The Map Inside: the Connecticut Officials

I didn't expect any changes for 2001, since the next biennial official map will be released in 2002. However, ConnDOT updated their online PDF town maps, though the page still says 1999. The changes are notable enough to merit comment here.

ConnDOT provides a great service by making available town maps for all 169 Connecticut towns. These PDF maps show nearly all (if not all) public roads by name, all state highways (except the 900 series) by number, and all interchanges with ramp detail.

In January 2001 I downloaded the complete set of 1999 maps (one by one) and burned a CD. I'm glad I did: sometime between January and June ConnDOT released a new set of "1999" town maps. There's no mention on the site of the update, so I don't know when it occurred.

As it turns out, the previous maps are marked "accepted as of Dec. 31, 1998" while the newer ones are marked "accepted as of Dec. 31, 1999."

Above is an earlier map (Dec. 31, 1998), shown at 600% magnification, with detail around the Route 8/Route 15 interchange in Trumbull. Signed state routes (like 15), unsigned "secret" routes (like 711) and local streets are differentiated by color. Interstate routes (not shown here) are in gold. Some maps have thick road lines like Trumbull's, and others have hairlines.

Exit numbers (such as Exit 9 for Route 8 southbound to Route 15) are italicized and underlined.

Above is the later map (Dec. 31, 1999), same magnification, of the same area. The newer maps are black and white, which makes it more difficult (or in some cases impossible) to determine exactly which portions of road are state maintained or not. (However, you can compare the map to the highway log.)

The newer maps have also gone to hairlines for roads, which in general does make them more readable.

Note that "Exit 9" in the old map has become Exit 10.

The new maps also feature a graphic of the state and its town borders, with the town being mapped filled in.

In closing, I miss the color coding and hope ConnDOT brings it back. But the town maps are still quite useful.

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Map excerpts are from maps copyrighted as noted.