Connecticut Routes 60-64

9.16 miles; from US 6 in Woodbury to Route 63 in Morris.

Route 61 was commissioned in 1932, from part of old Route 130. At that time, it was over 24 miles long, including a portion of today's Route 63, between Route 109 and Route 43.

In 1943, Route 63 took over from Route 61, adding 15.4 miles, and Route 61 was shortened to where it is now.

52.57 miles; from Route 10 in New Haven to US 7 in South Canaan. This is one of the longest state routes entirely within Connecticut. It's four lanes wide in a section of Middlebury.

Between Country Club Road in Naugatuck and Field Street in Middlebury (2.3 miles), Route 63 is officially limited access: not a freeway, but a minimum of intersections and driveways. It passes by Whittemore Glen State Park and (not surprisingly) a country club.

As of Jan. 25, 2002, a 3.37-mile segment of Route 63 in Litchfield is designated a state scenic road. The designation runs from the Morris town line north to Sarcka Lane.

The 36-mile Straits Turnpike, following today's Route 63 from New Haven to Litchfield, was built in 1796; the company operating it was incorporated in 1797. The Turnpike collected tolls until 1821, when the portion between Westville and New Haven was made free. When the rest was disbanded is unknown.

Commissioned in 1932, Route 63 has grown a few times to more than double its original size. Originally, it extended 24 miles from Route 67 in Woodbridge to Route 61 in Morris.

Sometime between the mid-1950s and late 1970s, Route 63 was realigned near Route 42 in Bethany; in other words, the Straits turnpike made straighter. Grant Road and the short segment of Litchfield Turnpike are part of the old alignment. In the 1970s, Grant Road was even called "Old Rt. 63."

New Haven

At first, Route 67, not Route 63, followed Whalley Avenue toward downtown New Haven. At some point in the 1940s, Route 63 joined Route 67 southward out of Woodbridge; and in the 1950s Route 69 was applied to the Whalley Avenue route. Eventually, Route 63 was extended to US 1, overlapping with Route 10. in 1978, for example, the road was of 54.78 miles, slightly longer than today. Now it ends at Route 10.

Extensions north

In 1943, Route 63 replaced Route 61 from Morris to Route 43 in Cornwall, for another 15 miles. In 1952, it replaced the northernmost 5 miles of Route 43 to end at US 7, as it does today.

I think it is eyeing Route 126, another 6 miles that would extend it to US 44. If Bud Shuster lived in Connecticut, this would already be Interstate 63.

Wood, Frederic J. "The Turnpikes of New England." Pepperell, Mass.: Branch Line Press, 1997. (reprint of 1909 edition)
State Highway Log, 1978.
"Portions of Routes 63, 118, 254 and 202 in Litchfield designated as scenic roads." ConnDOT press release, Jan. 25, 2002.
"Route 63 once joined early towns." The Republican-American [Waterbury, Conn.], July 4, 2000.
"2001 Limited Access State Numbered Highways." ConnDOT publication, dated Dec. 31, 2000.

8.08 miles; from I-84 in Waterbury to US 6 in Woodbury.

Commissioned in 1969; before that, Route 64 had many names. Before 1926 and the U.S. highway system, it was part of New England Route NE-3; then it was part of US 6 itself, which went through Waterbury to Southington before turning north.

In 1932, it became part of the cross-state Route 14, which is much shorter today; then in 1941, part of US 6A. The 6A appellation stuck until Routes 64 and 66 were created in 1968.

Route 64 freeway (ok, a bypass); still would have been cool

Between the vicinity of Route 63 and Interstate 84 in Middlebury, Route 64 serves heavy traffic. The incomplete interchange at I-84 and Route 63, with access to and from the west only, contributes to this: traffic to and from Waterbury uses Route 64 to access I-84.

In 1973, proposals from the town of Middlebury and the Central Naugatuck Council of Governments included a bypass for Route 64, running south of the current alignment, between Rose Court and Woodside Avenue. The bypass would include an interchange at Route 63. This was never implemented, but the town's 2001 development plan draft still includes the bypass as a regional priority. Completing the Route 63/I-84 interchange is also proposed as a way to relieve Route 64 traffic.

Draft Plan of Development, Town of Middlebury (Conn.), March 2001.

Home > Roads > Connecticut > Routes 60-64

Updated Sept 4, 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 60 and 62 have never existed.
	9.16 miles; from US 6 in Woodbury to Route 63 in Morris.
	Route 61 was commissioned in 1932, from part of old Route 130. At that time, it was over 24 miles long, including a portion of today's Route 63, between Route 109 and Route 43. In 1943, Route 63 took over from Route 61, adding 15.4 miles, and Route 61 was shortened to where it is now.

	52.57 miles; from Route 10 in New Haven to US 7 in South Canaan. This is one of the longest state routes entirely within Connecticut. It's four lanes wide in a section of Middlebury. Between Country Club Road in Naugatuck and Field Street in Middlebury (2.3 miles), Route 63 is officially limited access: not a freeway, but a minimum of intersections and driveways. It passes by Whittemore Glen State Park and (not surprisingly) a country club. As of Jan. 25, 2002, a 3.37-mile segment of Route 63 in Litchfield is designated a state scenic road. The designation runs from the Morris town line north to Sarcka Lane.
	The 36-mile Straits Turnpike, following today's Route 63 from New Haven to Litchfield, was built in 1796; the company operating it was incorporated in 1797. The Turnpike collected tolls until 1821, when the portion between Westville and New Haven was made free. When the rest was disbanded is unknown.
	Commissioned in 1932, Route 63 has grown a few times to more than double its original size. Originally, it extended 24 miles from Route 67 in Woodbridge to Route 61 in Morris. Sometime between the mid-1950s and late 1970s, Route 63 was realigned near Route 42 in Bethany; in other words, the Straits turnpike made straighter. Grant Road and the short segment of Litchfield Turnpike are part of the old alignment. In the 1970s, Grant Road was even called "Old Rt. 63." New Haven At first, Route 67, not Route 63, followed Whalley Avenue toward downtown New Haven. At some point in the 1940s, Route 63 joined Route 67 southward out of Woodbridge; and in the 1950s Route 69 was applied to the Whalley Avenue route. Eventually, Route 63 was extended to US 1, overlapping with Route 10. in 1978, for example, the road was of 54.78 miles, slightly longer than today. Now it ends at Route 10. Extensions north In 1943, Route 63 replaced Route 61 from Morris to Route 43 in Cornwall, for another 15 miles. In 1952, it replaced the northernmost 5 miles of Route 43 to end at US 7, as it does today. I think it is eyeing Route 126, another 6 miles that would extend it to US 44. If Bud Shuster lived in Connecticut, this would already be Interstate 63.
	Wood, Frederic J. "The Turnpikes of New England." Pepperell, Mass.: Branch Line Press, 1997. (reprint of 1909 edition) State Highway Log, 1978. "Portions of Routes 63, 118, 254 and 202 in Litchfield designated as scenic roads." ConnDOT press release, Jan. 25, 2002. "Route 63 once joined early towns." The Republican-American [Waterbury, Conn.], July 4, 2000. "2001 Limited Access State Numbered Highways." ConnDOT publication, dated Dec. 31, 2000.
	Roundabouts - Goshen, CT (Route 4 and 63; photos) Route 43 Route 61 Route 67

	8.08 miles; from I-84 in Waterbury to US 6 in Woodbury.
	Commissioned in 1969; before that, Route 64 had many names. Before 1926 and the U.S. highway system, it was part of New England Route NE-3; then it was part of US 6 itself, which went through Waterbury to Southington before turning north. In 1932, it became part of the cross-state Route 14, which is much shorter today; then in 1941, part of US 6A. The 6A appellation stuck until Routes 64 and 66 were created in 1968. Route 64 freeway (ok, a bypass); still would have been cool Between the vicinity of Route 63 and Interstate 84 in Middlebury, Route 64 serves heavy traffic. The incomplete interchange at I-84 and Route 63, with access to and from the west only, contributes to this: traffic to and from Waterbury uses Route 64 to access I-84. In 1973, proposals from the town of Middlebury and the Central Naugatuck Council of Governments included a bypass for Route 64, running south of the current alignment, between Rose Court and Woodside Avenue. The bypass would include an interchange at Route 63. This was never implemented, but the town's 2001 development plan draft still includes the bypass as a regional priority. Completing the Route 63/I-84 interchange is also proposed as a way to relieve Route 64 traffic.
	Draft Plan of Development, Town of Middlebury (Conn.), March 2001.