Connecticut Route 42
Encyclopedia
Route 42 is an east–west state highway
in Connecticut
running for 13.58 miles (21.9 km) from Route 67
in Oxford
to Route 10 in Cheshire
.
just east of the town center of Oxford
as Chestnut Tree Hill Road Extension. The route makes several 90-degree turns as it shifts to Chestnut Tree Hill Road and then to Pines Bridge Road. The road soon enters the town of Beacon Falls
, crossing over the Naugatuck River
a mile beyond the town line. Route 42 continues along the east bank of the Naugatuck River via a short (0.25-mi) section of Old Turnpike Road to a partial interchange with Route 8
, where only access to southbound and from northbound Route 8 is possible. Past Route 8, the road becomes known as South Main Street, a divided four-lane road. 0.7 miles (1.1 km) beyond the Route 8 junction, Route 42 turns east onto Bethany Road while South Main Street continues north into Beacon Falls center.
Route 42 again makes several 90-degree turns as it proceeds eastward, shifting from Bethany Road to Munson Road then to Lasky Road. After 2.4 miles (3.9 km), Route 42 enters the town of Bethany
and the road name changes to Beacon Road. About two miles (3 km) later, the road ends at Old Litchfield Turnpike near the junction with Route 63
. Vehicles bound for southbound Route 63 are directed onto the south branch (unsigned State Road 703) while those bound for Route 63 northbound and those following Route 42 are directed on the north branch (Route 42 proper). After overlapping Route 63 for a tenth of a mile, Route 42 continues east on Cheshire Road, intersecting with Route 69
about a mile later. The road then clips the town of Prospect
for about 0.4 miles (as Mountain Road) before entering the town of Cheshire
. In Cheshire, the road name becomes Bethany Mountain Road as it traverses the ridge separating Prospect/Bethany and Cheshire (part of the Metacomet Ridge
). At the end of Bethany Mountain Road, Route 42 turns north onto North Brooksvale Road. The road runs for another 1.8 miles (2.9 km) and ends at Route 10 (South Main Street) south of Cheshire center.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
running for 13.58 miles (21.9 km) from Route 67
Route 67 (Connecticut)
Route 67 is a secondary state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut, from the town of New Milford in the Greater Danbury area to the town of Woodbridge in the outskirts of New Haven. The route runs for .-Route description:...
in Oxford
Oxford, Connecticut
Oxford is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,272 at the 2010 Census. There are several areas in Oxford: Quaker Farms, Riverside and Oxford Center. Oxford belongs to the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development Region and the Central...
to Route 10 in Cheshire
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
.
Route description
Route 42 begins at an intersection with Route 67Route 67 (Connecticut)
Route 67 is a secondary state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut, from the town of New Milford in the Greater Danbury area to the town of Woodbridge in the outskirts of New Haven. The route runs for .-Route description:...
just east of the town center of Oxford
Oxford, Connecticut
Oxford is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,272 at the 2010 Census. There are several areas in Oxford: Quaker Farms, Riverside and Oxford Center. Oxford belongs to the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development Region and the Central...
as Chestnut Tree Hill Road Extension. The route makes several 90-degree turns as it shifts to Chestnut Tree Hill Road and then to Pines Bridge Road. The road soon enters the town of Beacon Falls
Beacon Falls, Connecticut
Beacon Falls is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,246 at the 2000 census. The population increased to 6,049 at the 2010 census. Beacon Falls is also home to the national-known Meteorologist Jim Cantore. Settlers from Derby, Connecticut settled Beacon...
, crossing over the Naugatuck River
Naugatuck River
The Naugatuck River is a river in the US state of Connecticut. It carves out the Naugatuck River Valley. The river flows from northwest Connecticut southward into the Housatonic River in Derby, Connecticut. One of the river's main uses is hydropower, which is used to power industrial plants...
a mile beyond the town line. Route 42 continues along the east bank of the Naugatuck River via a short (0.25-mi) section of Old Turnpike Road to a partial interchange with Route 8
Route 8 (Connecticut)
Route 8 is the portion of the multistate New England Route 8 within the state of Connecticut. It is a state highway running north–south from Bridgeport, through Waterbury, all the way to the Massachusetts state line where it continues as Route 8...
, where only access to southbound and from northbound Route 8 is possible. Past Route 8, the road becomes known as South Main Street, a divided four-lane road. 0.7 miles (1.1 km) beyond the Route 8 junction, Route 42 turns east onto Bethany Road while South Main Street continues north into Beacon Falls center.
Route 42 again makes several 90-degree turns as it proceeds eastward, shifting from Bethany Road to Munson Road then to Lasky Road. After 2.4 miles (3.9 km), Route 42 enters the town of Bethany
Bethany, Connecticut
Bethany is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,040 at the 2000 census. Bethany was first settled in 1717 but it was not until May 1832 that Bethany separated from Woodbridge to become incorporated as a town. This slightly remote, sparsely populated,...
and the road name changes to Beacon Road. About two miles (3 km) later, the road ends at Old Litchfield Turnpike near the junction with Route 63
Route 63 (Connecticut)
Route 63 is a secondary state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut, from New Haven up to Canaan, running for . It connects the Greater New Haven area to Northwestern Connecticut via the western suburbs of Waterbury.-Route description:...
. Vehicles bound for southbound Route 63 are directed onto the south branch (unsigned State Road 703) while those bound for Route 63 northbound and those following Route 42 are directed on the north branch (Route 42 proper). After overlapping Route 63 for a tenth of a mile, Route 42 continues east on Cheshire Road, intersecting with Route 69
Route 69 (Connecticut)
Route 69 is a primary north–south state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut connecting the city of New Haven to the city of Bristol in the western part of Greater Hartford, passing through Greater Waterbury along the way. The route extends north of Bristol as a secondary route into the...
about a mile later. The road then clips the town of Prospect
Prospect, Connecticut
Prospect is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,707 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
for about 0.4 miles (as Mountain Road) before entering the town of Cheshire
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
. In Cheshire, the road name becomes Bethany Mountain Road as it traverses the ridge separating Prospect/Bethany and Cheshire (part of the Metacomet Ridge
Metacomet Ridge
The Metacomet Ridge, Metacomet Ridge Mountains, or Metacomet Range of southern New England, United States, is a narrow and steep fault-block mountain ridge known for its extensive cliff faces, scenic vistas, microclimate ecosystems, and communities of plants considered rare or endangered...
). At the end of Bethany Mountain Road, Route 42 turns north onto North Brooksvale Road. The road runs for another 1.8 miles (2.9 km) and ends at Route 10 (South Main Street) south of Cheshire center.