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Route 159 (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Route 159 is a state highway connecting the Hartford
and Springfield
areas in the U.S. state
s of Connecticut
and Massachusetts
. It begins as the northern extension of Main Street in Hartford
and proceeds northward along the west bank of the Connecticut River
towards Agawam, Massachusetts
. The route ends at the junction of Route 147 and Route 75 in Agawam center just south of the West Springfield
city line. The route was originally designated as U.S. Route 5A in 1932 and was renumbered to its modern designation in 1968.
. The road runs along the west bank of the Connecticut River
, crossing Interstate 91 a second time. It goes through the towns of Windsor, Windsor Locks, and Suffield (bypassing Suffield center) before crossing the state line into the city of Agawam. In Agawam, Route 159 signage ends at Route 57, but the official route continues north along Main Street to the intersection of Route 75 and Route 147 in downtown Agawam.
Modern Route 159 roughly follows the path of the Upper Boston Post Road between Hartford and Springfield. In the 1920s, current Route 159 in Connecticut, with a few minor exceptions, was a primary state road designated as State Highway 110. Around 1930, the continuation in Massachusetts was numbered as State Route 5A, which ran along Main Street but continued north along River Road to the South End Bridge, where it crossed into Springfield
to connect with U.S. Route 5
. In the 1932 state highway renumbering
, the route in both Connecticut and Massachusetts was designated as U.S. Route 5A. However, by 1938, Massachusetts redesignated its portion of the route as State Route 5A, truncating US 5A to the state line. The new State Route 5A was also relocated to follow Main Street into West Springfield, then continuing along River Street, Park Street, and Elm Street, where it ended at US 5. In 1968, Connecticut decommissioned its U.S. Route 5A and the road was redesignated in both states as Route 159. The portion in West Springfield, which was not state-maintained, became an unnumbered road.
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
and Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
areas in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s of 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...
and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. It begins as the northern extension of Main Street in Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
and proceeds northward along the west bank of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
towards Agawam, Massachusetts
Agawam, Massachusetts
The Town of Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,438 at the 2010 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts...
. The route ends at the junction of Route 147 and Route 75 in Agawam center just south of the West Springfield
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
city line. The route was originally designated as U.S. Route 5A in 1932 and was renumbered to its modern designation in 1968.
Route description
Route 159 officially begins at the Hartford-Windsor town line as Windsor Avenue, near an interchange with I-91Interstate 91
Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
. The road runs along the west bank of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, crossing Interstate 91 a second time. It goes through the towns of Windsor, Windsor Locks, and Suffield (bypassing Suffield center) before crossing the state line into the city of Agawam. In Agawam, Route 159 signage ends at Route 57, but the official route continues north along Main Street to the intersection of Route 75 and Route 147 in downtown Agawam.
Special designations
Route 159 in Windsor is also known as the Kasmir Pulaski Memorial Highway.History
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
to connect with U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...
. In the 1932 state highway renumbering
1932 state highway renumbering (Connecticut)
In 1932, the Highway Department of the U.S. state of Connecticut , decided to completely renumber all its state highways. The only exceptions were the U.S. Highways and some of the New England Interstate Routes. Between 1922 and 1932, Connecticut used a state highway numbering system shared with...
, the route in both Connecticut and Massachusetts was designated as U.S. Route 5A. However, by 1938, Massachusetts redesignated its portion of the route as State Route 5A, truncating US 5A to the state line. The new State Route 5A was also relocated to follow Main Street into West Springfield, then continuing along River Street, Park Street, and Elm Street, where it ended at US 5. In 1968, Connecticut decommissioned its U.S. Route 5A and the road was redesignated in both states as Route 159. The portion in West Springfield, which was not state-maintained, became an unnumbered road.