141 miles; from SR 437 (near I-95) in New London to NH 10 in Keene, N. H.; 54.88 miles in Connecticut.

Starting at I-95, Route 32 is an expressway for about 1/2 mile; then it becomes to a four-lane divided highway (with at-grade intersections) up to the Montville Connector (aka SR 693). This connector leads to I-395 northbound.

I-395, I-95, and Route 32 with the Montville Connector form a triangle, working together to provide access to New London from Norwich (via Route 32) and New London (via I-95). Even though the interchanges at 95/395 and 395/693 are incomplete, most traffic will still have a direct route to its destination.

After joining Route 2 in Norwich, Route 32 shares the Route 2 expressway across I-395 into Fitchville. North of there, Route 32 is a two-lane road for the rest of its length in Connecticut.

An interesting intersection with grade separation at Routes 2 and 82 (shown) in Norwich opened in the late 1980s.

The Mohegan Road, between New London and Norwich, was in 1792 the second turnpike completed in the U.S.

Route 32, which began life as New England Interstate NE-32, dates back to the early 1920s. However, south of Norwich NE-32 was located east of the Thames River (where Route 12 goes now); and north of Stafford Springs, NE-32 followed today's Route 19 into Massachusetts. The section of today's Route 32 north of Route 190 was called Route 334.

The segment of Route 32 between SR 693 in Waterford and Allyn Avenue in Norwich (6.77 miles) was constructed in 1926 and 1927, as two 10-foot concrete lanes with 5-foot shoulders. (Modern standards for a two-lane road: 12-foot lanes and 8-foot shoulders.)

During the "Great Renumbering" of 1932, Route 32 was relocated to roughly where it is now. Before the Route 2 expressway opened nearby in 1959, Routes 2 and 32 followed Washington and Town streets through Norwichtown.

The four-lane boulevard in New London dates back to the early 1940s. A short-lived Route 32A was assigned to the former Route 32.

Route 32 expressway

In the 1960s, the state included a Route 32 expressway in its long range plans. In 1961, the proposed expressway would connect a US 6 expressway at Willimantic (which was built 10 years later) to a proposed Route 20 expressway in Stafford.

In 1963, the Route 20 plan was scaled back, and the north end of proposed Route 32 was truncated to I-84 in Willington. However, a southern segment to the expressway was added, connecting Willimantic to Norwich. The entire expressway was scheduled for "sometime after 1975", the horizon beyond which things were too cloudy to see.

In 1966 the state Interregional Planning Commission stated that an expressway was not needed in the immediate future, but should be added to the long-range plan. But the idea of building one at all appears to have been quietly dropped in the 1970s.

It should be emphasized that Route 32 was a low priority among the many proposals. In 1962, the State Highway Department Planning Division said:

Up until 2001, there was possible evidence of the expressway plans. The original Route 2/32 split in Fitchville, built in 1959, was an incomplete 3-way interchange providing direct access for all movements except 2 eastbound to 32 northbound. Because the entire area was substandard (single-lane ramps for Route 2, and an at-grade intersection with Yantic Lane), the state reconstructed the area in 2001. Now Route 32 intersects a fully controlled-access Route 2 with an offset diamond interchange.

Four-laning along Thames River once planned

In 1969, the state General Assembly directed the highway commissioner to study the desirability of widening Route 32 between the Montville Connector and Route 82. This section was (and still is) two lanes wide.

The plans for the Route 2 expressway near downtown Norwich were in flux at the time, so the nearby relocation of Route 32 could not be studied. (Those plans were later cancelled.)

For the rest of the study area, the state concluded that, even though projected 1990 traffic volumes called for a four-lane Route 32:

• Existing Route 32 was in pretty good geometric shape
• The nearby Connecticut Turnpike (now I-395) was underused
• Expanding or realigning the right of way would affect hundreds of properties

... so that the cost and impact of major widening could not be justified.

Interchange at I-95 revamped

The original Route 32 interchange at I-95 dates back to 1943, when the latter was a US 1 expressway. See the Route 32A entry, below, for a map of the original interchange.

In 1975, another span was added to the Gold Star Bridge, expanding I-95 to five lanes in each direction across the Thames River. At the same time, the interchange with Route 32 was upgraded, leading to the short section of freeway we see today. Even though in practical terms it ends at I-95, Route 32 officially crosses I-95 to end at Crystal Avenue (SR 437).

The town of Montville and the Mohegans (who operate the nearby Mohegan Sun casino) are discussing ways to improve Route 32 near the town hall and Route 163, including a village center with sidewalks, benches and old-fashioned streetlamps. In recent years, the tribe have installed water, sewer and gas mains along Route 32, which town officials hope will entice developers.

Minor improvements will also be done in Mansfield, which is concerned that no "character-altering changes" are done to the road. A scenic road designation would help enforce this, but it appears Route 32 in the area does not qualify.

• Connecticut State Highway Department. "A Report to the Highway Users of Connecticut: 1960-1961."
• "State lists road program for Mansfield, Willington." Hartford Times, April 25, 1962.
• "Survey Plots Expressway Plans." Hartford Times, Jan. 1, 1963.
• Connecticut Interregional Planning Program. "Connecticut: Choices for Action." 1966.
• Connecticut Department of Transportation. "Planning Study: Route 32, Waterford - Montville - Norwich." December 1970.
• "Regional Transportation Plan for the Windham Region / 2001 Update." Windham Regional Council of Governments, August 29, 2001.
• "Town asks Mohegans to help spruce up Route 32." The Day [New London, Conn.], Feb. 21, 2002.

• Unbuilt CT 32 expressway (Steve Anderson)
• Aerial photos (Greg Amy; Route 32 freeway interchange with I-95)

When the four-lane section of Route 32 in Waterford and New London opened circa 1941, the old section (Williams St and Old Norwich Rd) was marked Route 32A. I've just seen this once, in the New London city inset shown, so I don't know how long it lasted.