-95 in Groton to VT 100 in Morrisville, Vermont. 54.46 miles in Connecticut. It's four lanes wide in Groton near the Route 184/I-95 interchange, and four lanes divided while it overlaps US 6 in Killingly; but Route 12 is two lanes otherwise.

In Keene, N. H., 12 intersects Route 10 and Route 32, which also start at Connecticut's shore.

Route 12 is Connecticut's only state highway that passes through four states.

In Lisbon, I-395 southbound has separate ramps for Route 12 north and south.

New England Interstate route 12

Route 12 descends from NE-12, an early "New England Interstate" created in 1922. Originally NE-12 followed the west bank of the Thames between Norwich and New London, while NE-32 followed the east bank: the opposite of where Routes 12 and 32 are located today. In 1932, these route segments were switched.

Between Gales Ferry and the Gold Star Bridge approach, Route 12's original post-1932 alignment was Military Highway, a road quite close to the eastern bank of the Thames. Since that road passes through a naval base, Route 12 was shifted eastward to its current location on Dec. 2, 1943.

Expressway plans

Route 12 was the main drag between New London, Norwich and Worcester, Mass., until the cities were linked by expressways in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Now three different interstates (I-395, I-290, and I-190) serve the Route 12 corridor.

In 1958, the Connecticut Turnpike opened, serving Route 12 towns from New London to the "elbow" in Killingly, where the turnpike turns east toward Rhode Island. At the time, the state was already planning "relocated Route 12" to continue north toward Massachusetts.

Relocated Route 12 opened in stages throughout the 1960s and early '70s, but as of 1965 was called Route 52, not Route 12. in 1983, Route 52 was renumbered Interstate 395.

Innovations in Killingly

West of the relocated Route 12 (aka 52 aka I-395), the real Route 12 once intersected US 6 in a half-interchange and rotary, both of which opened in 1958. The 2-lane Danielson Connector, since incorporated into I-395, connected the area to the Turnpike. In 1996, however, the rotary and grade separation were dismantled in favor of conventional signalized intersections. For more information, see Killingly (Danielson) Roads.

Route 12/117 freeway proposal

In the early 1970s the state studied the Route 12/117 corridor south of Norwich for a possible freeway. One of the main difficulties was finding a place to connect this highway to I-95 without getting tangled in other nearby interchanges. No freeway was built.

There is a Route 12 Advisory Committee in Gales Ferry looking at ways to improve and preserve the corridor: however, its focus is on greenways, architecture, parking and so on. In January 2002, the town of Ledyard adopted the Gales Ferry Design District, which is considering developing the area as a colonial New England village, to fend off encroaching large-scale development as seen on Route 12 in Groton.

Reportedly there is (or was) a plan to widen Routes 12 and 97 to form a continuous four-lane connection between I-395 near Taftville and I-95 in Groton; but that would contradict the Gales Ferry plan.

One revitalization plan brewing in Norwich includes new housing along the harbor and Chestnut Street, along with new pedestrian walkways and a new Route 12 bridge.

Here's to our Submariners

In May 2002, the state legislature's transportation bill included a provision to name Route 12 the "United States Submarine Veterans Memorial Highway" between US 1 and Route 2A. "We were kidding everyone that they liked Route 12 because of the bars," said bill supporter State Rep. Nancy DeMarinis, but the location is appropriate because of the Naval Submarine Base and housing near the highway.

This was approved in mid-2002, and now Route 12 is the first road in the nation to honor submarine veterans.

Upgrade to four-lane boulevard from Groton to Norwich.

Connecticut Highway Department. Highway Commissioner's Biennial Report. Wethersfield: 1944.
Connecticut Department of Transportation. Planning study : the desirability and feasibility for upgrading an existing facility or constructing a new highway to provide an improved facility for traffic between Interstate 95 in Groton and the proposed expressway network east of Norwich. Wethersfield: 1970.
"Ledyard officials strive to add a touch of class to Route 12." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Jan. 29, 2002.
"Change roads, put Norwich on map." Letter to editor, Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Feb. 11, 2002.
"Piece of highway renamed for submarine vets." The Day [New London, Conn.], May 25, 2002.
"NCDC asked to explore development plan." The Day [New London, Conn.], July 2, 2002.
"A salute to submariners." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, July 24, 2002.

Home > Roads > Connecticut > Route 12

Updated Sept 4, 2004

Markers in the left margin for present-day routes are courtesy of Barry L. Camp.

This site is not affiliated with the State of Connecticut or the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

	Route 12 and mis-signed US 44 at Route 171, in Putnam. Photo taken Sept. 2002 by Kurumi. 259 miles; from I-95 in Groton to VT 100 in Morrisville, Vermont. 54.46 miles in Connecticut. It's four lanes wide in Groton near the Route 184/I-95 interchange, and four lanes divided while it overlaps US 6 in Killingly; but Route 12 is two lanes otherwise. In Keene, N. H., 12 intersects Route 10 and Route 32, which also start at Connecticut's shore. Route 12 is Connecticut's only state highway that passes through four states. In Lisbon, I-395 southbound has separate ramps for Route 12 north and south.
	New England Interstate route 12 Route 12 descends from NE-12, an early "New England Interstate" created in 1922. Originally NE-12 followed the west bank of the Thames between Norwich and New London, while NE-32 followed the east bank: the opposite of where Routes 12 and 32 are located today. In 1932, these route segments were switched. Between Gales Ferry and the Gold Star Bridge approach, Route 12's original post-1932 alignment was Military Highway, a road quite close to the eastern bank of the Thames. Since that road passes through a naval base, Route 12 was shifted eastward to its current location on Dec. 2, 1943. Expressway plans Route 12 was the main drag between New London, Norwich and Worcester, Mass., until the cities were linked by expressways in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Now three different interstates (I-395, I-290, and I-190) serve the Route 12 corridor. In 1958, the Connecticut Turnpike opened, serving Route 12 towns from New London to the "elbow" in Killingly, where the turnpike turns east toward Rhode Island. At the time, the state was already planning "relocated Route 12" to continue north toward Massachusetts. Relocated Route 12 opened in stages throughout the 1960s and early '70s, but as of 1965 was called Route 52, not Route 12. in 1983, Route 52 was renumbered Interstate 395. Innovations in Killingly West of the relocated Route 12 (aka 52 aka I-395), the real Route 12 once intersected US 6 in a half-interchange and rotary, both of which opened in 1958. The 2-lane Danielson Connector, since incorporated into I-395, connected the area to the Turnpike. In 1996, however, the rotary and grade separation were dismantled in favor of conventional signalized intersections. For more information, see Killingly (Danielson) Roads. Route 12/117 freeway proposal In the early 1970s the state studied the Route 12/117 corridor south of Norwich for a possible freeway. One of the main difficulties was finding a place to connect this highway to I-95 without getting tangled in other nearby interchanges. No freeway was built.
	There is a Route 12 Advisory Committee in Gales Ferry looking at ways to improve and preserve the corridor: however, its focus is on greenways, architecture, parking and so on. In January 2002, the town of Ledyard adopted the Gales Ferry Design District, which is considering developing the area as a colonial New England village, to fend off encroaching large-scale development as seen on Route 12 in Groton. Reportedly there is (or was) a plan to widen Routes 12 and 97 to form a continuous four-lane connection between I-395 near Taftville and I-95 in Groton; but that would contradict the Gales Ferry plan. One revitalization plan brewing in Norwich includes new housing along the harbor and Chestnut Street, along with new pedestrian walkways and a new Route 12 bridge. Here's to our Submariners In May 2002, the state legislature's transportation bill included a provision to name Route 12 the "United States Submarine Veterans Memorial Highway" between US 1 and Route 2A. "We were kidding everyone that they liked Route 12 because of the bars," said bill supporter State Rep. Nancy DeMarinis, but the location is appropriate because of the Naval Submarine Base and housing near the highway. This was approved in mid-2002, and now Route 12 is the first road in the nation to honor submarine veterans.
	Upgrade to four-lane boulevard from Groton to Norwich.
	Connecticut Highway Department. Highway Commissioner's Biennial Report. Wethersfield: 1944. Connecticut Department of Transportation. Planning study : the desirability and feasibility for upgrading an existing facility or constructing a new highway to provide an improved facility for traffic between Interstate 95 in Groton and the proposed expressway network east of Norwich. Wethersfield: 1970. "Ledyard officials strive to add a touch of class to Route 12." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Jan. 29, 2002. "Change roads, put Norwich on map." Letter to editor, Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Feb. 11, 2002. "Piece of highway renamed for submarine vets." The Day [New London, Conn.], May 25, 2002. "NCDC asked to explore development plan." The Day [New London, Conn.], July 2, 2002. "A salute to submariners." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, July 24, 2002.
	I-395, I-290, I-190 Route 52 Killingly (Danielson) Roads