Connecticut Route 3

In the 1920s, the number 3 was used for NE-3, a precursor to US 6 in New England. The section of present-day Route 3 between Routes 66 and 372 was called Route 346; the road north of there was not numbered.

In the Great Renumbering of 1932, Route 346 became part of Route 72. In 1941, Route 3 was born, covering its present route between Cromwell and Route 99 in Wethersfield. Route 3's life got a bit more interesting in the next decade.

The Putnam Bridge, I-491, and I-86

One of Connecticut's original planned interstate highways in 1956 was Interstate 491, a southeastern connection between I-91 and I-84 through Glastonbury and East Hartford. On Dec. 31, 1958, the north span of the Putnam Bridge opened, half of the planned eight-lane, dual-span structure. (The other span was never built, and four lanes of traffic share the single span.)

William H. Putnam, for whom the bridge is named, was chairman of the late 1950s Greater Hartford Bridge Authority. Sadly, he died nine months before the bridge opened.

Along with the missing span, freeway connections on either side were omitted: getting to either Interstate 91 (which opened later) or Route 2 involved detours on local streets. Both sides were improved in the late 1980s and 90s (see below).

Route 3 was extended from Wethersfield to Glastonbury, incorporating the bridge and approaches. This was expected to be a temporary numbering; once the freeway was extended through East Hartford to I-84 in Manchester, it would be designated I-491. In late 1968, when I-84 toward Boston was redesignated as I-86, the proposed I-491 would have been part of I-86 as well.

However, local resistance to yet another freeway in East Hartford helped kill the I-491/86 project. In 1973 I-491 federal funds were traded in for US 6 improvements east of Willimantic, the Route 9 freeway between I-91 and I-84, and a few other projects.

Improved connections

Despite seeing its interstate ambitions thwarted, Route 3 has enjoyed enhancements on both sides of the Connecticut River. For the first 28 years, northbound travellers leaving the Putnam Bridge met a tollbooth and a traffic light on Main Street. Getting to Route 2 required another quarter-mile on local streets. The 2 west to 3 south connection was even worse: signs directed you off Route 2 at Route 94, followed by a 3-mile trek along Hebron Avenue and Main Street. In 1987, full interchanges at Main Street and Route 2 were built. A pond in the loop ramp at routes 2 and 3 occasionally features skaters in the winter and plastic flamingoes in the summer. An anonymous letter to the Hartford Courant claimed the flamingoes were a protest again the destruction of natural wetlands during the interchange's construction.

On the Wethersfield side, travellers leaving the bridge were just as well off: to get to I-91 southbound, they first had to get on 91 north, then take the next exit and get back on 91 south (see figure). The interchange was incomplete because I-491 was coming through Real Soon Now. In October 1994, a nearly full freeway-to-freeway interchange with I-91 opened, except for the 91 north to 3 south and 3 north to 91 south ramps (see figure).

In late 2001, Route 3 was also widened to four lanes (undivided) from the I-91 interchange to the Silas Deane Highway (Route 99). Spring Street and Middletown Ave were rerouted to meet Route 3 in a single four-way intersection, where Route 3 now has left-turn lanes.

A few miles inherited

Before 1991, the south end of Route 3 was in Cromwell at Route 72. Now that road is Route 372, and continues east to Route 99; Route 3 inherited the north-south segment of Route 72 leading to Route 66 in Middletown. See the old Route 18 for a map of what would be cumbersome to express in words.

	14.48 miles; from Route 66 in Middletown to Route 2 in Glastonbury. Crossing the Connecticut River on the Putnam Bridge, Route 3 serves an important freeway link between Route 2 and I-91. South of Route 99, it serves primarily local and industrial traffic. Route 3 is a 4-lane freeway between Route 2 and I-91, and a 2 lane surface street elsewhere, except for a few miles of four-lane street in Rocky Hill and Cromwell.
	In the 1920s, the number 3 was used for NE-3, a precursor to US 6 in New England. The section of present-day Route 3 between Routes 66 and 372 was called Route 346; the road north of there was not numbered. In the Great Renumbering of 1932, Route 346 became part of Route 72. In 1941, Route 3 was born, covering its present route between Cromwell and Route 99 in Wethersfield. Route 3's life got a bit more interesting in the next decade. The Putnam Bridge, I-491, and I-86 One of Connecticut's original planned interstate highways in 1956 was Interstate 491, a southeastern connection between I-91 and I-84 through Glastonbury and East Hartford. On Dec. 31, 1958, the north span of the Putnam Bridge opened, half of the planned eight-lane, dual-span structure. (The other span was never built, and four lanes of traffic share the single span.) William H. Putnam, for whom the bridge is named, was chairman of the late 1950s Greater Hartford Bridge Authority. Sadly, he died nine months before the bridge opened. Along with the missing span, freeway connections on either side were omitted: getting to either Interstate 91 (which opened later) or Route 2 involved detours on local streets. Both sides were improved in the late 1980s and 90s (see below). Route 3 was extended from Wethersfield to Glastonbury, incorporating the bridge and approaches. This was expected to be a temporary numbering; once the freeway was extended through East Hartford to I-84 in Manchester, it would be designated I-491. In late 1968, when I-84 toward Boston was redesignated as I-86, the proposed I-491 would have been part of I-86 as well. However, local resistance to yet another freeway in East Hartford helped kill the I-491/86 project. In 1973 I-491 federal funds were traded in for US 6 improvements east of Willimantic, the Route 9 freeway between I-91 and I-84, and a few other projects. Improved connections Despite seeing its interstate ambitions thwarted, Route 3 has enjoyed enhancements on both sides of the Connecticut River. For the first 28 years, northbound travellers leaving the Putnam Bridge met a tollbooth and a traffic light on Main Street. Getting to Route 2 required another quarter-mile on local streets. The 2 west to 3 south connection was even worse: signs directed you off Route 2 at Route 94, followed by a 3-mile trek along Hebron Avenue and Main Street. In 1987, full interchanges at Main Street and Route 2 were built. A pond in the loop ramp at routes 2 and 3 occasionally features skaters in the winter and plastic flamingoes in the summer. An anonymous letter to the Hartford Courant claimed the flamingoes were a protest again the destruction of natural wetlands during the interchange's construction. On the Wethersfield side, travellers leaving the bridge were just as well off: to get to I-91 southbound, they first had to get on 91 north, then take the next exit and get back on 91 south (see figure). The interchange was incomplete because I-491 was coming through Real Soon Now. In October 1994, a nearly full freeway-to-freeway interchange with I-91 opened, except for the 91 north to 3 south and 3 north to 91 south ramps (see figure). In late 2001, Route 3 was also widened to four lanes (undivided) from the I-91 interchange to the Silas Deane Highway (Route 99). Spring Street and Middletown Ave were rerouted to meet Route 3 in a single four-way intersection, where Route 3 now has left-turn lanes. A few miles inherited Before 1991, the south end of Route 3 was in Cromwell at Route 72. Now that road is Route 372, and continues east to Route 99; Route 3 inherited the north-south segment of Route 72 leading to Route 66 in Middletown. See the old Route 18 for a map of what would be cumbersome to express in words.
	Extend the freeway portion from I-91 to Route 99, with an interchange at Middletown Ave. On Route 9 in Cromwell, add Route 3 to the Route 372 sign, since both roads meet near the interchange.
	"Origins of Roadside Oddities Come to Light." Hartford Courant, Aug. 24, 1998. "Putnam Bridge Wins as Path of Least Resistance." Hartford Courant, Jan. 25, 1999. News Release (four-laning of Route 3 in Wethersfield), ConnDOT, Nov. 27, 2000.
	Interstate 86 Interstate 491 CT 3/I-491 history (Steve Anderson)