Home > Route Selection > US 5 > History > Connecticut

Route History for US 5 in Connecticut

• In 1926, the route US 5 now follows was numbered as NE 2. The route was paved, and generally followed US 5's current path. In East Windsor, NE 2 followed what is now Depot Hill Rd., North Main St. and Main St. Between East Windsor Hill and East Hartford, NE 2 followed what is now Main St. In East Hartford and Hartford, NE 2 followed what is now Connecticut Blvd., Main St., and Maple Ave. In Berlin, NE 2 followed what is now Worthington Rd. Through Meriden, NE 2 followed what is now North Colony St., Main St., and CT 71. Through North Haven and New Haven, NE 2 followed what is now Maple Ave., Quinnipiac Ave., Middletown Ave., and State St.
• By 1928, NE 2 had been renumbered US 5.
• By 1950, US 5 had been rerouted to its current path and had been widened between East Windsor Hill and Meriden. In addition, the Wilbur Cross Parkway had been completed between Meriden and New Haven, largely replacing US 5 as a major through route in this area.
• By 1961, I 91 was completed between the Massachusetts state line and Hartford, replacing US 5 as a major through route in north-central Connecticut.
• Between 1963 and 1968, I 91 was completed in Connecticut, replacing US 5 as a major through route.

Key to Abbreviations for Route Numbers:

• US - US Highway
• NE - New England Interstate Highway (Pre-dates US highway system)
• I - Interstate Highway (Eisenhower Interstate System)
• CT - Connecticut State Highway

External websites of interest:

• A large amount of historical information about US 5 in Connecticut is available at Connecticut US 5, 5A.

Welcome Page | Route Selection | US 5 Main Page | History of US 5 | US 5 History in Massachusetts | Site Map