Connecticut US 202, 202A

634 miles; from US 40 in Penn Acres, Del. to I-395 (US 2?) in Bangor, Maine. 75.16 miles in Connecticut. Of those 75 miles, US 202 spends 35.41 miles shared with other routes (10, 44, and so on): the longest total in Connecticut. Not even US 6, which seems inseparable from I-84 at times, matches that total.

As of Jan. 25, 2002, a 0.47-mile segment of US 202 in Litchfield is designated a state scenic road. The designation runs from Route 118 to Russell Street.

US 202 has some pleasant sections near Litchfield. The Danbury News-Times writes:

"Running through the heart of Connecticut, this 5.3-mile scenic stretch boasts lush meadows, tree-lined hills and the pristine Nepaug Reservoir."

A few miles of US 202 from Route 179 westward are two-lane limited access. There are no medians or interchanges, but the controlled access status prevents curb cuts, driveways, or further intersections.

US 202 is born

In June 1934, the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) approved a multi-state request to establish a new route -- US 202 -- from Bangor, Maine to State Road, Delaware. This was one of several new routes, including US 44, proposed to encourage tourism. The route change took place in 1935.

In Connecticut, the original US 202 alignment, southwest to northeast, was:

Mill Plain Road and Lake Avenue, New York state line to where I-84 crosses today at exit 4 in Danbury (present-day US 6 and 202)
Lake Avenue and West Street, from I-84 exit to Main Street, Danbury (now local roads)
Main Street and South Street (today's Route 53) to Greenwood Ave (today's Route 302) in Bethel
today's Route 302, entire length, and section of Main Street to US 6, Newtown
overlap with US 6 to Route 10, Farmington
overlap with Route 10 to Massachusetts state line

In short, outside of Danbury, Bethel and Newtown US 202 was redundant, simply overlapping with established routes.

From 1932 to 1934, the roads that would become the non-overlapped parts of US 202 were parts of longer routes 34 and 58. When US 202 was created in 1935, Route 34 was truncated to US 6 at Sandy Hook, and Route 58 was truncated to US 202 in Bethel.

Major reroute in 1974

On May 1, 1974, US 202 was rerouted in Fairfield and Litchfield counties, giving the highway many more miles to itself. In Danbury, the revised US 202 overlapped US 7 to New Milford, then took over former Route 25 to US 44 in Canton. There, the revised US 202 overlapped US 44 eastward into Avon, where it then rejoined the original alignment with Route 10 into Massachusetts.

US 202 has remained at the 1974 alignment to this day. When the US 7 expressway opened in Brookfield, the US 7 designation was moved there, but US 202 remained on Federal Road.

Past route changes along today's US 202

The part of former Route 25 from Torrington to Canton used to be part of Route 4, until 1963; and the direct connection to US 44 didn't open until Oct. 20, 1961. Before this opened, the only access from US 44 to Route 4 was the southerly Canton-Collinsville route, aka Maple Ave and Dowd Ave, today's SR 565.

Route change proposed in Avon and Simsbury, 1978

In January 1978, Avon officials explored moving the US 202 designation to Route 167, to divert some traffic from the town center on US 44. Route 167 would have kept its designation south of US 44, but would have become part of US 202 north of US 44.

Simsbury's agreement would be needed before the renumbering process, which could take up to a year, could begin. Simsbury officials were concerned about increased traffic past the town's high school, located on Route 167.

The move to change US 202's designation was eventually tabled.

In Brookfield, the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials recommends continuing the four-lane portion of US 202 to Route 133, and adding turning lanes to the current four-lane portion.

Litchfield

In Litchfield, the Route 202 Corridor Management Study Advisory Committee in 2000 announced several recommendations for improving traffic and safety problems between Litchfield and Bantam. These included installing roundabouts at the Route 202/118 and 202/63 intersections. Residents were concerned about taking part of the village green for the roundabouts, and it was agreed to give the Route 63 intersection a lower priority. The intersection at Route 118 has safety problems.

In March 2001, the committee culled the alternatives to three suggestions: move a traffic signal and restripe some roads; install a roundabout at Route 118; or do nothing. Litchfield officials are inclined against any alternative that would impact the green.

New Milford

The state is proposing changes to Route 67 and Grove Street in downtown New Milford to reduce congestion and increase safety. Grove Street would be realigned, and Route 67 and US 202 changed slightly, with the triangular intersection removed. At a December 2001 town hearing, however, about 125 residents spoke up in opposition to the plan, with none in favor.

While not an interstate, there is one other oddity I have noticed: You don't often hear it on the radio, but in the Farmington Valley vernacular, US 202 is unknown. It's multiplexed route is always referenced: "Route 10" or "Route 44".

Michael Adams, commenting on area traffic reports

"1961 Highway Construction." Connecticut Highways, Jan. 1962.
"Route 202 study gets mixed reactions." Register Citizen (Torrington, Conn.), June 1, 2000.
"History under siege." The Republican-American [Waterbury, Conn.], June 5, 2000.
"Route 202 plan narrows." Register Citizen (Torrington, Conn.), March 8, 2001.
Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials Transportation recommendations
"Portions of Routes 63, 118, 254 and 202 in Litchfield designated as scenic roads." ConnDOT press release, Jan. 25, 2002.
"Realigning Route 202 seen as curse or relief." News-Times (Danbury, Conn.), Dec. 19, 2001.
Federal Highway Administration. "U.S. 202-Maine to Delaware." http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us202.htm (3 Dec 2002)
Adams, Michael. "Re: Refusing to acknowledge an Interstate." Post to misc.transport.road, Aug. 13, 2003.

Old number for Coal Pit Hill Road in Danbury, when US 202 was routed along South Street and Main Street. In 1932, the road was numbered Route 58A. In 1935, it became US 202A. On May 1, 1974, when US 202 was relocated, it became unposted SR 842. On Nov. 23, 1982, Coal Pit Hill Road was turned over to the city.

Now only one US alternate route exists in the state: US 1A in Stonington.

Route Change Notice, ConnDOT, Sept. 9, 1982.

Home > Roads > Connecticut > US 202, 202A

Updated Oct 22, 2006

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

Before the first US routes were commissioned in 1926, Connecticut's primary routes were the New England Interstate routes, established in 1922. US 1, 5, 6, and 7 were commissioned in 1926; US 44 and 202, in 1935. 44, and 44A.
	634 miles; from US 40 in Penn Acres, Del. to I-395 (US 2?) in Bangor, Maine. 75.16 miles in Connecticut. Of those 75 miles, US 202 spends 35.41 miles shared with other routes (10, 44, and so on): the longest total in Connecticut. Not even US 6, which seems inseparable from I-84 at times, matches that total. As of Jan. 25, 2002, a 0.47-mile segment of US 202 in Litchfield is designated a state scenic road. The designation runs from Route 118 to Russell Street. US 202 has some pleasant sections near Litchfield. The Danbury News-Times writes: "Running through the heart of Connecticut, this 5.3-mile scenic stretch boasts lush meadows, tree-lined hills and the pristine Nepaug Reservoir." A few miles of US 202 from Route 179 westward are two-lane limited access. There are no medians or interchanges, but the controlled access status prevents curb cuts, driveways, or further intersections.
	US 202 is born In June 1934, the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) approved a multi-state request to establish a new route -- US 202 -- from Bangor, Maine to State Road, Delaware. This was one of several new routes, including US 44, proposed to encourage tourism. The route change took place in 1935. In Connecticut, the original US 202 alignment, southwest to northeast, was: Mill Plain Road and Lake Avenue, New York state line to where I-84 crosses today at exit 4 in Danbury (present-day US 6 and 202) Lake Avenue and West Street, from I-84 exit to Main Street, Danbury (now local roads) Main Street and South Street (today's Route 53) to Greenwood Ave (today's Route 302) in Bethel today's Route 302, entire length, and section of Main Street to US 6, Newtown overlap with US 6 to Route 10, Farmington overlap with Route 10 to Massachusetts state line In short, outside of Danbury, Bethel and Newtown US 202 was redundant, simply overlapping with established routes. From 1932 to 1934, the roads that would become the non-overlapped parts of US 202 were parts of longer routes 34 and 58. When US 202 was created in 1935, Route 34 was truncated to US 6 at Sandy Hook, and Route 58 was truncated to US 202 in Bethel. Major reroute in 1974 On May 1, 1974, US 202 was rerouted in Fairfield and Litchfield counties, giving the highway many more miles to itself. In Danbury, the revised US 202 overlapped US 7 to New Milford, then took over former Route 25 to US 44 in Canton. There, the revised US 202 overlapped US 44 eastward into Avon, where it then rejoined the original alignment with Route 10 into Massachusetts. US 202 has remained at the 1974 alignment to this day. When the US 7 expressway opened in Brookfield, the US 7 designation was moved there, but US 202 remained on Federal Road. Past route changes along today's US 202 The part of former Route 25 from Torrington to Canton used to be part of Route 4, until 1963; and the direct connection to US 44 didn't open until Oct. 20, 1961. Before this opened, the only access from US 44 to Route 4 was the southerly Canton-Collinsville route, aka Maple Ave and Dowd Ave, today's SR 565. Route change proposed in Avon and Simsbury, 1978 In January 1978, Avon officials explored moving the US 202 designation to Route 167, to divert some traffic from the town center on US 44. Route 167 would have kept its designation south of US 44, but would have become part of US 202 north of US 44. Simsbury's agreement would be needed before the renumbering process, which could take up to a year, could begin. Simsbury officials were concerned about increased traffic past the town's high school, located on Route 167. The move to change US 202's designation was eventually tabled.
	In Brookfield, the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials recommends continuing the four-lane portion of US 202 to Route 133, and adding turning lanes to the current four-lane portion. Litchfield In Litchfield, the Route 202 Corridor Management Study Advisory Committee in 2000 announced several recommendations for improving traffic and safety problems between Litchfield and Bantam. These included installing roundabouts at the Route 202/118 and 202/63 intersections. Residents were concerned about taking part of the village green for the roundabouts, and it was agreed to give the Route 63 intersection a lower priority. The intersection at Route 118 has safety problems. In March 2001, the committee culled the alternatives to three suggestions: move a traffic signal and restripe some roads; install a roundabout at Route 118; or do nothing. Litchfield officials are inclined against any alternative that would impact the green. New Milford The state is proposing changes to Route 67 and Grove Street in downtown New Milford to reduce congestion and increase safety. Grove Street would be realigned, and Route 67 and US 202 changed slightly, with the triangular intersection removed. At a December 2001 town hearing, however, about 125 residents spoke up in opposition to the plan, with none in favor.
	While not an interstate, there is one other oddity I have noticed: You don't often hear it on the radio, but in the Farmington Valley vernacular, US 202 is unknown. It's multiplexed route is always referenced: "Route 10" or "Route 44". Michael Adams, commenting on area traffic reports
	"1961 Highway Construction." Connecticut Highways, Jan. 1962. "Route 202 study gets mixed reactions." Register Citizen (Torrington, Conn.), June 1, 2000. "History under siege." The Republican-American [Waterbury, Conn.], June 5, 2000. "Route 202 plan narrows." Register Citizen (Torrington, Conn.), March 8, 2001. Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials Transportation recommendations "Portions of Routes 63, 118, 254 and 202 in Litchfield designated as scenic roads." ConnDOT press release, Jan. 25, 2002. "Realigning Route 202 seen as curse or relief." News-Times (Danbury, Conn.), Dec. 19, 2001. Federal Highway Administration. "U.S. 202-Maine to Delaware." http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us202.htm (3 Dec 2002) Adams, Michael. "Re: Refusing to acknowledge an Interstate." Post to misc.transport.road, Aug. 13, 2003.
	US 202 photos, Mass. (and some CT) (Dan Vincent)

	Old number for Coal Pit Hill Road in Danbury, when US 202 was routed along South Street and Main Street. In 1932, the road was numbered Route 58A. In 1935, it became US 202A. On May 1, 1974, when US 202 was relocated, it became unposted SR 842. On Nov. 23, 1982, Coal Pit Hill Road was turned over to the city. Now only one US alternate route exists in the state: US 1A in Stonington.
	Route Change Notice, ConnDOT, Sept. 9, 1982.