Route 68 is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut connecting the towns of Durham and Naugatuck.

Route 68 marker
Route 68
Map
Map of central Connecticut with Route 68 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by CTDOT
Length22.09 mi[1] (35.55 km)
Existed1932[2] (extended 1967)–present
Major junctions
West end Route 63 in Naugatuck
Major intersections
East end Route 17 in Durham
Location
CountryUnited States
StateConnecticut
CountiesNew Haven, Middlesex
Highway system
  • Connecticut State Highway System
Route 67 Route 69

Route description

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Route 68 begins at Route 63 in Naugatuck. After crossing the Naugatuck River, it overpasses the Route 8 expressway, with access via Union Street (SR 723) and North Main Street (SR 710). Route 68 then leaves the Naugatuck River Valley and ascends to Prospect, where it intersects Route 69 in the center of town. It then descends once again into Cheshire, where it joins Route 70 for a 3.1 mile concurrency. In the center of Cheshire, the concurrency becomes a 0.15 mile triplex with Route 10. After the Route 70 concurrency ends, Route 68 becomes a 4 lane road as it enters Wallingford. The road narrows to 2 lanes as it passes through Yalesville where it intersects Route 150. After passing under the Wilbur Cross Parkway (Route 15) without an interchange, it meets US 5 at a one-quadrant interchange. Route 68 becomes a 4-lane undivided, partially access controlled road for the next 2.3 miles to its junction with I-91 at Exit 15. After overpassing I-91 and passing a couple of business parks, Route 68 becomes a 2 lane road once again. It then enters Durham, where it passes the southern end of Route 157 before ending at Route 17 in the center of town. [1]

History

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The road connecting Naugatuck and Cheshire was designated in 1922 as State Highway 325. In the 1932 state highway renumbering,[2] former Highway 325 was renumbered to Route 68. The route was later extended east to Middlefield in 1966 along former SR 607 (Wallingford to Middlefield) and SR 730 (Cheshire to Wallingford) via an overlap with Route 70. In 1973 and 1974, parts of Route 68 were rerouted in Wallingford.[3]

Junction list

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
New HavenNaugatuck0.000.00  Route 63 – New Haven, MiddleburyWestern terminus
0.610.98  Route 8 – Waterbury, BridgeportAccess via SSR 723; exit 26 on Route 8
Prospect4.286.89  Route 69 – Waterbury, New Haven
Cheshire7.6712.34 
 
Route 70 west – Waterbury
Western end of Route 70 concurrency
9.3615.06 
 
Route 10 north – Southington, New Haven
Western end of Route 10 concurrency
9.5115.30 
 
Route 10 south – Hamden
Eastern end of Route 10 concurrency
10.7617.32 
 
Route 70 east – Meriden
Eastern end of Route 70 concurrency
Wallingford14.0022.53  Route 150 – Meriden, Wallingford Center
14.6123.51  US 5 – Meriden, New HavenOne-quadrant interchange
16.8327.09  I-91 – New Haven, HartfordExit 16 on I-91
MiddlesexDurham19.5131.40 
 
Route 157 north – Middlefield
Southern terminus of Route 157
22.0935.55  Route 17 – Middletown, New HavenEastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ a b c Connecticut State Highway Log Archived 2015-09-05 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b "Road Conditions in Connecticut". The Hartford Daily Courant. May 27, 1932. p. 14. Retrieved December 24, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Connecticut Routes, Route 68
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