Connecticut Interstate 395

66.98 miles; from I-95 in Waterford, Conn. to I-90/I-290 south of Worcester, Mass. There are 54.69 miles in Connecticut.

The interchange at I-95 in Waterford is partial (no southbound to northbound access between 95 or 395). One web page for Mystic advised motorists to take I-395 south and get onto I-95 north, which you can't do without a 4-wheel drive.

You could argue that I-395's history goes back more than 300 years: it parallels the Mohegan Road, now approximately Route 32 between Norwich and New London, which was laid out in 1670 and became a turnpike in 1792.

However, the first north-south motor highway in the area was Route 12, which was signed around 1923 and originally extended into northern Vermont.

In 1953, state highway Commissioner G. Albert Hill mapped out a ten-year, $400 million expressway plan featuring 12 new roads, including all of Route 12 in the state. He recommended that the expressways, which included familiar routes such as US 7, Route 8, and US 44, be toll highways. The Roads, Rivers and Bridges Committee of the State General Assembly discussed the proposal, and most of it has come to fruition.

I-395 Opening dates

I-95 to SR 695 (US 6 east cutoff): Jan. 2, 1958. This portion is part of the Connecticut Turnpike, which includes most of I-95 and SR 695.
SR 695 to Route 101: Oct. 5, 1962. This was planned as "Relocated Route 12", but (I think) never signed that way.
Route 101 to Massachusetts state line: Sept. 12, 1968.

"The Ribbon of Hope"

In 1958, the Connecticut Turnpike opened, bringing expressway access to Norwich and as far north as Danielson, by way of a two-lane Danielson Connector between the Turnpike's "elbow" (where it swings east toward Rhode Island) and US 6.

The idea of continuing an expressway northward was called a "ribbon of hope" for a sleepy eastern state economy. In 1962, the state incorporated the Danielson Connector into a new four-lane expressway extending to Route 101. This was called "Relocated Route 12" in planning documents, but was not signposted for the first couple of years. On Sept. 15, 1964, the Route 52 designation was applied from Waterford northward.

The Bay State finished its part later, connecting Route 52 to the Massachusetts Turnpike in the mid-1970s. Not that they weren't fans of the route to the north; in hearings for the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1973, Massachusetts representatives requested interstate funds for both Route 52 and Route 8, from border to border.

A Good Stopping Point

Connecticut and Rhode Island had planned since the late 1960s to build Interstate 84 from Hartford to Providence; however, concerns over its Scituate Reservoir caused Rhode Island to decline its part in 1982.

Connecticut decided to still extend I-84 anyway, to end at Route 52 in Killingly. If Route 52 were another interstate highway, state officials reasoned that getting federal approval and funding for I-84 would be easier.

In late 1982, Gov. William O'Neill asked the U.S. Transportation Secretary to consider an interstate designation, calling the route a "logical addition" as it links I-90 and I-95. Route 52 already met the physical standards of an interstate highway -- the other main criterion for acceptance.

For a while, it appeared Route 52 would become an extension of I-290 leading south from Massachusetts. A Hartford Courant article using the I-290 designation appeared just six days before the state announced on June 20, 1983, that Route 52 was promoted to I-395.

Some trivia

The spur to the Rhode Island border, officially secret route SR 695, was never intended to be I-695; in fact, SR 695 was designated 20 years before I-395 was.

Connecticut vs. Rhode Island

Some of the following is based on fact, and some has not been proven. It concerns why the Connecticut Turnpike was routed by Norwich and Killingly instead of continuing along the shore; and what might have been some consequences decades later.

Reasons for locating the Turnpike northward certainly included helping Norwich and Killingly. State Senator Lawrence Gilman (not the music critic) is said to have favored a highway linking Norwich to the shoreline. The Turnpike's original name is the Greenwich-Killingly Expressway, for the towns at each end.

As the Turnpike was being designed, the allocation of a federal Interstate route along the shore was already well-known. Some say that the Killingly alignment was also intended to secure a longer extent of future Interstate 95 in Connecticut. This would have resulted in fewer miles for Rhode Island, as I-95 would have proceeded straight across to Providence; under Ocean State protest, as the story goes, Interstate 95 was ruled to go closer to the shore.

The final part of the story: In the early 1980s, when Connecticut needed Rhode Island's help to keep the eastern I-84 proposal alive, Rhode Island remembered the Connecticut Turnpike/I-95 attempt and "got revenge" by stuffing I-84.

Again, I've heard this from just a few people, and not seen any sources you could call official. But the story is interesting nonetheless.

I-395 / Route 82 interchange redesign

The 6-ramp interchange at I-395, built in 1958, may be redesigned. In late 2002, the state announced a plan to remove the northeast loop ramp from I-395 northbound to Route 82 westbound. The remaining I-395 northbound offramp would serve both directions on Route 82 at a signalized intersection. Both the exit and entrance ramps would be reconstructed for better safety and operations.

Granted, the state is taking away a "free" traffic movement, but the update proposed is sound. The interchange is right next to a shopping center, so the I-395 offramps were already signalized. In the new design, both the ramps would be able to use the same traffic light.

Late 2002 plans are to have the project go to bid in 2005, start in 2006, and complete in 2008. In early 2003, however, ConnDOT has said the $6 million project could take as many as eight years to finish. Six houses would be razed to make room for the revised ramps. Public reaction to the plan has been generally favorable.

I-95/395 interchange to be revamped if Route 11 built

Proposed Route 11/I-95/I-395 Interchange

The proposed interchange for Route 11, I-95 and I-395 in Waterford. Access to US 1 is thrown in for I-95 and I-395. Note that the 95/395 interchange will still be incomplete, and no access is provided between Route 11 and I-395. However, I-95 and Route 11 will have high-speed access in all directions.

The state proposal to complete Route 11 connects that highway to I-95 where I-395 ends today. If that takes place, the existing 395/95 interchange will be incorporated in the new Route 11 interchange (see above).

The benefits for I-395 include removal of the left exit on I-95 northbound, and direct, no-weaving access to US 1. However, there will still be no access between I-395 and I-95 toward New London; and there will be no access provided between I-395 and Route 11.

In Nov. 2004, as part of I-95 improvement plans, Mohegan Tribe chief of staff Chuck Bunnell advocated adding a ramp to I-395 from I-95 southbound (and presumably the I-395 ramp back to I-95 north). The casino encourages visitors to stay on major highways, but those from points southeast have to use Route 32 from New London. If they miss the Montville Connector to get on I-395, they stay on Route 32, which narrows to two lanes, through Montville. Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz agreed that this could be a problem, especially if a racetrack further north on I-395 is constructed as proposed.

I-395: last good place for new development?

In 2002, I-395 is seen by some as a good corridor for development, as it is one of the last remaining uncongested freeways in the state. In the words of Plainfield Economic Development Coordinator Michael Saad: "The 395 corridor represents the only reasonable travel left in Connecticut."

Once the secret's out, would I-395 fill up immediately? Probably not. The area's population is still low, many residents don't mind driving longer distances to New London or Worcester (in other words, not demanding development closer to home), and many would like the state's "Quiet Corner" to stay quiet.

I-395 in Waterford is a different story: from 1992 to 2000, traffic there increased 141 percent, because of increased tourism and casino traffic. No widening plans are in the wings, though.

The Road to Utopia

As of mid-2005, another entertainment project proposed in the I-395 corridor is Utopia, which would be located on Route 12 just north of Route 2A. The site would have 4,200 hotel rooms, five theme parks, a movie studio and a performing arts school. Most traffic would use I-395 and Route 2A to get there.

Even though I-395 traffic has nearly doubled north of Route 2A (and more than doubled to the south), it is still up to the task and is below capacity. Far more of a problem is I-95, which many drivers would need to use to reach I-395.

"Road plan urged for Connecticut." New York Times, March 31, 1953.
"Highway Projects to be Opened Friday." New Haven Register, Oct. 4, 1962.
"Highway Dept. Tacking Route Labels on Turnpike." Hartford Courant, Aug. 25, 1964.
"Dempsey Opens Rt. 52 Link." Hartford Courant, Sept. 13, 1968.
"Safety is stressed at road link opener." Hartford Times, Sept. 13, 1968.
Hearings, Federal Aid Highway Act of 1973.
"Interstate Status Urged for Route 52." Hartford Courant, Sep. 4, 1982.
"State Ordered To Lift Ban on Tandem Trucks." Hartford Courant, June 14, 1983.
Route Change Notice, ConnDOT, June 28, 1983.
Route Log and Finder List - Interstate Highways, FHWA, 1998
"Report calls for road improvements in southeastern Connecticut." Associated Press, April 22, 2002.
"I-395 proves key to development: The interstate highway provides access without traffic hassles found elsewhere." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, April 23, 2002.
Foster, Kit. "CT Turnpike." Email to Kurumi, June 30, 2002.
"Residents have mixed reactions to I-395 interchange plan." The Day (New London, Conn.), Oct. 1, 2002.
"Norwich highway redesign project starts on long road in Legislature." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Feb. 4, 2003.
"Route 82 proposal gets favorable reaction." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Dec. 17, 2003.
"Traffic choking tourism: Local leaders support a plan to help drivers get here faster." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Sept. 16, 2004.
"Traffic Is A Challenge That The Developer Must Resolve." The Day (New London, Conn.), Mar. 21, 2005. (Concerns Utopia project)

Home > Roads > Connecticut > Interstate 395

Updated Oct 6, 2006

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	66.98 miles; from I-95 in Waterford, Conn. to I-90/I-290 south of Worcester, Mass. There are 54.69 miles in Connecticut. The interchange at I-95 in Waterford is partial (no southbound to northbound access between 95 or 395). One web page for Mystic advised motorists to take I-395 south and get onto I-95 north, which you can't do without a 4-wheel drive.
	You could argue that I-395's history goes back more than 300 years: it parallels the Mohegan Road, now approximately Route 32 between Norwich and New London, which was laid out in 1670 and became a turnpike in 1792. However, the first north-south motor highway in the area was Route 12, which was signed around 1923 and originally extended into northern Vermont. In 1953, state highway Commissioner G. Albert Hill mapped out a ten-year, $400 million expressway plan featuring 12 new roads, including all of Route 12 in the state. He recommended that the expressways, which included familiar routes such as US 7, Route 8, and US 44, be toll highways. The Roads, Rivers and Bridges Committee of the State General Assembly discussed the proposal, and most of it has come to fruition. I-395 Opening dates I-95 to SR 695 (US 6 east cutoff): Jan. 2, 1958. This portion is part of the Connecticut Turnpike, which includes most of I-95 and SR 695. SR 695 to Route 101: Oct. 5, 1962. This was planned as "Relocated Route 12", but (I think) never signed that way. Route 101 to Massachusetts state line: Sept. 12, 1968. "The Ribbon of Hope" In 1958, the Connecticut Turnpike opened, bringing expressway access to Norwich and as far north as Danielson, by way of a two-lane Danielson Connector between the Turnpike's "elbow" (where it swings east toward Rhode Island) and US 6. The idea of continuing an expressway northward was called a "ribbon of hope" for a sleepy eastern state economy. In 1962, the state incorporated the Danielson Connector into a new four-lane expressway extending to Route 101. This was called "Relocated Route 12" in planning documents, but was not signposted for the first couple of years. On Sept. 15, 1964, the Route 52 designation was applied from Waterford northward. The Bay State finished its part later, connecting Route 52 to the Massachusetts Turnpike in the mid-1970s. Not that they weren't fans of the route to the north; in hearings for the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1973, Massachusetts representatives requested interstate funds for both Route 52 and Route 8, from border to border. A Good Stopping Point Connecticut and Rhode Island had planned since the late 1960s to build Interstate 84 from Hartford to Providence; however, concerns over its Scituate Reservoir caused Rhode Island to decline its part in 1982. Connecticut decided to still extend I-84 anyway, to end at Route 52 in Killingly. If Route 52 were another interstate highway, state officials reasoned that getting federal approval and funding for I-84 would be easier. In late 1982, Gov. William O'Neill asked the U.S. Transportation Secretary to consider an interstate designation, calling the route a "logical addition" as it links I-90 and I-95. Route 52 already met the physical standards of an interstate highway -- the other main criterion for acceptance. For a while, it appeared Route 52 would become an extension of I-290 leading south from Massachusetts. A Hartford Courant article using the I-290 designation appeared just six days before the state announced on June 20, 1983, that Route 52 was promoted to I-395. Some trivia The spur to the Rhode Island border, officially secret route SR 695, was never intended to be I-695; in fact, SR 695 was designated 20 years before I-395 was. Connecticut vs. Rhode Island Some of the following is based on fact, and some has not been proven. It concerns why the Connecticut Turnpike was routed by Norwich and Killingly instead of continuing along the shore; and what might have been some consequences decades later. Reasons for locating the Turnpike northward certainly included helping Norwich and Killingly. State Senator Lawrence Gilman (not the music critic) is said to have favored a highway linking Norwich to the shoreline. The Turnpike's original name is the Greenwich-Killingly Expressway, for the towns at each end. As the Turnpike was being designed, the allocation of a federal Interstate route along the shore was already well-known. Some say that the Killingly alignment was also intended to secure a longer extent of future Interstate 95 in Connecticut. This would have resulted in fewer miles for Rhode Island, as I-95 would have proceeded straight across to Providence; under Ocean State protest, as the story goes, Interstate 95 was ruled to go closer to the shore. The final part of the story: In the early 1980s, when Connecticut needed Rhode Island's help to keep the eastern I-84 proposal alive, Rhode Island remembered the Connecticut Turnpike/I-95 attempt and "got revenge" by stuffing I-84. Again, I've heard this from just a few people, and not seen any sources you could call official. But the story is interesting nonetheless.
	I-395 / Route 82 interchange redesign The 6-ramp interchange at I-395, built in 1958, may be redesigned. In late 2002, the state announced a plan to remove the northeast loop ramp from I-395 northbound to Route 82 westbound. The remaining I-395 northbound offramp would serve both directions on Route 82 at a signalized intersection. Both the exit and entrance ramps would be reconstructed for better safety and operations. Granted, the state is taking away a "free" traffic movement, but the update proposed is sound. The interchange is right next to a shopping center, so the I-395 offramps were already signalized. In the new design, both the ramps would be able to use the same traffic light. Late 2002 plans are to have the project go to bid in 2005, start in 2006, and complete in 2008. In early 2003, however, ConnDOT has said the $6 million project could take as many as eight years to finish. Six houses would be razed to make room for the revised ramps. Public reaction to the plan has been generally favorable. I-95/395 interchange to be revamped if Route 11 built Proposed Route 11/I-95/I-395 Interchange The proposed interchange for Route 11, I-95 and I-395 in Waterford. Access to US 1 is thrown in for I-95 and I-395. Note that the 95/395 interchange will still be incomplete, and no access is provided between Route 11 and I-395. However, I-95 and Route 11 will have high-speed access in all directions. The state proposal to complete Route 11 connects that highway to I-95 where I-395 ends today. If that takes place, the existing 395/95 interchange will be incorporated in the new Route 11 interchange (see above). The benefits for I-395 include removal of the left exit on I-95 northbound, and direct, no-weaving access to US 1. However, there will still be no access between I-395 and I-95 toward New London; and there will be no access provided between I-395 and Route 11. In Nov. 2004, as part of I-95 improvement plans, Mohegan Tribe chief of staff Chuck Bunnell advocated adding a ramp to I-395 from I-95 southbound (and presumably the I-395 ramp back to I-95 north). The casino encourages visitors to stay on major highways, but those from points southeast have to use Route 32 from New London. If they miss the Montville Connector to get on I-395, they stay on Route 32, which narrows to two lanes, through Montville. Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz agreed that this could be a problem, especially if a racetrack further north on I-395 is constructed as proposed. I-395: last good place for new development? In 2002, I-395 is seen by some as a good corridor for development, as it is one of the last remaining uncongested freeways in the state. In the words of Plainfield Economic Development Coordinator Michael Saad: "The 395 corridor represents the only reasonable travel left in Connecticut." Once the secret's out, would I-395 fill up immediately? Probably not. The area's population is still low, many residents don't mind driving longer distances to New London or Worcester (in other words, not demanding development closer to home), and many would like the state's "Quiet Corner" to stay quiet. I-395 in Waterford is a different story: from 1992 to 2000, traffic there increased 141 percent, because of increased tourism and casino traffic. No widening plans are in the wings, though. The Road to Utopia As of mid-2005, another entertainment project proposed in the I-395 corridor is Utopia, which would be located on Route 12 just north of Route 2A. The site would have 4,200 hotel rooms, five theme parks, a movie studio and a performing arts school. Most traffic would use I-395 and Route 2A to get there. Even though I-395 traffic has nearly doubled north of Route 2A (and more than doubled to the south), it is still up to the task and is below capacity. Far more of a problem is I-95, which many drivers would need to use to reach I-395.
	"Road plan urged for Connecticut." New York Times, March 31, 1953. "Highway Projects to be Opened Friday." New Haven Register, Oct. 4, 1962. "Highway Dept. Tacking Route Labels on Turnpike." Hartford Courant, Aug. 25, 1964. "Dempsey Opens Rt. 52 Link." Hartford Courant, Sept. 13, 1968. "Safety is stressed at road link opener." Hartford Times, Sept. 13, 1968. Hearings, Federal Aid Highway Act of 1973. "Interstate Status Urged for Route 52." Hartford Courant, Sep. 4, 1982. "State Ordered To Lift Ban on Tandem Trucks." Hartford Courant, June 14, 1983. Route Change Notice, ConnDOT, June 28, 1983. Route Log and Finder List - Interstate Highways, FHWA, 1998 "Report calls for road improvements in southeastern Connecticut." Associated Press, April 22, 2002. "I-395 proves key to development: The interstate highway provides access without traffic hassles found elsewhere." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, April 23, 2002. Foster, Kit. "CT Turnpike." Email to Kurumi, June 30, 2002. "Residents have mixed reactions to I-395 interchange plan." The Day (New London, Conn.), Oct. 1, 2002. "Norwich highway redesign project starts on long road in Legislature." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Feb. 4, 2003. "Route 82 proposal gets favorable reaction." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Dec. 17, 2003. "Traffic choking tourism: Local leaders support a plan to help drivers get here faster." Norwich [Conn.] Bulletin, Sept. 16, 2004. "Traffic Is A Challenge That The Developer Must Resolve." The Day (New London, Conn.), Mar. 21, 2005. (Concerns Utopia project)
	Route 12 Route 32 Route 52 I-84 I-95 Route 11 From Hartford to Providence (history) Killingly (Danielson) Roads