Route 2 East - Hartford to Glastonbury

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Connecticut Route 2

Connecticut Route 2 begins as a continuation of State Street (just east of Columbus Blvd) near Interstate 91 in Downtown Hartford. It starts out heading east toward East Hartford. Route 2 then crosses the Connecticut River on the Founders Bridge and has a partial interchange with Interstate 91 at the crossing. Right after crossing into East Hartford, there is a complex interchange with Interstate 84. Immediately after this interchange, Route 2 heads southeast in the direction of Glastonbury. There is a partial interchange with Route 15 about 0.75 miles (1.21 km) further. After East Hartford, Route 2 enters Glastonbury. At the East Hartford-Glastonbury town line, there is a full trumpet interchange with Route 3. About 1 mile (1.6 km) after this interchange, there is a partial interchange with Route 17.

Connecticut Route 2 East
Route 2 begins just on the other side of this intersection with Columbus Blvd. There is no signed Exit 1; it may not exist at all, or two possibilities include the terminus being Exit 1 or else the ramp for Interstate 91 south.

Route 2 begins just on the other side of this intersection with Columbus Blvd. There is no signed Exit 1; it may not exist at all, or two possibilities include the terminus being Exit 1 or else the ramp for Interstate 91 south.

06/01/09

The midway point of the Founders Bridge marks the transition from Hartford to East Hartford. The Founders Bridge is seven lanes wide: 4 lanes westbound, 3 lanes eastbound.

The midway point of the Founders Bridge marks the transition from Hartford to East Hartford. The Founders Bridge is seven lanes wide: 4 lanes westbound, 3 lanes eastbound.

06/01/09

Exit 3 actually comes before Exit 2 and serves East River Drive and Pitkin Street. Norwich and New London are used as the control cities for Route 2. Motorists wishing to stay on Route 2 must stay in the left most lane.

Exit 3 actually comes before Exit 2 and serves East River Drive and Pitkin Street. Norwich and New London are used as the control cities for Route 2. Motorists wishing to stay on Route 2 must stay in the left most lane.

06/01/09

The two right lanes carry motorists to a merge with Interstate 84 west. Drivers with two or more passengers have the opportunity to use the separate HOV lane once on Interstate 84. Listing East Hartford as a control city for Exit 2 is a bit of a misnomer since Route 2 is currently in East Hartford and has several more exits in the city before it enters Glastonbury to the south. Route 2 continues on briefly as a single lane ramp before merging with other ramps to form a multi-lane mainline again.

The two right lanes carry motorists to a merge with Interstate 84 west. Drivers with two or more passengers have the opportunity to use the separate HOV lane once on Interstate 84. Listing East Hartford as a control city for Exit 2 is a bit of a misnomer since Route 2 is currently in East Hartford and has several more exits in the city before it enters Glastonbury to the south. Route 2 continues on briefly as a single lane ramp before merging with other ramps to form a multi-lane mainline again.

06/01/09

A ramp from Interstate 84 west joins Route 2 to creates two eastbound lanes again.

A ramp from Interstate 84 west joins Route 2 to creates two eastbound lanes again.

06/01/09

The first reassurance shield for Route 2. All previous indications of the route number were in overhead signs.

The first reassurance shield for Route 2. All previous indications of the route number were in overhead signs.

06/01/09

The left two lanes joining are from Governor Street and from Interstate 84 east. The road is briefly 4 lanes wide, however the right lane ends shortly thereafter. There is an Exit 4 westbound, but none eastbound. The speed limit posted on this stretch is 50 mph due to the curving nature of the road, little to no shoulders and frequent merges due to lanes ending.

The left two lanes joining are from Governor Street and from Interstate 84 east. The road is briefly 4 lanes wide, however the right lane ends shortly thereafter. There is an Exit 4 westbound, but none eastbound. The speed limit posted on this stretch is 50 mph due to the curving nature of the road, little to no shoulders and frequent merges due to lanes ending.

06/01/09

U.S. 5/Route 15 (Wilbur Cross Highway) pass overhead in their eastern approach to the Charter Oak Bridge. The left lane also merges bringing the mainline back to just two lanes.

U.S. 5/Route 15 (Wilbur Cross Highway) pass overhead in their eastern approach to the Charter Oak Bridge. The left lane also merges bringing the mainline back to just two lanes.

06/01/09

Exit 5 serves Riverside Drive for the late 2000s expanded Goodwin College, as well as Willow Street. At this point travelers will have noticed that there are multiple forms of Exit 5. In all, there are Exits 5, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D. There has been no official explanation provided for five distinct exits being signed as though they use the same off-ramp, other than speculation that a future expressway would have ran through the area and would have eliminated them.

Exit 5 serves Riverside Drive for the late 2000s expanded Goodwin College, as well as Willow Street. At this point travelers will have noticed that there are multiple forms of Exit 5. In all, there are Exits 5, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D. There has been no official explanation provided for five distinct exits being signed as though they use the same off-ramp, other than speculation that a future expressway would have ran through the area and would have eliminated them.

06/01/09

From this point until the junction with Route 17, Route 2 follows the road that was originally called the East Hartford-Glastonbury Expressway and was constructed in 1952. Its dating is apparent in the minimal space given for the median as well as its narrow shoulder. Exit 5A leads motorists to High Street, which runs parallel to Main Street in East Hartford and Glastonbury.

From this point until the junction with Route 17, Route 2 follows the road that was originally called the East Hartford-Glastonbury Expressway and was constructed in 1952. Its dating is apparent in the minimal space given for the median as well as its narrow shoulder. Exit 5A leads motorists to High Street, which runs parallel to Main Street in East Hartford and Glastonbury.

06/01/09

The Sutton Avenue exit, 5B, is a short road that is only a few hundred feet long that ties Main Street to the residential neighborhoods east of Route 2.
2 photos

The Sutton Avenue exit, 5B, is a short road that is only a few hundred feet long that ties Main Street to the residential neighborhoods east of Route 2.

06/01/09

As with the previous exit, this one serves a road, Maple Street that runs perpendicular to Main Street. The area around this exit is primarily residential.

As with the previous exit, this one serves a road, Maple Street that runs perpendicular to Main Street. The area around this exit is primarily residential.

06/01/09

The speed limit rises to 55 mph in anticipation of the road straightening out and the spacing between the exits increasing.

The speed limit rises to 55 mph in anticipation of the road straightening out and the spacing between the exits increasing.

06/01/09

The last iteration of Exit 5 is next, Exit 5D. This exit provides a ramp to a the three mile expressway portion of Route 3. The expressway had initially been part of the cancelled I-491, which would have been a partial beltway around Hartford. The expressway part of Route 3 leads to Interstate 91 by crossing the Connecticut River via the Putnam Bridge. This style of gantry is relatively new in Connecticut, and was the result of reconstruction and repaving of the East Hartford-Glastonbury Expressway segment of Route 2.

The last iteration of Exit 5 is next, Exit 5D. This exit provides a ramp to a the three mile expressway portion of Route 3. The expressway had initially been part of the cancelled I-491, which would have been a partial beltway around Hartford. The expressway part of Route 3 leads to Interstate 91 by crossing the Connecticut River via the Putnam Bridge. This style of gantry is relatively new in Connecticut, and was the result of reconstruction and repaving of the East Hartford-Glastonbury Expressway segment of Route 2.

06/01/09

Route 2 crosses the town line for Glastonbury in the midst of the interchange with Route 3. Griswold Street serves high end retailers and restaurants, as Glastonbury is one of the wealthier towns in the state.

Route 2 crosses the town line for Glastonbury in the midst of the interchange with Route 3. Griswold Street serves high end retailers and restaurants, as Glastonbury is one of the wealthier towns in the state.

06/01/09

A unique diagrammatic sign displays the partial interchange with Route 17, as well as the exit for Route 94 (Hebron Avenue) immediately after. The shape of the road in the diagram is a good approximation of what the interchange is like, however one small critique is that there are no dashed lines indicating the number of lanes going to each possible route.

A unique diagrammatic sign displays the partial interchange with Route 17, as well as the exit for Route 94 (Hebron Avenue) immediately after. The shape of the road in the diagram is a good approximation of what the interchange is like, however one small critique is that there are no dashed lines indicating the number of lanes going to each possible route.

06/01/09

The left lane defaults onto Route 17, a 1.4 mile freeway that transitions to two lane arterial road, to Portland.

The left lane defaults onto Route 17, a 1.4 mile freeway that transitions to two lane arterial road, to Portland.

06/01/09

Motorists intending on taking Exit 8 for Route 94 (Hebron Avenue) must be prepared as it is only 1/4 mile past Exit 7.

Motorists intending on taking Exit 8 for Route 94 (Hebron Avenue) must be prepared as it is only 1/4 mile past Exit 7.

06/01/09

Exit 8 for Route 94 (Hebron Avenue) is the last exit for the retail and business section of Glastonbury Center. Route 2 gains ground as it crosses over the top of recently formed Route 17.

Exit 8 for Route 94 (Hebron Avenue) is the last exit for the retail and business section of Glastonbury Center. Route 2 gains ground as it crosses over the top of recently formed Route 17.

06/01/09

As the road finishes passing over Route 17, the speed limit increase to 65 mph is a result of the Route 2 transition from an urban/suburban freeway with frequent exits to a rural freeway with fewer exits. This section of Route 2 is newer than the previous East Hartford-Glastonbury Expressway section as evidenced by more gradual turning radii and an overall straighter path.

As the road finishes passing over Route 17, the speed limit increase to 65 mph is a result of the Route 2 transition from an urban/suburban freeway with frequent exits to a rural freeway with fewer exits. This section of Route 2 is newer than the previous East Hartford-Glastonbury Expressway section as evidenced by more gradual turning radii and an overall straighter path.

06/01/09

The Neipsic Road exit can only be accessed from eastbound Route 2, and motorists on Neipsic Road can only access Route 2 westbound. Thus the purpose of this exit is to facilitate commuter movement from the scattered subdivisions in East Glastonbury to points closer to the center of the Hartford metropolitan area.

The Neipsic Road exit can only be accessed from eastbound Route 2, and motorists on Neipsic Road can only access Route 2 westbound. Thus the purpose of this exit is to facilitate commuter movement from the scattered subdivisions in East Glastonbury to points closer to the center of the Hartford metropolitan area.

06/01/09

One half mile ahead of Exit 9 onto Neipsic Road along Route 2 east.

One half mile ahead of Exit 9 onto Neipsic Road along Route 2 east.

06/01/09

Exit 9 departs Route 2 east for Neipsic Road east to Brook Street and west to New London Turnpike.

Exit 9 departs Route 2 east for Neipsic Road east to Brook Street and west to New London Turnpike.

06/01/09

The more pastoral nature of the freeway is confirmed by the sign notifying drivers that deer sometimes cross the road for the next two miles.

The more pastoral nature of the freeway is confirmed by the sign notifying drivers that deer sometimes cross the road for the next two miles.

06/01/09

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Page Updated Wednesday June 03, 2009.