No longer assigned; before 1932, State Highway 350 followed today's US 6, between Watertown and Thomaston.

7.37 miles; from Route 82 in Salem to Route 85 in Colchester. It's a third alternate southbound route for those unwilling to take either Route 11 or 85 (actually, it's a nice drive).

Before 1932, State Highway 354 followed today's Route 97 south of Route 14 in Scotland.

The modern Route 354 was commissioned in 1963 from unposted SR 654, at the prompting of Colchester politician Ruby Cohen. Chairman of the state Appropriations Committee, he also convinced the state to signpost SR 658 from Colchester to Lebanon as an extension of Route 16.

Extension to Route 32 proposed

In 1973, Montville First Selectman Howard R. Beetham proposed that the state take over Old Colchester Road, which leads south-southeast from the Route 82/354 intersection to Route 32 in Waterford, just south of the Montville Connector. His reasoning: Old Colchester Road should be an extension of Route 354. (Also, the town would have saved about $225,000 in improvements.)

The state held a hearing about this. If it had accepted Old Colchester Road, Route 354 would have been about 10 miles longer. But the proposal was turned down.

• "Hearing To Air Road Control." Hartford Courant, Feb. 25, 1973.
• "The One and Only Ruby Cohen." Hometown News [Moodus, Conn.], August 1999.

Route 354 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

No longer assigned; before 1932, State Highway 356 followed today's Route 169 between Norwich and Route 138, and Route 138 eastward from there to Route 12.

No longer assigned; before 1932, State Highway 358 followed today's North Street in Greenwich, from US 1 to the New York state line.

No longer assigned; from about 1930 to 1932, State Highway 360 followed today's Route 41, from Route 343 to he New York state line. Before that, this road was part of US 7, which veered southwesterly into New York state.

3.54 miles; from Route 4 in Sharon to the New York state line in Salisbury. The roadway continues as New York county route 62.

Route 361 was formerly part of Route 4, which extended to the state line, and changed designation to NY 361 afterward. In 1967, Connecticut renumbered the section of 4 from Route 41 to the state line as Route 361 to be compatible with New York. Curiously enough, New York has since dropped its 361 numbering.

Route 361 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

No longer assigned; from about 1930 to 1932, State Highway 362 followed the 1940s Route 75, leading from Windsor Center through Poquonock back to today's Route 159 in Suffield.

Earlier, this road was part of State Highway 110.

4.56 miles; from Route 120 in Southington to Route 71 in Berlin.

In the 1920s, State Highway 364 followed today's Route 163 between Routes 82 and 32 in Montville.

Today's Route 364 was not a state highway at all until July 1962, when the state announced the formation of SR 564, a route the state would maintain but not post with a route number. This change was in the midst of a statewide reclassification of highways.

A year later, however, SR 564 was given a signed route number: 364. Its numbering was the luck of the draw, but Route 364 reigned as the highest signed state route number in Connecticut until Nov. 6, 1980, when Route 372 was designated.

• "Southington Rd. Now Becomes State Road 564." Hartford Courant, July 19, 1962.
• "3-Mile Section of Road To Open." Hartford Courant, Nov. 3, 1980. (mentions 372)
• "Opening Marked of New Rt. 72 Section." Hartford Courant, Nov. 6, 1980.

Route 364 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

No longer assigned; before 1932, State Highway 364 followed today's Route 85 between Route 2 and Route 66.

No longer assigned; before 1932, State Highway 364 followed today's Route 108 between Route 8 and Stratford. I think this was the highest route number in the 1920s era.

14.95 miles; from Route 72 in Plainville to Route 99 in Cromwell.

Almost all of today's Route 372 follows an old alignment of Route 72. West Street in Cromwell is the exception; for a while it was Route 18, and in 1963 became unsigned SR 525.

72 becomes 372

On Nov. 6, 1980, a segment of Route 72 freeway opened in Plainville, and Route 372 was designated along former Route 72. Here was its location at the time, from west to east:

• New Britain Avenue, from end of the Route 72 freeway in Plainville to New Britain
• W. Main Street, to Corbin Avenue
• Corbin Avenue, to the Willow Brook Connector (SR 571)
• SR 571, to its terminus at Route 72 (now Route 9)

For about 10 years, Route 372 was signed along the short freeway, formerly Route 72, which is now SR 571.

Around 1990, an extension of Route 9 opened from I-91 in Cromwell to the Berlin Turnpike, at the start of the Route 72 freeway. Route 9 was extended along Route 72 into downtown New Britain, and in 1992 was extended to the stack interchange at I-84 in Farmington. Route 372 was then removed from the SR 571 freeway and extended along Farmington Avenue (an older Route 72 alignment), former Route 72 east of the Berlin Turnpike to Route 3 in Cromwell, and West Street to end at Route 99.

Route 372, formerly 72, was the topic of this state general assembly exchange, discussing a bill to name a section of highway:

JIM BURNES: ...In the second case, on 5423, the language of the bill and the heading of the bill are inconsistent in that the title suggests I-84. The language of the bill designates Route 372. I-84 again is already named as the Yankee expressway and a technical correction, Route 372 runs easterly from Plainville to Berlin, not the other direction. So, it's something that you might want to have the staff just look at. The second bill...excuse me, any questions? Those were just technical in nature.

SEN CIOTTO: You say I-84 has already been named, Jim?

JIM BURNES: Yes, it's the Yankee expressway by Special Act 166 of the 1961 General Assembly. From the New York State line to the Connecticut River in Hartford.

SEN. CIOTTO: (mike not on).

JIM BURNES: (laughter). Again, the language says Route 372, which is not an expressway. That's old Route 72. So we're not exactly sure what the intent is here.

SEN. CIOTTO: (mike not on).

JIM BURNES: Chester Bowles highway from 91 down, you know...that was 1978.

SEN. CIOTTO: (mike not on).

JIM BURNES: Find an unnamed section perhaps, yes.

• Route 372 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 372 - Google Maps
• Route 72
• Route 18
• SR 571 (Kensington Connector)
• Route 372 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)