Route 214 was created on Jan. 2, 1963 from a set of town-maintained roads accepted into the state highway system. In the meantime, a few small improvements have been studied and made.

In October 1972, a candidate for state assembly pledged to secure improvement funds for routes 117 and 214 if elected. "We should be able to widen the roads by four to six feet without spending too great a sum of money," Kenneth Stober said.

In 1973, the state General Assembly called for a study of realigning and reconstructing the Stoddards Wharf Road section of Route 214, between Route 12 and Route 117. The conclusion: given the highway's local traffic service, and local opposition to major changes in the road, an upgrade to state highway standards (40-foot roadway, with 100-foot right of way) was not feasible. There was still a future need for a shorter realignment, between Route 12 and Avery Hill Road, but that would be at least a decade into the future.

In 1979, the Southeast Connecticut Regional Planning Agency discussed improving Route 214 between Route 12 and Route 117. One factor that hurt the road's funding priority: it exists entirely within Ledyard, so the benefits would be limited to a single town.

In the late 1990s, spot improvements were made to handle increased casino traffic, including a short 2-lane divided section near the casino, and left-turn lanes at Route 117. Brick pavers separate the left and thru-right lanes by about 24 inches: a decorative touch.

In 2003, more safety improvements were being considered, as traffic and accidents increase. This might include widening and straightening parts of Route 214.

Tolls proposed for casino traffic

In February 2003, a state representative from Greenwich introduced a bill to study assessing a $10 toll on each car exiting the Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods casinos. Route 214 would have a tollbooth, and there would probably be an exemption for local traffic.

At the time, the bill had very little support in the legislature. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin Sullivan remarked that such a law would be subject to litigation.

"I remember you could drive on that road, and not pass another car."

Tonya Rivers, longtime resident of Ledyard, to the Norwich Bulletin

• "Stober Seeks Upgrading of 2 State Routes." Hartford Courant, Oct. 25, 1972.
• Connecticut Department of Transportation. Feasibility Study: Connecticut Route 214, Ledyard. Dec. 1974.
• "Rt. 214 Faces Hearing." Hartford Courant, Feb. 6, 1979.
• Doolittle, Chuck. "CT 214." Personal email, May 1, 2002.
• "Floren gambles on casino tolls." Greenwich [Conn.] Time, Feb. 11, 2003.
• "Seeking a safer Route 214." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Aug. 14, 2003.

• Route 214 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 214 - Google Maps