7.36 miles; from US 5/Route 15 in Berlin to Route 17 in Glastonbury. Route 160 crosses the Connecticut River on the oldest continuously operating ferry in the United States (though the ferry shuts down when the river freezes over). A 1.06-mile section in Glastonbury, between Roaring Brook and the ferry, is a state scenic road.

In Rocky Hill, Route 160 is ignored (no interchange) by I-91, because of its proximity to the planned but canceled I-291 interchange. To the west, Route 160 shares a four-lane section of road with Route 3.

In 1655, the ferry across the Connecticut River started service, as a raft guided by long poles.

In the 1920s, State Highway 160 followed today's Route 177, from Plainville (route 372) to Canton (US 44).

The modern Route 160 was commissioned in 1932, and is basically unchanged since then. In Sept. 1960, however, Glastonbury state representatives submitted a bill asking that Hopewell Road be added to the state highway system. This road, leading eastward from Route 17 in South Glastonbury to New London Turnpike (near (Route 2)), was deemed a logical extension of Route 160 by town officials. However, the Hopewell Road request did not pass the General Assembly, and it never became a state road.

Commuters: Rate hikes on ferry 'all wet'

(My attempt at a New York Post-style headline) In September 2003, the state raised fares significantly on both the Route 148 and Route 160 ferries: from $2.25 to $5 per vehicle, and from $0.75 to $1.75 per additional passenger or cyclist. A discounted advance purchase plan, at about 50 percent off, has been discontinued.

This was not popular.

The DOT said the rate hike was required by the state's budget implementation bills; and in the remarks of Chris Cooper, communications director, the seasonal ferry "could hardly be considered part of the state's transportation infrastructure." However, Route 160 does serve commuter traffic between the two Hartford suburbs it connects; operators say about 40 percent of its riders are commuters.

Some drivers are worried that the rate hikes are behind a plan to scale back or even stop the ferry service. Even though ConnDOT assures that this will not happen, activists point out that ridership will decrease (demand curve, Econ 101) and it will appear that the ferry is underused or not needed.

Extend east along Chestnut Hill Road to Route 83 in East Glastonbury. At least one map error agrees with me (aka "mappo," analogous to "typo").

• "Scoville and Connery Submit 5 Bills for General Assembly." Hartford Courant, Sept. 28, 1960.
• "Chances Seen as Dim On Takeover of Road." Hartford Courant, Apr. 2, 1961. (New York Post version: "No Hope for Hopewell" :-)
• "Riders blast 120 percent hike in river ferry fee." Middletown Press, Sept. 1, 2003.
• "Fare Increases Concern Ferry Users." Hartford Courant, Sept. 2, 2003.
• "Activists push for improvements in Rocky Hill-Glastonbury ferry." Stamford Advocate, Nov. 2, 2003.

• Route 148, whose Chester-Hadlyme ferry also crosses the Connecticut River
• Route 160 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

8.03 miles; from Route 156 in East Lyme to Route 85 in Montville.

In the 1920s, State Highway 161 followed what is now Route 302, between Route 58 and the Newtown Turnpike.

The modern Route 161 was commissioned in 1932, originally between US 1 and Route 85 only. It was extended south around 1940.

In 1965, the state proposed relocating a small portion of Route 161 near E. Pattagansett Road to eliminate a dangerous curve. This was done sometime later, but I don't know when.

1970s: A (temporary) terminus for Route 11?

In October 1972, Route 11 opened between Route 2 in Colchester and Route 82 in Salem, but funding problems prevented further construction that would complete it to I-95. There was a planned interchange at Route 161 in Chesterfield.

As ConnDOT explored how to keep Route 11 moving, one of the options was to extend it to Route 161. East Lyme officials were concerned this would funnel Route 11 traffic onto the two-lane Route 161 toward I-95. However, this was one of a few options (and the Route 11 controversy continues to this day), and Route 161 has not been marshalled in this cause.

Route 11's primary cause for completion is to relieve traffic hazards and congestion on parallel Route 85. It's unlikely any partial Route 11 extension, which would not completely solve the problem, would be approved.

According to ZZYZX, the best Dr. Pepper in the world can be found on a Route 161 store just off I-95. As the 1970s state tourism slogan goes: "So Much, So Near."

• "Highway Relocation Fails to Win Support." Hartford Courant, Dec. 10, 1965.
• "Work Deadline Unsure For Rt. 161 Relocation." Hartford Courant, Mar. 21, 1967.
• "Department Says Funds Short for Road." Hartford Courant, Aug. 12, 1973.
• "Selectmen To Discuss Highway Items." Hartford Courant, Apr. 17, 1974. (regarding proposed Rt. 11 extension to Rt. 161)
• "East Lyme Board Opposes Linkups to Rt. 161." Hartford Courant, Dec. 9, 1977.

10.38 miles; from US 1 in Milford to US 1 in Orange.

In the 1920s, State Highway 162 followed today's Route 72 between Berlin (US 5) and New Britain.

The modern Route 162 was commissioned in 1932, but started out a bit shorter: everything west of Ocean Avenue (SR 705) was part of Route 122. In 1967, Route 162 was extended to where it is now.

• Route 162 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

12.86 miles; from Route 32 in Montville to SR 612 (just north of Route 2) in Bozrah.

In the 1920s, the segment north of Route 82 was known as State Highway 170.

Commissioned in 1932, the modern Route 163 existed between Routes 32 and 82 only. By 1936, the segment to Route 2 was added.

• Route 163 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

7.83 miles; from Route 138 in Griswold to Route 2 in Preston. Shares an interchange at I-395 with Route 138.

In the 1920s, State Highway 164 followed today's (Route 83) between South Manchester and East Glastonbury.

The modern Route 164 was commissioned in 1932, and has had few if any changes since then.

In the 1960s, the region proposed a freeway along the Route 117 and Route 164 corridors, connecting I-395 to Route 2A in Ledyard and I-95 in Groton.

In 1979, the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Planning Agency recommended a smaller-scale connection, uniting Routes 164 and 117 to create another north-south route from Groton to Jewett City. This would relieve traffic on nearby Route 12.

The improvements would include reconstructing Route 117, realigning Church Hill Rd. and Fanning Rd., and building a 1-mile extension from there to meet Route 164 at Route 2.

Late 1990s traffic studies in the area have recommended upgrades for Route 164, since it's the most direct route from Foxwoods to I-395 and points north. The upgrades would be minor, including uniform lane width, wider shoulders, and fixes to a few intersections. (The freeway proposal is not being revived.)

• "Transportation Plan Filed." Hartford Courant, Jan. 30, 1979.

• Route 164 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)