Connecticut Route 78

An earlier Route 78 existed in Windsor Locks, following today's Route 140 between Route 75 and Route 159. It was added around 1934 and deleted in 1951.

The Route 78 Freeway Plan

In the 1960s, Route 2 from Norwich to Stonington was added to the state's freeway plan. The remainder of Route 2, from Norwich to Hartford, was already planned as an freeway, and by the late 1960s much of it was complete. In 1970 or earlier, Rhode Island was planning a bypass route to alleviate congestion on US 1 in Westerly.

In February 1967, a corridor hearing for Route 2 in the Stonington area was held, to present a general location for the highway. That segment of the new Route 2 would run eastward from I-95 to the Rhode Island state line just south of White Rock Road, and continue as the planned Westerly Bypass after that.

Between the 1967 corridor hearing and a later hearing in Dec. 1969, the state decided to avoid confusion about the existing and proposed Route 2's by renaming the proposed freeway to Route 78.

In February 1970, the state conducted a design hearing, showing the specific location for the road and estimated schedule for construction. The final configuration would be a four-lane freeway from the state line to I-95, including an interchange at Liberty Street (existing Route 2). A full freeway interchange at I-95 would be built, including provisions for continuing Route 78 toward Norwich.

However, Route 78 would be built in stages. At first, a single bridge over the Pawcatuck River would be built, with ramps to and from Liberty Street. An overcrossing for Liberty Street would be built, and some excavation done west of there to prepare for future construction and provide fill for the river bridge.

In the next stage, a parallel span would be built over the Pawcatuck River, to the south of the first stage bridge. Then Route 78 would be extended westward as a divided highway to I-95 just west of North Anguilla Road. The interchange at Liberty street would be completed with two additional ramps.

After a full interchange with I-95, Route 78 would have continued toward Norwich (Feb. 1970 drawing; see larger picture).

At Interstate 95, only two of that interchange's eight ramps would be constructed at this stage: from Route 78 to I-95 southbound, and from I-95 northbound to Route 78 east. There was no funding for this stage yet, but the state hoped to obtain funding and begin construction by 1973. The 1975 Master Transportation Plan included a projected cost of $12.8 million for this stage.

In the future, the I-95 interchange would be made complete and Route 78 extended toward Norwich. This project was not part of the Stonington area design.

What really happened

In 1979, Route 78 opened as a modified stage 1 proposal: a 2-lane controlled-access highway (known as a "Super 2") from a half-interchange at Liberty Street (Route 2) eastward into Rhode Island. An overpass for Route 2 was built, wide enough for an eventual four-lane Route 78 freeway; and some excavation was done to the west.

Route 78 was never completed to I-95; the idea was probably abandoned in the early 1980s. Around 1983, a hook ramp was built from Route 2 eastbound to Route 78, going under the Route 2 bridge and crossing the Route 78 right of way. With increased tourist traffic in the late 1990s, dusting off the Route 78 plans might have made sense; however, the state opted for the more expedient solution of widening Route 2 to four lanes between I-95 and Route 78.

Long Island Bridge might have involved Route 78

One of the historical alternatives for a highway crossing of Long Island Sound was a proposed bridge from Orient Point, N. Y. to Watch Hill, R. I. If this were built, it probably would have extended I-495 over the Sound and connected to RI 78.

Then RI/CT 78 would have almost certainly been upgraded to four or more lanes, extended to I-95 in Connecticut, and become part of I-495.

For more information, see: Long Island Crossings

	6 miles; from Route 2 in Stonington to US 1 east of Westerly, Rhode Island. 0.43 miles in Connecticut. Route 78 serves heavy beach traffic in the summer.
	An earlier Route 78 existed in Windsor Locks, following today's Route 140 between Route 75 and Route 159. It was added around 1934 and deleted in 1951. The Route 78 Freeway Plan In the 1960s, Route 2 from Norwich to Stonington was added to the state's freeway plan. The remainder of Route 2, from Norwich to Hartford, was already planned as an freeway, and by the late 1960s much of it was complete. In 1970 or earlier, Rhode Island was planning a bypass route to alleviate congestion on US 1 in Westerly. In February 1967, a corridor hearing for Route 2 in the Stonington area was held, to present a general location for the highway. That segment of the new Route 2 would run eastward from I-95 to the Rhode Island state line just south of White Rock Road, and continue as the planned Westerly Bypass after that. Between the 1967 corridor hearing and a later hearing in Dec. 1969, the state decided to avoid confusion about the existing and proposed Route 2's by renaming the proposed freeway to Route 78. In February 1970, the state conducted a design hearing, showing the specific location for the road and estimated schedule for construction. The final configuration would be a four-lane freeway from the state line to I-95, including an interchange at Liberty Street (existing Route 2). A full freeway interchange at I-95 would be built, including provisions for continuing Route 78 toward Norwich. However, Route 78 would be built in stages. At first, a single bridge over the Pawcatuck River would be built, with ramps to and from Liberty Street. An overcrossing for Liberty Street would be built, and some excavation done west of there to prepare for future construction and provide fill for the river bridge. In the next stage, a parallel span would be built over the Pawcatuck River, to the south of the first stage bridge. Then Route 78 would be extended westward as a divided highway to I-95 just west of North Anguilla Road. The interchange at Liberty street would be completed with two additional ramps. After a full interchange with I-95, Route 78 would have continued toward Norwich (Feb. 1970 drawing; see larger picture). At Interstate 95, only two of that interchange's eight ramps would be constructed at this stage: from Route 78 to I-95 southbound, and from I-95 northbound to Route 78 east. There was no funding for this stage yet, but the state hoped to obtain funding and begin construction by 1973. The 1975 Master Transportation Plan included a projected cost of $12.8 million for this stage. In the future, the I-95 interchange would be made complete and Route 78 extended toward Norwich. This project was not part of the Stonington area design. What really happened In 1979, Route 78 opened as a modified stage 1 proposal: a 2-lane controlled-access highway (known as a "Super 2") from a half-interchange at Liberty Street (Route 2) eastward into Rhode Island. An overpass for Route 2 was built, wide enough for an eventual four-lane Route 78 freeway; and some excavation was done to the west. Route 78 was never completed to I-95; the idea was probably abandoned in the early 1980s. Around 1983, a hook ramp was built from Route 2 eastbound to Route 78, going under the Route 2 bridge and crossing the Route 78 right of way. With increased tourist traffic in the late 1990s, dusting off the Route 78 plans might have made sense; however, the state opted for the more expedient solution of widening Route 2 to four lanes between I-95 and Route 78. Long Island Bridge might have involved Route 78 One of the historical alternatives for a highway crossing of Long Island Sound was a proposed bridge from Orient Point, N. Y. to Watch Hill, R. I. If this were built, it probably would have extended I-495 over the Sound and connected to RI 78. Then RI/CT 78 would have almost certainly been upgraded to four or more lanes, extended to I-95 in Connecticut, and become part of I-495. For more information, see: Long Island Crossings
	Transcript of public hearing: relocation of Conn. 2, Stonington; from the Connecticut-Rhode Island state line to Interstate 95, Stonington; Feb. 23, 1967. Transcript of public hearing: construction of Conn. Route 78; Feb. 10, 1970. "1975 Master Transportation Plan." Connecticut Department of Transportation.
	Route 2 Long Island Crossings CT 2 (Steve Anderson) Michael G. Koerner's USGS map scan and discussion of the missing link between Route 78 and I-95. Route 78 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)