Almost all of today's Route 372 follows an old alignment of Route 72. West Street in Cromwell is the exception; for a while it was Route 18, and in 1963 became unsigned SR 525.

72 becomes 372

On Nov. 6, 1980, a segment of Route 72 freeway opened in Plainville, and Route 372 was designated along former Route 72. Here was its location at the time, from west to east:

• New Britain Avenue, from end of the Route 72 freeway in Plainville to New Britain
• W. Main Street, to Corbin Avenue
• Corbin Avenue, to the Willow Brook Connector (SR 571)
• SR 571, to its terminus at Route 72 (now Route 9)

For about 10 years, Route 372 was signed along the short freeway, formerly Route 72, which is now SR 571.

Around 1990, an extension of Route 9 opened from I-91 in Cromwell to the Berlin Turnpike, at the start of the Route 72 freeway. Route 9 was extended along Route 72 into downtown New Britain, and in 1992 was extended to the stack interchange at I-84 in Farmington. Route 372 was then removed from the SR 571 freeway and extended along Farmington Avenue (an older Route 72 alignment), former Route 72 east of the Berlin Turnpike to Route 3 in Cromwell, and West Street to end at Route 99.

Route 372, formerly 72, was the topic of this state general assembly exchange, discussing a bill to name a section of highway:

JIM BURNES: ...In the second case, on 5423, the language of the bill and the heading of the bill are inconsistent in that the title suggests I-84. The language of the bill designates Route 372. I-84 again is already named as the Yankee expressway and a technical correction, Route 372 runs easterly from Plainville to Berlin, not the other direction. So, it's something that you might want to have the staff just look at. The second bill...excuse me, any questions? Those were just technical in nature.

SEN CIOTTO: You say I-84 has already been named, Jim?

JIM BURNES: Yes, it's the Yankee expressway by Special Act 166 of the 1961 General Assembly. From the New York State line to the Connecticut River in Hartford.

SEN. CIOTTO: (mike not on).

JIM BURNES: (laughter). Again, the language says Route 372, which is not an expressway. That's old Route 72. So we're not exactly sure what the intent is here.

SEN. CIOTTO: (mike not on).

JIM BURNES: Chester Bowles highway from 91 down, you know...that was 1978.

SEN. CIOTTO: (mike not on).

JIM BURNES: Find an unnamed section perhaps, yes.

• Route 372 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 372 - Google Maps
• Route 72
• Route 18
• SR 571 (Kensington Connector)
• Route 372 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)