Connecticut US 5, 5A

311 miles; from I-91 in New Haven to Canadian border at Derby Line, Vt. 54.59 miles within Connecticut.

US 5 is a four-lane boulevard in these locations:

the Berlin Turnpike, between Route 15 in Meriden and Route 314 in Wethersfield. The Berlin Turnpike features non-freeway interchanges at Route 372 and Route 175.
starting at Main Street in East Hartford through South Windsor to the East Windsor border
a short section of King Street in Enfield, just north of I-91. (See Old King St for the old US 5 here.)

US 5 is four lanes undivided in some congested locations, and also shares a freeway with Route 15 from the Berlin Turnpike to Main Street in East Hartford.

In Wallingford, US 5 has a grade-separated intersection with Route 68.

In 1922, when route numbering debuted in Connecticut, much of US 5 was marked New England Interstate route NE-2. In 1926, US 5 was created, leading from New Haven to downtown Hartford, across the Bulkeley Bridge, and north through Enfield into Massachusetts. An alternate route north from Hartford, US 5A, was created on the west side of the Connecticut River. That's now Route 159.

In the 1930s, the State Street portion of US 5 in North Haven and New Haven was called US 5A; at the time, US 5 instead followed Maple Ave. (today's Route 103) and Middletown Ave. (today's Route 17) into New Haven.

In the 1940s, US 5 took a route around downtown New Haven to meet US 1 near the West Haven line. From State Street, US 5 followed Edwards Street and Henry Street to Sherman Avenue; then south on Sherman to Winthrop Avenue; then southwest on Davenport Avenue to intersect US 1 where Route 10 does now. Edwards and Henry Streets were later a part of Route 80, but they are locally maintained now.

In South Windsor, US 5 first used Main Street, until a four-lane divided section was built to the east in 1942. Main Street became US 5A for a few years, but is locally maintained now. In Enfield, a short section of King Street was upgraded to four lanes divided at about the same time. (its old alignment is Old King Street).

Also in 1942, the Berlin Turnpike was being upgraded to a four-lane divided highway.

In Hartford, US 5 originally passed through downtown, entering on Maple Street, and then crossing into East Hartford on the only bridge in the area, the Bulkeley. In 1942 the Charter Oak Bridge opened, and still carries US 5 today. Late 1945 saw the opening of the 4.5-mile South Meadows Expressway (now part of US 5/ Route 15), which had been delayed by World War II restrictions.

Relocated US 5 and Interstate 284

In 1963, the state unveiled a plan to relocated US 5 as a four-lane expressway from I-84 in East Hartford to I-91 in East Windsor. This was never implemented, although the Governor Street ramps in East Hartford (SR 500) would have been the southern terminus. In the 1970s, this proposal was called Interstate 284; see the I-284 page for more details.

Commercial development in Wallingford has generated plans for widening US 5 in the area between Routes 15 and 68. A late 1990s study by the Cheshire engineering firm Milone & MacBroom recommended that US 5 be widened to six lanes beneath the Route 15 bridge, but the bridge, recently rehabilitated by the state, isn't wide enough. US 5 is likely to get four lanes from there to Route 68.

In January 2003, a bill was introduced to the General Assembly calling for "[A] new railroad crossing... over Route 5 in South Windsor... [t]o foster further economic development along the Route 291 corridor." It's not clear whether the sponsor means a new roadway overpassing both the railroad and US 5, since they parallel each other closely in South Windsor near I-291.

"Survey Plots Expressway Plans." Hartford Times, Jan. 1, 1963.
"Route 5 study could start this week: Wallingford wary of growth." Hartford Courant, Sept. 11, 1995.
Proposed Bill No. 5680 to the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, January session, 2003.

Berlin Turnpike
Charter Oak Bridge
Route 15
Interstate 284
US 5: A Highway to History (Chronos Historical Services) In-depth history of US 5 in the Springfield, Mass. area (not CT, but still of interest)

There have been several US 5A's in the state, all gone now:

Hartford north (c. 1926 - Oct. 24, 1968): a long segment from Hartford to Agawam, Mass., now Route 159. The southern end was moved a few times; historical US 5A was usually a bit longer than Route 159 is today.
In 1942, it extended 21.12 miles, from US 5 in Hartford to the state line. In 1944, possibly because US 5 had been relocated to the Charter Oak Bridge opening, US 5A now extended to the Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield (using part of today's Route 314). This route followed Maple Avenue, Washington Street, Capitol Avenue, Trinity Avenue, High Street, and Main Street into Windsor. As the dike boulevard and North Meadows Expressway (today's I-91) were completed, US 5A was routed along those highways instead, then turning at today's Route 159 in Wilson.
East Hartford north (1942 - c. 1945): Main Street in South Windsor, originally US 5 before the four-lane US 5 opened in 1942
Berlin (c. 1940 - Mar. 29, 1963): Worthington Ridge Road, formerly part of US 5
Meriden - Wallingford: a 7-mile section including Old Colony Road; deleted Mar. 29, 1963.
New Haven: (c. 1926 - c. 1940): State Street south from today's Route 22; now part of US 5
New Haven: (c. 1950s - 1960s): Maple Avenue (today's Route 103) and Middletown Avenue (today's Route 17) from North Haven to New Haven; early US 5

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

"State Highway Dept. List (sic) Route Designation Changes." New Haven Register, March 1, 1963.
"D'Addario scheduled." Hartford Courant, Oct. 25, 1968. (includes para about 5A/159 change)

Home > Roads > Connecticut > US 5, 5A

Updated Oct 19, 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.
	311 miles; from I-91 in New Haven to Canadian border at Derby Line, Vt. 54.59 miles within Connecticut. US 5 is a four-lane boulevard in these locations: the Berlin Turnpike, between Route 15 in Meriden and Route 314 in Wethersfield. The Berlin Turnpike features non-freeway interchanges at Route 372 and Route 175. starting at Main Street in East Hartford through South Windsor to the East Windsor border a short section of King Street in Enfield, just north of I-91. (See Old King St for the old US 5 here.) US 5 is four lanes undivided in some congested locations, and also shares a freeway with Route 15 from the Berlin Turnpike to Main Street in East Hartford. In Wallingford, US 5 has a grade-separated intersection with Route 68.
	In 1922, when route numbering debuted in Connecticut, much of US 5 was marked New England Interstate route NE-2. In 1926, US 5 was created, leading from New Haven to downtown Hartford, across the Bulkeley Bridge, and north through Enfield into Massachusetts. An alternate route north from Hartford, US 5A, was created on the west side of the Connecticut River. That's now Route 159. In the 1930s, the State Street portion of US 5 in North Haven and New Haven was called US 5A; at the time, US 5 instead followed Maple Ave. (today's Route 103) and Middletown Ave. (today's Route 17) into New Haven. In the 1940s, US 5 took a route around downtown New Haven to meet US 1 near the West Haven line. From State Street, US 5 followed Edwards Street and Henry Street to Sherman Avenue; then south on Sherman to Winthrop Avenue; then southwest on Davenport Avenue to intersect US 1 where Route 10 does now. Edwards and Henry Streets were later a part of Route 80, but they are locally maintained now. In South Windsor, US 5 first used Main Street, until a four-lane divided section was built to the east in 1942. Main Street became US 5A for a few years, but is locally maintained now. In Enfield, a short section of King Street was upgraded to four lanes divided at about the same time. (its old alignment is Old King Street). Also in 1942, the Berlin Turnpike was being upgraded to a four-lane divided highway. In Hartford, US 5 originally passed through downtown, entering on Maple Street, and then crossing into East Hartford on the only bridge in the area, the Bulkeley. In 1942 the Charter Oak Bridge opened, and still carries US 5 today. Late 1945 saw the opening of the 4.5-mile South Meadows Expressway (now part of US 5/ Route 15), which had been delayed by World War II restrictions. Relocated US 5 and Interstate 284 In 1963, the state unveiled a plan to relocated US 5 as a four-lane expressway from I-84 in East Hartford to I-91 in East Windsor. This was never implemented, although the Governor Street ramps in East Hartford (SR 500) would have been the southern terminus. In the 1970s, this proposal was called Interstate 284; see the I-284 page for more details.
	Commercial development in Wallingford has generated plans for widening US 5 in the area between Routes 15 and 68. A late 1990s study by the Cheshire engineering firm Milone & MacBroom recommended that US 5 be widened to six lanes beneath the Route 15 bridge, but the bridge, recently rehabilitated by the state, isn't wide enough. US 5 is likely to get four lanes from there to Route 68. In January 2003, a bill was introduced to the General Assembly calling for "[A] new railroad crossing... over Route 5 in South Windsor... [t]o foster further economic development along the Route 291 corridor." It's not clear whether the sponsor means a new roadway overpassing both the railroad and US 5, since they parallel each other closely in South Windsor near I-291.
	"Survey Plots Expressway Plans." Hartford Times, Jan. 1, 1963. "Route 5 study could start this week: Wallingford wary of growth." Hartford Courant, Sept. 11, 1995. Proposed Bill No. 5680 to the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, January session, 2003.
	Berlin Turnpike Charter Oak Bridge Route 15 Interstate 284 US 5: A Highway to History (Chronos Historical Services) In-depth history of US 5 in the Springfield, Mass. area (not CT, but still of interest)

	There have been several US 5A's in the state, all gone now: Hartford north (c. 1926 - Oct. 24, 1968): a long segment from Hartford to Agawam, Mass., now Route 159. The southern end was moved a few times; historical US 5A was usually a bit longer than Route 159 is today. In 1942, it extended 21.12 miles, from US 5 in Hartford to the state line. In 1944, possibly because US 5 had been relocated to the Charter Oak Bridge opening, US 5A now extended to the Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield (using part of today's Route 314). This route followed Maple Avenue, Washington Street, Capitol Avenue, Trinity Avenue, High Street, and Main Street into Windsor. As the dike boulevard and North Meadows Expressway (today's I-91) were completed, US 5A was routed along those highways instead, then turning at today's Route 159 in Wilson. East Hartford north (1942 - c. 1945): Main Street in South Windsor, originally US 5 before the four-lane US 5 opened in 1942 Berlin (c. 1940 - Mar. 29, 1963): Worthington Ridge Road, formerly part of US 5 Meriden - Wallingford: a 7-mile section including Old Colony Road; deleted Mar. 29, 1963. New Haven: (c. 1926 - c. 1940): State Street south from today's Route 22; now part of US 5 New Haven: (c. 1950s - 1960s): Maple Avenue (today's Route 103) and Middletown Avenue (today's Route 17) from North Haven to New Haven; early US 5 Now only one US alternate route exists in the state: US 1A in Stonington.
	"State Highway Dept. List (sic) Route Designation Changes." New Haven Register, March 1, 1963. "D'Addario scheduled." Hartford Courant, Oct. 25, 1968. (includes para about 5A/159 change)