West of Hartford, that's most where it remains today eastward, there have been some changes. In 1935, US 44 inherited most of the Route 101 alignment. This may have been built as four lanes a paving contract in 1938 refers to existing four-lane pavement east of Avon center. The highway over Avon Mountain, from Mountain Road in West Hartford, opened to traffic in September 1929. Between 19, all of US 44 east of US 7 was part of a long Route 101. The western half (between Hartford and Canaan) was originally part of a cross-state NE-17 the small part west of US 7 was state highway 121 (1923-1932) and CT 199 (until 1934). It was commissioned on Ma(along with US 202) to encourage tourism. 22, 1985Īs its out-of-place number implies, US 44 was not one of the original US routes in Connecticut ( US 1, US 5, US 6 and US 7). Colin McEnroe, 'So Break out the Bubbly for Route 44', Hartford Courant, Feb. Route Numbering and Location Once the state started numbering roads, it went a little crazy. It splits off from both at the eastern bank, but rejoins US 6 in Manchester.Īt Bolton Notch, just east of the end of I-384, US 44 splits from US 6 in a Y-interchange that resembles the 44/202 split in Canton, except the Bolton one is grade separated.Īt two lanes again, US 44 passes through small towns until reaching Putnam, now a major attraction for antique shoppers and then into Rhode Island. The highway continues through West Hartford and Hartford, then crosses the Bulkeley Bridge with US 6 and I-84. This busy, commercialized arterial continues toward Hartford, while US 202 turns north with Route 10 at Avon.Īscending Talcott Mountain, Route 44 has a narrow median divider, part of safety improvements in the area. In Winsted it widens to four lanes, with a landscaped median in parts.Īt Canton, US 44 merges with US 202 in a channelized Y-intersection and widens to four lanes.

In the countryside, it's a scenic two lane road, connecting the two 'quiet corners' of the state. Some wags say US 44 has only two-thirds the kicks of US 66 but it's still a nice drive. US 44 is one of just a few highways in Connecticut that cross two state lines: the New York line at Salisbury and the Rhode Island line at Putnam.

Rt 44 automile