U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 6.

U.S. Route 6 marker

U.S. Route 6
Route information
Maintained by ConnDOT
Length: 116.33 mi[1] (187.21 km)
Existed: 1926 – present
Major junctions
West end: US 6 / US 202 in Southeast, NY
  US 7 in Danbury
Route 9 in Farmington
I-91 in Hartford
Route 2 in East Hartford
I-395 in Killingly
East end: US 6 in Foster, RI
Location
Counties: Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland, Windham
Highway system
  • Routes in Connecticut
US 5US 7

U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 within the state of Connecticut. West of Hartford, the route either closely parallels or runs along Interstate 84. I-84 has largely supplanted Route 6 as a through route in western Connecticut. East of Hartford, Route 6 serves as a primary route for travel between Hartford and Providence. The Connecticut Route 6 segments is 116.33 miles (187.21 km) long.

Route description

Western Connecticut

US 6 enters Connecticut paired with US 202 from the town of Southeast, New York just east of the village of Brewster. The concurrency runs for 3.8 miles (6.1 km) through the city of Danbury as a minor arterial road before it forms a 3.3 miles (5.3 km) 4-way concurrency with Interstate 84 and US 7 from I-84 Exit 4 to Exit 7. At Exit 7, US 7 and US 202 split to the north, while US 6 stays duplexed with I-84 for another 0.8 miles (1.3 km) before returning to surface roads at Exit 8. The route then goes through the towns of Bethel and Newtown. In Newtown, it has a 2.8 miles (4.5 km) concurrency with Route 25 before turning east toward the village of Sandy Hook, where it enters I-84 once again for 6.4 miles (10.3 km) between Newtown and Southbury (from Exits 10 to 15).

After exiting I-84 in Southbury, US 6 once again becomes a surface road, and is duplexed with Route 67 for 2.7 miles (4.3 km). It then passes through the northern Waterbury area suburbs of Woodbury, Watertown and Thomaston. US 6 has a 1.0-mile (1.6 km) overlap with the Route 8 expressway in Thomaston.

Hartford area

After leaving the Route 8 expressway, US 6 continues as an alternating 2 and 4 lane surface road through the towns of Plymouth, Bristol and Farmington. In Farmington, it once again joins I-84 at Exit 38 for 13.4 miles, passing through West Hartford, Hartford, and East Hartford. US 44 joins for 0.25 miles to cross the Connecticut River on the Bulkeley Bridge from Hartford to East Hartford. In Manchester US 6 exits I-84 at Exit 60 and once again joins US 44 for a 6.9 miles (11.1 km) concurrency through Manchester to Bolton just past the eastern terminus of I-384.

Eastern Connecticut

In Bolton, US 6 and US 44 split. US 44 follows a more northerly route while US 6 continues through Bolton, Coventry, Andover and Columbia.

The US 6 Willimantic Bypass begins in Columbia, at a four-way at-grade intersection with Route 66. The expressway starts out heading northeast and immediately crosses into Coventry. After crossing the town line, the eastbound and westbound sides of US 6 split, with a hill in between them. At the split, the eastbound side of the expressway curves and heads east. At this point, the Hop River State Park Trail passes under both sides of the expressway. Soon after, the westbound lane also curves, and the two sides of the expressway soon become parallel again. The expressway then passes over Flanders River Road about 0.25 miles (0.40 km) east. The expressway then crosses the Willimantic River and enters the town of Windham. Right after entering Windham, it overpasses the New England Central Railroad. Immediately after this, there is an interchange with Route 32. After the interchange, the expressway enters Mansfield and passes under Mansfield Avenue before encountering another interchange for Route 195. The eastbound exit and westbound entrance use Mansfield City Road, while the westbound exit accesses Route 195 via North Frontage Road and eastbound access to US 6 is from Route 195 itself. Soon after the eastbound entrance ramp joins Route 6, the expressway crosses the Natchaug River and once again enters Windham. 0.5 miles (0.80 km) after entering Windham, the US 6 Willimantic Bypass ends at an interchange with the eastern end of Route 66, whose roadway US 6 assumes east of the interchange. US 6 then continues as a surface road through the towns of Chaplin, Hampton, and Brooklyn. In Killingly, US 6 becomes a two-lane freeway in the vicinity of its junction with Interstate 395 in Killingly, part of which (0.34 miles (0.55 km)) is duplexed with Route 12. Just before the Rhode Island state line, the unsigned portion of the Connecticut Turnpike (SR 695) merges into US 6 East as it enters the town of Foster

History

Before the creation of the U.S. Highway system in 1926, most of the proposed routing in Connecticut was part of New England Interstate Route 3 (NE-3). There were two places where NE-3 and US 6 were not overlapped. NE-3 began in Bedford, New York at NY 22, entering Connecticut via modern Route 35. NE-3 continued north to Danbury via the old non-expressway alignment of U.S. Route 7. US 6, on the other hand, went east from Brewster on its current alignment, meeting with NE-3 in downtown Danbury.

Another difference in routing is between Manchester and Windham. US 6 originally used a more northern alignment via Coventry, running along present U.S. Route 44 then modern Route 31. NE-3 used current US 6 for its routing. East of Windham, the routes overlapped into Rhode Island. Between 1926 and 1932, NE-3 and US 6 were cosigned where they overlapped. NE-3 was finally deleted in 1932.

Willimantic bypass

Shortly after the eastern start of the bypass

I-84 was to be an expressway that would connect the modern Interstate 384 with the modern U.S. Route 6 Willimantic Bypass. From here, I-84 would continue to Providence. This idea was planned in the 1960s, but abandoned in 2005.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation had planned since the 1960s to upgrade the segment between Bolton and Columbia to an expressway, connecting I-384 to the existing expressway segment in Windham. However, this particular segment of Route 6 passes through an environmentally sensitive area centered around the Hop River. Construction had been planned to begin in the late 1980s, but federal, state, and local officials could not reach an agreement on a feasible route that avoided the Hop River wetlands and development within the towns of Andover, Bolton, Coventry, and Columbia. The affected towns, ConnDOT and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection favored a northern alignment (Alternative 133B), which would avoid the town centers and nearby wetlands. The Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) favored a southerly alignment (Alternative 133 18/25) that would cut through residential and commercial areas as well as the Hop River's adjoining wetlands.

Despite opposition from ConnDOT, the Connecticut DEP, and affected towns, the FHWA issued a Record of Decision and the Army Corps of Engineers issued required permits for Alternative 133 18/25 (southern alignment) in 2001. State and local officials continued to press the Corps of Engineers to approve the northern alignment. Due to the impasse between state, local, and federal officials, federal funds for the bypass were withdrawn in 2003. In 2005, the Capitol Region Council of Governments and ConnDOT removed the Route 6 bypass from planning, hence ConnDOT effectively abandoned further study of the bypass in lieu of upgrading the existing road.

In 2007, ConnDOT is made safety improvements and capacity upgrades to the existing US-6 through Andover, Bolton, and Columbia.

Alternate routes

There have been several routes signed as US 6A in the state.[2] No bannered routes currently exist.

Junction list

All exit numbers are exit numbers for the route which Route 6 overlaps.

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
FairfieldDanbury0.000.00 US 6 / US 202 westContinuation into New York
0.040.064Saw Mill Rd. to I-84 Newburgh, WaterburyExit 1 on I-84
1.031.66Milestone Rd. to I-84 Newburgh, WaterburyExit 2 on I-84
1.101.77Old Ridgebury Rd. to I-84 east WaterburyExit 2A on I-84
4.156.684 I-84 west Newburgh
I-84 east / US 7 north Waterbury, New Milford
Western/Southern terminus of I-84/US-7 overlap
5.619.035 Route 37 / Route 39 / Route 53 Downtown Danbury, Bethel
6.2510.066 Route 37 New FairfieldWestbound exit/eastbound entrance only
7.9712.837 US 7 north / US 202 east Brookfield, New MilfordNorthern/Eastern terminus of US-7/US-202 overlap
8.2613.298 I-84 east WaterburyEastern terminus of I-84 overlap
Newtown11.4518.43 Route 25 north Hawleyville, Brookfield, BridgewaterNorthern terminus of CT 25 overlap
14.2622.95 Route 25 south BridgeportSouthern terminus of CT 25 overlap
15.5224.9810 I-84 west DanburyWestern terminus of I-84 overlap
16.3326.2811 Route 34 east to Route 25 Derby, New Haven, BridgeportAccess via SSR 490
New HavenSouthbury18.9330.4613River Rd.Eastbound exit/westbound entrance only
20.4032.8314 Route 172 north South Britain
21.96–
22.19
35.34–
35.71
15 I-84 east Waterbury
Route 67 south Southford, Oxford, Seymour, New Haven
Eastern terminus of I-84 overlap; Southern terminus of CT 67 overlap
23.7638.24 Route 67 north (Roxbury Rd.)Northern terminus of CT 67 overlap
LitchfieldWoodbury25.9441.75 Route 64 east Middlebury
26.9043.29 Route 317 west Roxbury
27.6044.42 Route 47 north Hotchkissville, Washington
31.4850.66 Route 61 north Bethlehem
Watertown34.5755.64 Route 63 East Morris, Watertown
35.8157.63 Route 262 north Oakville
Thomaston38.6162.14 Route 109 west Morris
39.1262.96 Route 254 north Litchfield
39.4063.4138 Route 8 south WaterburySouthern terminus of CT 8 overlap
40.3965.0039 Route 8 north TorringtonNorthern terminus of CT 8 overlap
40.6165.36 Route 222 north Harwinton
Plymouth41.2866.43 Route 262 south Airport
44.1571.05 Route 72 Harwinton, Bristol
HartfordBristol46.8675.41 Route 69 south WolcottSouthern end of CT 69 overlap.
47.2576.04 Route 69 north BurlingtonNorthern end of CT 69 concurrency
48.3077.73 Route 229 south Southington, Theme Park
Farmington50.9582.00 Route 177 Plainville, Unionville
53.0985.44 Route 10 Plainville, AvonGrade separated; access via Scott Swamp Rd.
55.1588.76Fienemann Rd. to I-84 west WaterburyExit 37 on I-84. Junction with southern end of Birdseye Rd. (SR 549)
55.92–
56.34
89.99–
90.67
38 I-84 west WaterburyWB western terminus of I-84 overlap at MP 56.01 WB, EB western terminus of I-84 overlap at MP 56.34 EB. WB I-84 traffic from US-6 uses Fienemann Rd.
56.2190.4639 Route 4 FarmingtonConnection is SR 508; No connection from US-6 eastbound
56.91–
57.92
91.59–
93.21
39A Route 9 south Newington, New Britain
West Hartford58.1993.6540 Route 71 (New Britain Ave.) Corbins Corner
59.1595.1941S. Main St. Elmwood
59.9796.5142Trout Brook Dr. ElmwoodWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
59.87–
60.32
96.35–
97.08
43Park Rd. West Hartford CenterConnection is SR 501
61.0998.3144Prospect and Oakwood Aves.
Hartford61.8599.5445Flatbush Ave.Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; connection is SR 504
62.37–
62.71
100.37–
100.92
46Sisson Ave.Connection is SR 503
62.96101.3247Sigourney St.Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
63.30–
63.69
101.87–
102.50
48AAsylum St.Signed as exit 48 westbound
63.30101.8748BCapitol Ave.Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
63.91102.8549High St., Trumbull St., Ann Uccello St. XL CenterEastbound exit and westbound entrance
63.96
64.52
102.93
103.83
50Main Street Downtown Hartford
US 44 west (Main Street) Downtown Hartford
Western terminus of US 44 overlap
64.05–
64.55
103.08–
103.88
51 I-91 north SpringfieldAccess to the Bradley International Airport
64.43103.6952 I-91 south New HavenEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Connecticut River64.50–
64.74
103.80–
104.19
Bulkeley Bridge
East Hartford64.87104.4053 US 44 east (Connecticut Blvd.) East HartfordEastern terminus of US 44 overlap; no westbound exit; also connects with East River Drive
65.19104.9154 Route 2 west Downtown HartfordHOV exit; Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
65.10–
65.41
104.77–
105.27
55 Route 2 east Norwich, New London
65.29105.07 I-84 east (Restricted Lanes)Western terminus of I-84 Restricted Lanes
65.29–
65.55
105.07–
105.49
56Governor St. Downtown East HartfordConnection is SR 500
66.76107.4457 Route 15 south to I-91 Charter Oak Bridge, New Haven, N.Y. CityWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
66.56–
67.13
107.12–
108.04
58Roberts St. (SR 518), Silver Ln. (SR 502), Burnside Ave.HOV exit to Silver Lane westbound
68.35110.0059 I-384 east ProvidenceHOV exit to I-384 eastbound. Access to I-384 from US-6 East only
Manchester69.71–
70.09
112.19–
112.80
60 I-84 east Boston
US 44 west
Eastern terminus of I-84 overlap; Western terminus of US 44 overlap.
72.67116.95 Route 83
TollandBolton75.83122.04 Route 85 south Bolton Center, Gay City State Park
76.62123.31 I-384 west Manchester, Hartfordaccess from US-6/44 West only. Eastbound traffic to I-384 West uses CT 85 South
76.95123.84 US 44 east Coventry, MansfieldEastern terminus of US 44 overlap
Andover82.68133.06 Route 316 south Andover, Hebron
83.91135.04 Route 87 south Columbia, Norwich, Lebanon
Columbia87.81141.32 Route 66 Columbia, Middletown, Willimantic
WindhamWindham89.72144.39 Route 32 Stafford Springs, Willimanticgrade separated
TollandMansfield91.94147.96 Route 195 Storrs, University of Connecticutgrade separated
WindhamWindham93.15149.91 Route 66 west Willimantic
95.00152.89 Route 203 south Windham, Lebanon
Chaplin96.96156.04 Route 198 north Chaplin, Phoenixville, Woodstock, PutnamOther end is named Chewnik Rd. which leads to Scotland
Hampton101.30163.03 Route 97 Pomfret, Scotland
Brooklyn107.44172.91 Route 169 Pomfret, Canterbury
Killingly110.96178.57 Route 12 north DanielsonNorthern terminus of CT 12 overlap
111.31179.14 Route 12 south PlainfieldSouthern terminus of CT 12 overlap
111.80179.92 I-395 Norwich, WorcesterI-395 Exits 37W/E, cloverleaf interchange, no access US-6 WB to I-395 SB
116.04186.75 Conn. Turnpike south to I-395 NorwichWestbound exit/eastbound entrance
116.33187.21 US 6 east Providencecontinuation into Rhode Island
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. 1 2 Connecticut Department of Transportation, "Highway Log" (PDF). (1.80 MiB) as of December 31, 2014
  2. Oglesby, Scott. "Connecticut US 6A". Connecticut Roads. Kurumi. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
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U.S. Route 6
Previous state:
New York
Connecticut Next state:
Rhode Island
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