Commissioned in 1932, the old state route 95 followed today's rnl(Route 49), from Route 2 to today's Route 14A. From that point, the road leading along today's Route 14A to Route 14 was called Route 211. In 1950, Route 95 was extended to absorb Route 211 and end at Route 14.

I-95 needed the number

In 1958, the newly opened Connecticut Turnpike carried the new Interstate 95 designation up to Waterford; I-95 was slated to continue east on a new expressway through New London, Groton, and Stonington. That year, state route 95 was renumbered 49, and the old state Route 84 (now Route 184) became Route 95, to guide motorists through the area until I-95 proper was completed.

In November 1963, the State Highway Department announced planned number changes that would take effect when I-95 opened in the area. State Route 95 would become Route 184; and Route 117 would be extended southward from Route 184 to US 1. I-95 opened here on Nov. 12, 1964.

• "State sets hearing on new routes." Hartford Courant, Nov, 21, 1963.

29.14 miles; from Route 12 in Norwich to US 44 in Pomfret. Route 97 actually intersects US 44 twice.

Commissioned in 1932, Route 97 originally followed this alignment, starting in the south:

• Today's Route 97, from Route 12 into Chaplin
• Station Road and Morey Road from Hampton Center to today's Route 198 in Chaplin

In 1934, Route 97 was rerouted straight north from Hampton, crossing the old Route 101 (now US 44), absorbing the "stairstep" Route 201, and ending at old Route 93 (now Route 169).

In the 1960s and '70s, an eastern alignment of Interstate 84 was planned through Hampton en route to Providence. If this had been built, Route 97 would have been widened near the proposed interchange at the Hampton - Scotland town line.

Facing north on Route 97 in downtown Hampton, Conn. Just a few buildings make up the center of this quiet town. Light traffic allows the "stand in the middle of the road" view here. Photo taken Sept. 2002 by Kurumi.

Scenic Road in Pomfret

In January 2001, a segment from the Hampton town line to Route 169 in Pomfret was submitted to the state's Scenic Road Advisory Committee. In April 2001, the commission determined that the portion south of US 44 did not provide a "continuous representation of the character or the criteria of a scenic roadway"; in other words, that part of Route 97 wasn't very scenic.

However, the 4.5-mile portion from US 44 to US 44/Route 169 (the aforementioned "stairstep" section) was approved as a scenic road on April 27, 2001. This designation helps protect the road from state modifications that might mar the scenery.

Reportedly there is/was a plan to widen Routes 12 and 97 to form a continuous four-lane connection between I-395 near Taftville and I-95 in Groton.

Although Route 97 does not need the large-scale widening planned in conjunction with I-84 to Providence, the road is quite narrow (18 to 20 feet) in northern Scotland and was planned to be reconstructed in 2002 to make it safer.

"Indeed, one of Pomfret's biggest challenges is its confounding road system--there may be no place in Connecticut where route numbers take this many tangled turns. Signs everywhere declare you are either entering Pomfret, leaving Pomfret or getting on one of three roads, Route 44, 169, or 97. The best tactic is to ignore all these signs and simply give yourself a half hour to become acquainted with the roads."

• "Route 97 in Pomfret being considered as scenic highway.", Press Release, ConnDOT, Jan. 22, 2001.
• "Scenic road status sought for Route 97.", Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Jan. 29, 2001.
• "Section of Route 97 in Pomfret designated as scenic road." Press Release, ConnDOT, April 27, 2001.
• "Regional Transportation Plan for the Windham Region / 2001 Update." Windham Regional Council of Governments, August 29, 2001.
• "Change roads, put Norwich on map." Letter to editor, Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Feb. 11, 2002.

Route 97 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)

10.64 miles; from Route 9 in Cromwell to Route 15 in Wethersfield. The northern half is also known as the Silas Deane Highway; this segment is heavily commercialized and is four lanes wide.

In 1922, Route 99 was first numbered as part of New England Interstate Route 10 (NE-10), the ancestor of today's Route 10. The Silas Deane Highway portion wasn't built yet; instead, traffic followed Church Street, Old Main Street and Middletown Avenue from Rocky Hill into Old Wethersfield; and then followed Hartford Avenue into Hartford. The Silas Deane Highway, a wider, more direct route, opened to traffic on Dec. 20, 1930.

On Jan. 1, 1932, NE-10 in the area was redesignated Route 9, a road leading from Granby, through Hartford and Middletown, ending at Old Saybrook.

In the 1960s, Route 9 was upgraded to a freeway between I-91 and I-95. The soon-to-be "old Route 9" in Cromwell, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield would need a new number. In November 1965, the Highway Department said it planned to call this segment Route 18, reusing an old designation for West Street in Cromwell (and related to the number 9).

In February 1966, however, the state decided the new route number should be 99. When the new Route 9 opened on May 29, 1969, Route 99 was created.

Boulevard plan not yet achieved

In Wethersfield, Route 99 (the Silas Deane Highway) is a busy four-lane commercial arterial road. Since at least the 1980s, Wethersfield has mulled reconstructing it into a boulevard, for better traffic flow and better aesthetics.

In early 1989, the state held a public hearing on this plan, and had tentatively scheduled advertising for bids in November. The project would improve drainage, perform minor widening, and add a raised median with openings approximately 1,500 feet apart. The tentative schedule was to advertise for bids in November 1989.

However, no median has been constructed. Over the years, much of Route 99 in Wethersfield has been reconstructed to five lanes: four travel lanes and alternating left turn lanes, some of them quite long.

In December 2002, town officials announced a plan to revamp the Silas Deane Highway between the Hartford town line and Nott Street (SR 422). Landscaping would be added to the short existing median, along with other scenery enhancements, to provide a better gateway into Wethersfield. However, many details were yet to be fleshed out.

I wouldn't mind seeing Route 99 as a Great River Road, following the Connecticut River's west bank from Long Island Sound into Massachusetts. This route would incorporate:

• most of Route 154
• local streets in Middletown
• all of Route 99
• Wethersfield Avenue and Main Street in Hartford
• all of Route 159

Not many Connecticut routes can boast of their own headline in the New York Times; but Route 99 can (see "Sources"). The article describes Silas Deane as a "Wethersfield lawyer and merchant who played a vital role in enlisting French aid during the American Revolution."

• "Open New State Road To Traffic / Concrete Highway to Be Known As Route 10 Is Completed With Exception of Fence Wethersfield." Hartford Courant, Dec. 21, 1930.
• "Hearing planned on route." Hartford Courant, Nov 6, 1965.
• "State will renumber Rt. 9 in three towns." Hartford Courant, Feb. 20, 1966.
• "Rt. 9 Connector to open." Hartford Courant, May 23, 1969.
• Connecticut Department of Transportation. Design and Layout Public Hearings for the Route 99 Highway Improvements - Wethersfield." Feb. 22, 1989.
• "This Is a Quiz: Why Is Silas Deane on Route 99?", New York Times, Jan. 19, 1997.
• "'Wethersfield and the Suburban Dream' is current exhibit at Wethersfield Museum." Wethersfield Post, Dec. 28, 2001.