Connecticut Routes 35-39

About 27 miles; from US 7 in Ridgefield to US 9 in Peekskill, N. Y. (keeps its number across the state line). 5.66 miles in Connecticut.

In the 1920s, Route 35 was part of New England route NE-3, a progenitor to today's US 6.

The modern Route 35, commissioned in 1932, has only moved a little since then. Its original route into New York State was along West Lane; in 1933 or 1934, it was relocated to South Salem Road, and West Lane became Route 35A. (Route 35 must have been relocated in New York as well for continuity; and New York may have driven this decision.)

Proposed freeway for Route 35 (or 34, or 110)

Grander plans were in the wings for Route 35 a few decades ago. A 1956 New York plan called for a Route 35 expressway from Peekskill to Ridgefield, following CT 102 to meet the proposed US 7 expressway.

In 1969, the Tri-State Transportation Commission proposed an expansion of the freeway to New Haven via Monroe, Derby, and the Route 34 alignment. So would it be called 35, or 34? The TSTC instead called it the "Conn. 110 Expressway," citing its benefits as:

East-west route through the former Fairfield County. Fills 18-mile gap in regional highway grid. Connects rapidly developing suburbs. Extends stub-end expressway.

A few comments: "former Fairfield County" alludes to Connecticut's dissolution of county governments in 1960 (no, Westport did not slide into the sea). The "stub-end expressway" is Route 34 in New Haven. Route 110 does have an east-west portion in the corridor between Monroe and Derby, and is closest to the proposed alignment in that area. And finally, the TSTC was at the time quite interested in completing highway grids, filling gaps, and other geometric temptations. This made for some interesting ideas that had little chance of realization. (Digressing even further, today's Tri-State Transportation Campaign (www.tstc.org) considers highways evil.)

In 1975, the Regional Plan Association urged Connecticut not to proceed with its part of the plan. I haven't seen mention of reviving it since then.

Traffic is growing on the Route 35 corridor, but plans to address this do not include the freeway proposal from the 1960s. In 2003, the town of Ridgefield is studying Route 35 traffic and figuring out ways to ease congestion. Problems include: lots of on-street parking and delivery trucks stopped in traffic lanes; and people using Routes 35 and 33 as a "Route 7A" alternative to clogged US 7.

Improvements could include widening Route 35 or building a roundabout at its intersection with Route 33. The study should be completed in late 2004.

"Tri-State Transportation 1985; an interim plan." Tri-State Transportation Commission, 1966.
"Report Asserts Fairfield Needs No New Expressways for Years." New York Times, Feb. 13, 1975.
"As Route 35 traffic grows, so does call for regional planning." New York Times, May 8, 1988.
"Ridgefield to study traffic congestion." News 12 Connecticut, June 18, 2003.

NY/CT 35 expressway (history, Steve Anderson)
Route 35 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

No longer assigned. Route 35A was commissioned in 1933 or 1934, as West Lane from Route 35 to the New York state line. In 1932, this had been part of the newly created Route 35 itself.

In 1963, Route 35A was renumbered to unsigned SR 835.

18.66 miles; from the I-84/US 6/US 7/US 202/CT 39/CT 53 interchange in Danbury to US 7 in New Milford.

Commissioned in 1932, with few changes since then. Old Route 37 near New Fairfield center is evidence of a slight rerouting in the past. Before 1932, Route 37 was known as State Highway 136.

In 1922, a portion of SH 136 (future Route 37) north of Coburn Road was shifted eastward in Sherman.

CT 37 Sherman Center Bypass concept

The Sherman Center Bypass proposal

Heading northbound toward Sherman Center, Route 37 undergoes a sharp turn to the right before intersecting Route 39, and both routes continue to the center of town. In 1978, the town's Plan of Development included a proposal for a Route 37 bypass, which would both eliminate the sharp curve and decrease thru traffic in the center.

The first phase would carry Route 37 on 3,300 feet of new alignment to meet Route 39 north of the Town Hall. A spur would connect the bypass to the town center, intersecting Route 37/39 south of Sawmill Road. Another phase, with 1,900 feet of new construction, would continue the bypass to end at Route 37 with Holiday Point Road.

However, the bypass was never formally studied. In 1990, ConnDOT stated that traffic projections for the next 20 years did not warrant building the bypass. By 2001, the project was no longer in the town's Master Plan.

The Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials (HVCEO) recommends widening Route 37 to four lanes for a short distance, from the vicinity of its start at Route 53 to Jeannette Road. A 1996 traffic study recommended the widening, and in 1999 the city council approved a motion to apply for a $6 million grant (state and federal money) for the project. Some turning lanes would be added, and traffic signals upgraded.

Route 37 not only intersects, but crosses Route 39 twice. No two other state highways cross twice. Also, at New Fairfield Center, where 37 and 39 cross, there are two short side streets called Old Route 37 and Old Route 39.

"Study calls for a wider, better Rt. 37: Traffic grows too heavy for two lanes." Danbury News-Times, Feb. 23, 1996.
"City to seek grants to widen Route 37." Danbury News-Times, March 3, 1999.
HVCEO Transportation recommendations: CT 37, Danbury
Town ordinances, town of Sherman, Conn.; http://www.townofsherman.org/Section_4_01.htm.

HVCEO Transportation Planning: Route 37: Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman
Route 37 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

No longer assigned. In 1933 or 1934, Route 37A was created in New Fairfield and Danbury, inheriting most of its route from the short-lived Route 100.

Starting at Route 37 northwest of New Fairfield Center, Route 37A followed Warwick Road down to Ball Pond Road (Route 39), and overlapped with Route 39 until the latter turned west on Milltown Road toward the New York border. Then Route 37A continued on Ball Pond Road and Clapboard Ridge Road toward central Danbury.

In 1963, Route 39 was relocated from Milltown Road to its modern routing into Danbury. Warwick road was turned over to the town, and Route 37A disappeared.

22.76 miles; from Route 55 in Sherman to I-84/US 6/US 7/US 202/CT 37/CT 53 in Danbury.

Commissioned in 1932, Route 39 originally extended from Route 55 in Sherman to Route 37 in New Fairfield center. South of there, the road to Danbury was called Route 100.

In 1933 or 1934, Route 37A was created, taking over most of Route 100; and Route 39 was extended along Ball Pond Road and Milltown Road to the New York state line.

In 1963, Route 37A was deleted, Route 39 was extended to Danbury, and the leftover portion of old Route 39 (Milltown Road) became unsigned SR 839.

Route 39 (and SR 839) in history

The town of Sherman website includes the text of the following state public act:

"AN ACT INCLUDING A HIGHWAY IN THE TOWN OF SHERMAN IN THE TRUNK LINE SYSTEM.

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

"The road commencing at the second district school house on route number 39 in the town of Sherman and extending westerly to the New York state line is included in the trunk line system of highways and shall be maintained by the highway commissioner.

Approved, June 20, 1939."

Route 39 not only intersects, but crosses Route 37 twice. No two other state highways cross twice. Also, at New Fairfield Center, where 37 and 39 cross, there are two short side streets called Old Route 37 and Old Route 39.

Most Connecticut towns assign street names (such as Hebron Avenue or Cottage Grove Road) to non-expressway highways. In Sherman, however, Route 39 is known only as "Route Thirty-Nine." Routes 37 and 55 are also known only by their numbers in Sherman.

The Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials recommends widening Route 39 to four lanes from Golden Hill Road to the vicinity of Danbury High School.

Route 39 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

Home > Roads > Connecticut > Routes 35-39

Updated Sept 5, 2004

Markers in the left margin for present-day routes are courtesy of Barry L. Camp.

This site is not affiliated with the State of Connecticut or the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Routes 36 and 38 have never existed.
	About 27 miles; from US 7 in Ridgefield to US 9 in Peekskill, N. Y. (keeps its number across the state line). 5.66 miles in Connecticut.
	In the 1920s, Route 35 was part of New England route NE-3, a progenitor to today's US 6. The modern Route 35, commissioned in 1932, has only moved a little since then. Its original route into New York State was along West Lane; in 1933 or 1934, it was relocated to South Salem Road, and West Lane became Route 35A. (Route 35 must have been relocated in New York as well for continuity; and New York may have driven this decision.) Proposed freeway for Route 35 (or 34, or 110) Grander plans were in the wings for Route 35 a few decades ago. A 1956 New York plan called for a Route 35 expressway from Peekskill to Ridgefield, following CT 102 to meet the proposed US 7 expressway. In 1969, the Tri-State Transportation Commission proposed an expansion of the freeway to New Haven via Monroe, Derby, and the Route 34 alignment. So would it be called 35, or 34? The TSTC instead called it the "Conn. 110 Expressway," citing its benefits as: East-west route through the former Fairfield County. Fills 18-mile gap in regional highway grid. Connects rapidly developing suburbs. Extends stub-end expressway. A few comments: "former Fairfield County" alludes to Connecticut's dissolution of county governments in 1960 (no, Westport did not slide into the sea). The "stub-end expressway" is Route 34 in New Haven. Route 110 does have an east-west portion in the corridor between Monroe and Derby, and is closest to the proposed alignment in that area. And finally, the TSTC was at the time quite interested in completing highway grids, filling gaps, and other geometric temptations. This made for some interesting ideas that had little chance of realization. (Digressing even further, today's Tri-State Transportation Campaign (www.tstc.org) considers highways evil.) In 1975, the Regional Plan Association urged Connecticut not to proceed with its part of the plan. I haven't seen mention of reviving it since then.
	Traffic is growing on the Route 35 corridor, but plans to address this do not include the freeway proposal from the 1960s. In 2003, the town of Ridgefield is studying Route 35 traffic and figuring out ways to ease congestion. Problems include: lots of on-street parking and delivery trucks stopped in traffic lanes; and people using Routes 35 and 33 as a "Route 7A" alternative to clogged US 7. Improvements could include widening Route 35 or building a roundabout at its intersection with Route 33. The study should be completed in late 2004.
	"Tri-State Transportation 1985; an interim plan." Tri-State Transportation Commission, 1966. "Report Asserts Fairfield Needs No New Expressways for Years." New York Times, Feb. 13, 1975. "As Route 35 traffic grows, so does call for regional planning." New York Times, May 8, 1988. "Ridgefield to study traffic congestion." News 12 Connecticut, June 18, 2003.
	NY/CT 35 expressway (history, Steve Anderson) Route 35 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

	No longer assigned. Route 35A was commissioned in 1933 or 1934, as West Lane from Route 35 to the New York state line. In 1932, this had been part of the newly created Route 35 itself. In 1963, Route 35A was renumbered to unsigned SR 835.

	18.66 miles; from the I-84/US 6/US 7/US 202/CT 39/CT 53 interchange in Danbury to US 7 in New Milford.
	Commissioned in 1932, with few changes since then. Old Route 37 near New Fairfield center is evidence of a slight rerouting in the past. Before 1932, Route 37 was known as State Highway 136. In 1922, a portion of SH 136 (future Route 37) north of Coburn Road was shifted eastward in Sherman. The Sherman Center Bypass proposal Heading northbound toward Sherman Center, Route 37 undergoes a sharp turn to the right before intersecting Route 39, and both routes continue to the center of town. In 1978, the town's Plan of Development included a proposal for a Route 37 bypass, which would both eliminate the sharp curve and decrease thru traffic in the center. The first phase would carry Route 37 on 3,300 feet of new alignment to meet Route 39 north of the Town Hall. A spur would connect the bypass to the town center, intersecting Route 37/39 south of Sawmill Road. Another phase, with 1,900 feet of new construction, would continue the bypass to end at Route 37 with Holiday Point Road. However, the bypass was never formally studied. In 1990, ConnDOT stated that traffic projections for the next 20 years did not warrant building the bypass. By 2001, the project was no longer in the town's Master Plan.
	The Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials (HVCEO) recommends widening Route 37 to four lanes for a short distance, from the vicinity of its start at Route 53 to Jeannette Road. A 1996 traffic study recommended the widening, and in 1999 the city council approved a motion to apply for a $6 million grant (state and federal money) for the project. Some turning lanes would be added, and traffic signals upgraded.
	Route 37 not only intersects, but crosses Route 39 twice. No two other state highways cross twice. Also, at New Fairfield Center, where 37 and 39 cross, there are two short side streets called Old Route 37 and Old Route 39.
	"Study calls for a wider, better Rt. 37: Traffic grows too heavy for two lanes." Danbury News-Times, Feb. 23, 1996. "City to seek grants to widen Route 37." Danbury News-Times, March 3, 1999. HVCEO Transportation recommendations: CT 37, Danbury Town ordinances, town of Sherman, Conn.; http://www.townofsherman.org/Section_4_01.htm.
	HVCEO Transportation Planning: Route 37: Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman Route 37 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

	No longer assigned. In 1933 or 1934, Route 37A was created in New Fairfield and Danbury, inheriting most of its route from the short-lived Route 100. Starting at Route 37 northwest of New Fairfield Center, Route 37A followed Warwick Road down to Ball Pond Road (Route 39), and overlapped with Route 39 until the latter turned west on Milltown Road toward the New York border. Then Route 37A continued on Ball Pond Road and Clapboard Ridge Road toward central Danbury. In 1963, Route 39 was relocated from Milltown Road to its modern routing into Danbury. Warwick road was turned over to the town, and Route 37A disappeared.

	22.76 miles; from Route 55 in Sherman to I-84/US 6/US 7/US 202/CT 37/CT 53 in Danbury.
	Commissioned in 1932, Route 39 originally extended from Route 55 in Sherman to Route 37 in New Fairfield center. South of there, the road to Danbury was called Route 100. In 1933 or 1934, Route 37A was created, taking over most of Route 100; and Route 39 was extended along Ball Pond Road and Milltown Road to the New York state line. In 1963, Route 37A was deleted, Route 39 was extended to Danbury, and the leftover portion of old Route 39 (Milltown Road) became unsigned SR 839. Route 39 (and SR 839) in history The town of Sherman website includes the text of the following state public act: "AN ACT INCLUDING A HIGHWAY IN THE TOWN OF SHERMAN IN THE TRUNK LINE SYSTEM. "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: "The road commencing at the second district school house on route number 39 in the town of Sherman and extending westerly to the New York state line is included in the trunk line system of highways and shall be maintained by the highway commissioner. Approved, June 20, 1939."
	Route 39 not only intersects, but crosses Route 37 twice. No two other state highways cross twice. Also, at New Fairfield Center, where 37 and 39 cross, there are two short side streets called Old Route 37 and Old Route 39. Most Connecticut towns assign street names (such as Hebron Avenue or Cottage Grove Road) to non-expressway highways. In Sherman, however, Route 39 is known only as "Route Thirty-Nine." Routes 37 and 55 are also known only by their numbers in Sherman.
	The Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials recommends widening Route 39 to four lanes from Golden Hill Road to the vicinity of Danbury High School.
	HVCEO Transportation recommendations: CT 39
	Route 39 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)