15.91 miles; from Route 74 in Tolland to Route 66 in Windham. Route 195 is four lanes wide in small sections at I-84 and US 6. Its primary traffic generator is the University of Connecticut main campus at Storrs (Go Huskies).

Route 195 follows the old Mansfield and Windham Turnpike, a stage route incorporated in 1800 and in operation until at least 1828. Mansfield Four Corners (at US 44) had a post office and toll house constructed in 1808.

In the 1920s, a portion of Route 195 (from Route 89 to US 44) was called State Highway 146.

In 1932, the original Route 195 was laid out, extending 5.62 miles from Route 89 at Mansfield Center to US 44. Leading south from Mansfield Center was a longer Route 89 that continued to Lebanon. North of US 44, today's Route 195 was in 1932 not numbered.

In 1963, Route 195 was extended north to Route 74 in Tolland, as part of the statewide Route Reclassification.

On Dec. 1, 1964, Route 195 was extended south to US 6 (now Route 66), replacing Route 89, which was truncated at their junction. I'm guessing this was done to provide a more direct route to the University of Connecticut from US 6. The Hartford Courant article announcing the change reads: "State highway officials could not be contacted to determine the reason for the change Monday night." And the story was not followed up.

Route 195 Bypass once planned

In 1970, the state proposed building a "Super 4" bypass (four lanes, undivided, but with grade separations) for Route 195 west of the University of Connecticut. In March 1971, the state released a more detailed study, including a recommended corridor ("B") of the three that were examined.

The $13.8 million highway would be 52 feet wide, 4 lanes undivided, with a 150 foot right of way. Access would be controlled, but all intersections would be at-grade.

The preferred alignment would start at US 6 (formerly I-84) west of Route 95. The highway would overpass Meadow Brook Ln., then intersect Puddin Ln., Crane Hill Rd., Browns Rd., Spring Hill Rd. and Maple Rd. After overpassing Davis Rd., the highway would intersect Route 275.

North of Route 275, all three corridors were identical, and would be integrated in the west leg of a proposed loop highway around the University of Connecticut. Going slightly east of Separatist Rd., the planned highway would intersect SSR 430, and US 44 (formerly US 44A) before ending at current Route 195, west of Cedar Swamp Rd.

In Jan. 1972, the Mansfield Transportation Committee recommended that the state delay the bypass, but retain the design work done for future use. The state said there were no funds for the bypass, and nothing would be considered until I-84 (now I-384) was completed to Hartford. Meanwhile, state and town agreed to do no major widening of Route 195, to "preserve the historical and residential nature of the road."

By 1978, the plan was considered inactive, and has not been resuscitated since then.

Increasing Traffic Spurs Studies

Both the University of Connecticut and growth in Tolland have contributed to more traffic on Route 195. In 1978 the Windham Regional Planning Agency (WRPA) issued "Analysis of the Route 195 Corridor Transportation Needs", with some recommendations that have been followed. It was widened between Eastbrook Mall (near US 6) and Puddin Lane at some point; and its intersection with US 44 (Mansfield Four Corners) was reconstructed in 1992.

The planned Interstate 84 eastern extension would have affected Route 195 traffic as well. Its cancellation led to the "I-84 Interstate Trade-in Concept Plan," a series of improvement projects to handle east-west traffic in the Windham and Killingly areas. These included upgrades to Route 195 between US 44 and US 6.

In the 1990s, these projects were re-evaluated amidst a growing sentiment of preservation of rural character; in particular, Mansfield opposes any changes to the character of the road. Around 1993, ConnDOT proposed adding Route 195 to the National Highway System, making it eligible for certain federal funding; Mansfield appealed to drop it and won. In 1994, the town applied for scenic road designation, which was not granted.

As town and state could not agree on the scope of work to be done, no major work has been done on Route 195 in Mansfield.

In 1999, the state widened the area at I-84 in Tolland to four lanes, including a wider overpass (about 67 feet, including four 12-foot travel lanes, two 5-foot shoulders, and a 5-foot sidewalk).

A planned new road through UConn's North Campus connecting US 44 with North Eagleville Road (SSR 430) would relieve some Route 195 congestion.

• "Highway numbering reassigned." The Hartford Courant, Dec. 8, 1964.
• "Report on Highway Link Idea Received." The Hartford Courant, Mar. 5, 1971.
• "State urged to delay I-84 bypass." The Hartford Courant, Jan. 10, 1972.
• "Regional Transportation Plan for the Windham Region / 2001 Update." Windham Regional Council of Governments, August 29, 2001.
• Milone & MacBroom Inc. "Bridge Design." http://www.miloneandmacbroom.com/bridge.html (8 Aug. 2002)
• Mansfield (Conn.) Historical Society. "Postal Lore." http://207.158.228.99/postal.htm (24 Dec. 2003)

• Route 195 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 195 - Google Maps

5.38 miles; from Route 151 in East Haddam to Route 66 in East Hampton.

In the 1920s, State Highway 196 was the name for modern-day Route 199.

The modern Route 196 was commissioned in 1932; no changes since then.

• Route 196 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 196 - Google Maps

From Route 171 in Union to MA 12 in Webster, Mass. 10.97 miles in Connecticut.

Commissioned in 1932, Route 197 used to follow the route of the old Center Turnpike, which started at the Tolland Courthouse and continued to within a few miles of Boston. Route 197 itself started at Route 32 near where I-84 intersects it today. Much of that route is now abandoned by the state. To find the old Route 197, see driving directions below.

In 1941, most of the section between Routes 32 and 89 was dropped; the official route started 1.34 miles west of Route 89, and continued 17.03 miles to the state line.

Between 1944 and 1947, Route 197 was shortened again: now 3.78 miles, from Route 169 to the state line.

In 1963, Route 197 was extended west to Route 171, as part of the statewide Route Reclassification.

Driving the Old Route 197

Although the route between Routes 32 and 320 was buried by the Wilbur Cross Highway in the 1940s, you can still drive most of the old Route 197/Center Pike through Ashford and Woodstock.

Get off I-84 at Route 320; proceed south. Turn left on Old Turnpike Road, just south of I-84. This is the start of the remains of the old Route 197.

As you approach Westford, Route 89 will join you from the left, and veer to the right about a mile later. Keep going straight. The road will become Boston Hollow Road, then Centre Pike.

At North Ashford, you'll intersect Route 171. Continue straight. The road will become Old Turnpike Road as you enter Woodstock.

In a few miles, you'll meet the modern Route 197. The old Route 197 continued into Massachusetts as well.

Renumber as part of a new cross-state Route 16 to connect with MA 16. (Old Route 16 would become part of Route 138.)

• Route 197 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 197 - Google Maps

24 miles; from US 6 in Chaplin to MA 131/169 in Southbridge, Mass. 19.22 miles in Connecticut.

Route 198 was commissioned in 1932, and originally followed Bigelow Hollow Road, leading from the old Route 15 (later upgraded to I-84) in Union to the old Route 91 (now part of Route 171) in Kenyonville.

By 1942, the route (or at least the state-maintained part) had shrunk to 2.60 miles, from the Union/Eastford town line to Route 91.

Between 1947 and 1949, its official definition was re-extended to Route 15, for a length of 8.99 miles. Between 1952 and 1954, it was extended along Buckley Highway to the new Route 15 freeway, for a length of 9.45 miles. This probably happened in concert with the deletion of Route 15A along the Buckley Highway.

In 1959, the state route 91 numbering was deleted, to avoid conflicts with the new Interstate 91. Phoenixville Road, Chaplin Road, and Eastford Road (from US 6 to today's Route 171) were given to Route 198, which now extended 21.35 miles, from US 6 to Route 15.

In 1963, Routes 198 and 171 (along with dozens of others) were re-arranged, and 198 was relocated along Black Pond Road and Eastford Road into Massachusetts.

In 1998, Route 198 officially shrunk 0.05 mile as the US 6 reconstruction moved its intersection that far north.

• State route 91
• State route 171
• Route 198 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 198 - Google Maps

4.62 miles; from Route 67 in Roxbury to Route 47 in Washington.

From 1932 to 1935, Route 199 was the number for the portion of US 44 leading west from US 7 into New York state. The rest of today's US 44 was part of the old Route 101.

At the time, today's Route 199 was called Route 131.

In 1935, US 44 was created, and routes 101, 131 and 199 were moved. Route 199 was now 9.30 miles long, as shown from south to north:

• South St., from Roxbury Falls to Route 67
• Overlap with Route 67 to North St.
• North St. and Roxbury Rd. to Route 47 (this segment is today's Route 199)

In 1951, a segment leading from Route 67 (now SR 867 at Bridgewater Center was added, along Hut Hill Road and Minor Bridge Road, connecting to Route 199's south end. The new route, 12.37 miles long, followed a "U" shape south of Route 67, which it intersected twice.

The Roxbury Garnet Mine is one of the industries that led to several Connecticut boom towns in the past that are largely ghost towns now. No state highway serves Roxbury Falls now, and it appears that in the 1950s the state was looking to turn over that portion of Route 199 to the town. The entire route disappeared from the official state map in 1957 and 1959, though it reappeared in 1960 with a different cartographer.

In 1963, all of Route 199 south of Route 67 was turned over to town maintenance.

• Bridgewater Roads
• Route 199 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 199 - Google Maps