From Wethersfield until its terminus in East Hartford, Route 15 runs along the Wilbur Cross Highway (5.59 miles). It crosses the Connecticut River on the Charter Oak Bridge between Hartford and East Hartford and terminates at an interchange with I-84 in East Hartford. This highway serves as a bypass for motorists traveling from Interstate 91 north to Interstate 84 east.
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| The Berlin Turnpike exits from U.S. 5/Route 15 and continues on as Route 314 towards Maple Avenue. U.S. 5/Route 15 jog to the northeast to eventually meet up with Interstate 91, which they have been paralleling since Meriden. 06/01/09 |
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| Close-up of the gore point where the Berlin Turnpike and U.S. 5/Route 15 part ways. 06/01/09 |
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| This old bridge with a low 13'7" clearance dates to the 1940's when the highway was built. 06/01/09 |
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| The speed limit for the entire duration of the Wilbur Cross Highway is 55 mph. 06/01/09 |
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| Unmarked Exit 85 for Route 99 (Silas Deane Highway) leads to either the State Labor Department or to a branch of the Motor Vehicle Department. Because of the state capital of Hartford's small size at 15 square miles, there a several state offices that are located outside of it. Another example of this is the Connecticut Department of Transportation being located on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington. 06/01/09 |
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| One of the late 2000s installed VMS (Variable Messaging System) displays that are located on major highways throughout the state. During peak travel hours, this particular sign tends to notify motorists of delays on Interstate 91, which the Wilbur Cross Highway meets in one mile. 06/01/09 |
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| Entering the parclo interchange (Exit 85) with Route 99 (Silas Deane Highway) in Wethersfield along Wilbur Cross Highway north. 06/01/09 |
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| The highway heads more north as it crosses into the city of Hartford. The exits begin to get numbered again, beginning with Exit 86 for Interstate 91 south to New Haven and New York City. The overhead sign is incorrect as it implies that Interstate 91 and Route 15 are currently cosigned; the correct reading should be "North U.S. 5 / Route 15 TO Interstate 91". 06/01/09 |
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| Exit 87 serves interests to Hartford-Brainard Airport (HFD), a regional airport, Brainard Road and Airport Road. The overpasses ahead carry the north and southbound travel lanes for Interstate 91. 06/01/09 |
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| The southbound off-ramp to Brainard Road crosses overhead. Due to its narrow span, there are only three total lanes passing under it; two northbound and one southbound. Motorists are advised to stay in the left lanes for the Charter Oak Bridge, which carries the Wilbur Cross Highway over the Connecticut River. At this point, Interstate 91 is to the left of U.S. 5/Route 15 running parallel to it. 06/01/09 |
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| The left two lanes continue onward to the Charter Oak Bridge to East Hartford and Boston, while the right two lanes serve Interstate 91 north to Interstate 84 west. 06/01/09 |
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| The Wilbur Cross Highway approaches Route 2 almost immediately after crossing the Connecticut River before ending at the merge with Interstate 84 east. 06/01/09 |
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| The road ascends as it approaches the Charter Oak Bridge to cross the Connecticut River. At Exit 90, U.S. 5 and Route 15 end their long cosigning as U.S. 5 transitions onto Main Street in East Hartford. This exit also serves Route 2 to Norwich, and East River Drive. 06/01/09 |
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| The next two Exits, 90 and 91, serve East Hartford. Exit 90 emerges from U.S. 5/Route 15 north as they cross over Route 2. 06/01/09 |
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| Exit 90 parts ways with Route 15 east. The off-ramp splits with a loop ramp to Route 2 and a directional ramp to the folded diamond interchange with Main Street. U.S. 5 takes Main Street north to a short overlap with U.S. 44 through East Hartford. 06/01/09 |
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| The half diamond interchange (Exit 91) with Silver Lane is the last exit for the Route 15 (Wilbur Cross Highway). Silver Lane is a major east-west arterial in East Hartford that parallels Interstate 84 to the south. Beyond the merge onto Interstate 84, motorists with at least two passengers may use the left exit to access the HOV lane. There should be a "TO" in between the Route 15 and Interstate 84 shields. 06/01/09 |
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| Instead of a Route 15 reassurance shield, we now see a "TO East Interstate 84/384" assembly as the road travels over Silver Lane. There are no more indications that this highway is Route 15. 06/01/09 |
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| Overhead from front to back is the Interstate 84 eastbound HOV lane, Interstate 84 eastbound mainline, and the Interstate 84 westbound HOV lane. 06/01/09 |
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| The option to use the HOV lane comes after Route 15 merges with mainline Interstate 84. Route 15 loops back underneath the Interstate 84 eastbound and westbound HOV lanes in order to merge with Interstate 84 east. 06/01/09 |
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| Route 15 (Wilbur Cross Highway) ends at Interstate 84 with little fanfare, as it is uncommon for the ends of highways/freeways to be signed in Connecticut. The two travel lanes join with the three existing eastbound lanes from Interstate 84 to make it five lanes wide until the western terminus of Interstate 384. The ramp entering from the left is the I-84 eastbound HOV-2 lane. From here, east until the Massachusetts state line, Interstate 84 is considered to be the continuation of the Wilbur Cross Highway, but it is not signed as such. 06/01/09 |
Page Updated 06-01-2009.
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