5.78 miles in state; from US 5 in Enfield to MA 83/186 in East Longmeadow, Mass. Route 220 is one of a few L-shaped roads in Connecticut, with an east-west segment from US 5 to Shaker Road (SR 404), and a north-south segment from there into Massachusetts.

Route 220 was commissioned circa 1938, leading from Route 192 east and north to the state line: a total of 2.90 miles. On Oct. 7, 1963, it was extended westward along Shaker Road and Elm Street to US 5.

Alternate Route 190 proposed

In the late 1990s, the Capitol Region Council of Governments initiated a study of Route 190 in Enfield and Somers, to address projected traffic increases on the road. A major widening was ruled out. However, in a December 2000 meeting the idea surfaced to extend Route 220 eastward instead of north, to end at Route 186 or Route 83 in Somers. This way, Route 220 could serve as a northern alternative to Route 190.

• "Town, State Exchanging 7 Miles of Road Ways." Hartford Courant, Sept. 26, 1963.
• "Enfield talks about better Route 190." Journal Inquirer (Manchester, Conn.), December 12, 2000.

• Route 220 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 220 - Google Maps

8.08 miles; from US 6 in Thomaston to Route 118 in Harwinton.

In the late 1920s through 1931, today's Route 203 was called state highway 222.

The modern Route 222 was created from a mix of local and state roads in 1963. North Main Street in Thomaston was once part of Route 8. The southern portion of Hill Road is relatively new, created when the Thomaston Flood Control reservoir and dam were completed in 1960. A bill was introduced in Nov. 1960 to add this 2.6-mile road to the state highway system. Hill Road in Harwinton, from the Thomaston town line north to Route 118 was formerly SR 722: the origin of Route 222's eventual number.

• "Route 722 Bill To Be Introduced." Hartford Courant, Nov. 28, 1960.
• "Shanley Reports Relocated Roads Are Completed." Hartford Courant, Dec. 9, 1960.
• "Rudolph Diulio Resigns Post As Constable." Hartford Courant, Jan. 13, 1962. (Mentions 222 addition.)
• "8 Items of Business To Face Town Meeting." Hartford Courant, Oct. 2, 1964.

• Route 222 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 222 - Google Maps

In 1930 and 1931, State Highway 224 followed Cherry Hill Road in Middlefield (which then became the pre-1963 Route 159.

In 1930 and 1931, State Highway 226 followed East Center Street and Northford Road (part of old Route 150) from US 5 in Wallingford to Route 17 in North Branford.

5.94 miles; from I-84 in Southington to US 6 in Bristol. Route 229 is four lanes wide along Middle Street between West Street and Redstone Hill Road. Its most famous resident, on the four-lane section, is the headquarters of ESPN.

Until the late 1950s, the future Route 229 was a series of locally maintained streets -- King Street and Middle Street in Bristol, and West Street in Southington.

In 1957, Southington officials began lobbying the state to take over West Street, as traffic was increasing between Southington and Bristol. The state demurred, saying Route 10 was sufficient as a parallel route. As the location of future I-84 became more definite, it became apparent traffic on West Street would increase even more, as a southern connection to Bristol. The state accepted the road from Hart Street (near the proposed I-84 interchange) to the Bristol town line as SR 491 on Oct. 14, 1959.

On Feb. 21, 1961, the state highway department approved bills submitted by Bristol officials to add King and Middle Streets to the state highway system. On Aug. 20, 1962, the state took over those streets.

In 1963, West, Middle and King Streets became Route 229.

Overpass at US 6 once requested

In 1961, Bristol officials, concerned about traffic tieups at King Street and US 6, asked the state to build an overpass there. The state declined; if they had agreed, today's Route 229 terminus at US 6 would be some sort of interchange.

Four lanes, or two?

In the early 1970s, the state was planning to reconstruct Route 229 from I-84 to the Bristol town line, and widen it to four lanes. In early 1974, however, the state announced the plan had changed to two lanes, with 8-foot shoulders.

In February 1980, the state announced plans to narrow a four-lane section of Route 229 in Bristol to two lanes, to improve safety and traffic flow. The affected section was from Redstone Hill Road to the town line. I don't know if this work took place.

"Besides, the view of the McDonald's on Connecticut's Route 229 across from ESPN headquarters is not that romantic."

• "State To Accept West St. Area In Southington." Hartford Courant, Oct. 10, 1959.
• "Hogan Introduces Bill For Highway Bypass." Hartford Courant, Jan. 12, 1961.
• "Department Approves Two Road Takeovers." Hartford Courant, Feb. 22, 1961.
• "Road Project Down to 2 Lanes." Hartford Courant, Jan. 26, 1974.
• "State Plans To Make Rt. 229 2-Lane, Citing Safety." Hartford Courant, Feb. 20, 1980.
• "TV A Dramatic Replay Of ESPN's Big Show." Washington Post, Jan. 31, 1999.

• Route 229 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 229 - Google Maps

6.96 miles; from Route 27 to US 1 in Stonington. The state considers Route 234 a scenic road, as it climbs down a bluff toward the ocean. The Danbury News-Times writes:

In late 1930, Stonington officials passed a resolution to ask the state to incorporate Pequot Trail as a state road. This was eventually approved, as in 1932 it became part of the new state Route 84, leading from Groton to Pawcatuck via Old Mystic.

Around 1935, the eastern part of Route 84 (now Route 184) was relocated away from Pequot Trail to the Providence - New London Turnpike, a more direct route between those cities. Pequot Trail was eventually dropped from the state highway system.

In 1963, the Pequot Trail became secret route SR 645; it was promoted to signed Route 234 on Sept. 1, 1987.

• "Will Ask Pequot Trail Be Made State Road." Hartford Courant, Sept. 30, 1930.

• Route 234 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 234 - Google Maps

6.70 miles; from Route 115 in Ansonia to Route 63 in New Haven.

Commissioned in 1963. Before that, the section of Ansonia Road and Fountain Street east of Route 114 was part of an earlier alignment of Route 114. West of there, Ansonia Road was SR 552. In 1951, Route 114 was moved to its present location.

• Route 243 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 243 - Google Maps

5.72 miles; from Route 198 in Eastford to Route 97 in Pomfret. A 3.1-mile section from Route 97 to Chase Pond Road is a state scenic road.

Route 244 is part of the 19th-century Boston Turnpike, a toll road leading from Hartford toward Boston by way of Manchester, Coventry, Ashford, Pomfret and Thompson. The turnpike was established in 1797 and was disbanded in 1879. A former tollhouse is still visible from Route 244.

The road used to be called secret route SR 622, and was promoted to signed Route 244 on Feb. 1, 1988.

Am I scenic or not?

The start of Route 244 westbound, as seen from Route 97. Photo taken Sept. 2002 by Kurumi.

On Feb. 21, 2003, the state designated a portion of Route 244 as scenic: 3.1 miles, from Route 97 to Chase Pond Road.

"I took a shortcut between Willimantic and Putnam when I selected State Route 244 in lieu of U.S. Route 44. All I got for my trouble was a very steep (about 15%) hill coming up from the bridge over a small river. I muttered about that one a lot - thankfully it wasn't a very long hill. I think I saved a mile or two, but I don't think I saved any time." - Gary Nero, describing a segment of his cross-country bike trip

• Route Change Notice, ConnDOT, Feb. 2, 1988.
• "Route 244 in Eastford and Pomfret proposed as a Scenic Road.' Press release, ConnDOT, Nov. 21, 2002.
• "Route 244: Officially scenic?" Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Dec. 9, 2002.
• "'Scenic' status for Route 244." Editorial, Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Dec. 12, 2002.
• Cole, Matt. "CT 244 scenic designation." Personal email, May 24, 2003.

• Route 244 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 244 - Google Maps

8.41 miles; from SR 848 (Waterbury Rd) in Thomaston to Route 118 in Litchfield.

As of Jan. 25, 2002, a 3.98-mile segment of Route 254 in Litchfield is designated a state scenic road. The designation runs from Camp Hill Road to Route 118.

Commissioned in 1963 from the former SR 854, Route 254 was one of several new routes given numbers alluding to their former "secret" route numbers.

In summer 1970, the southeastern 0.7 miles of Route 254 was moved to a new 2-lane highway. This had been studied since the early 1960s, while the road was still SR 854. Litchfield Road is the old alignment.

• Connecticut State Highway Dept. Transcript of public hearing: relocation of S.R. 854, Thomaston-Litchfield... (I haven't had access to this document yet, but it does set a date for the public hearing.)
• "Board to Request Intersection Study." Hartford Courant, Nov. 15, 1969.
• "Final Touches Prepare New Rt. 254 for Use." Hartford Courant, June 5, 1970.
• "Portions of Routes 63, 118, 254 and 202 in Litchfield designated as scenic roads." ConnDOT press release, Jan. 25, 2002.

• Route 254 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 254 - Google Maps