Connecticut Route 349
{{Short description|State highway in New London County, Connecticut, US}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=CT
|type=CT
|route=349
|alternate_name=Clarence B. Sharp Highway
|map=Connecticut Route 349 Map.svg
|map_notes=Map of New London County in southeastern Connecticut with Route 349 highlighted in red
|length_mi=4.17
|length_round=2
|established=1985
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a=Shennecossett Road in Groton
|junction=
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=CT|I|95|US|1}} in Groton
|counties=New London
|previous_type=Route
|previous_route=343
|next_type=Route
|next_route=354
}}
Route 349 begins as a limited-access spur from I-95 (at Exit 87) leading to the city of Groton. It has full interchanges with I-95 and US 1. The limited-access portion is {{convert|1.9|mi|km}} long and is known as the Clarence B. Sharp Highway.
Route description
File:Groton Wharf Branch crossing Eastern Point Road, December 2023.JPG
Route 349 begins as a continuation of Shennecossett Road in southern Groton. It runs north as Eastern Point Road, parallel to the Thames River. The road passes through Shennecossett Golf Course and next to General Dynamics Electric Boat. It bears east on Rainville Avenue before turning north on Clarence B. Sharp Highway, a four-lane undivided expressway. After an at-grade intersection with Meridian Street, Route 349 becomes a four-lane divided freeway. Route 349 has an interchange with US 1 before terminating at a directional T interchange with I-95. The surface section of Route 349 from mile post 0.89 to the junction with SR 649 is also known as the "City Police Officer William J. Snyder, Sr. Memorial Highway".
History
In the 1960s, Groton was a center of submarine manufacturing. An unsigned state highway, State Road 649, led from I-95's exit 85 to the industrial area. The many urban intersections through Groton center led to elevated traffic congestion. Because of this, a proposal to relocate SR 649 onto a new expressway arose. The expressway was completed in 1966, and SR 649 was relocated onto it. In 1985, part of SR 649 was re-designated as Route 349, and additionally included a portion of a road leading to Avery Point, resulting in the modern alignment and designation.[http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/ct349.html Connecticut Routes, Route 349]
Junction list
{{jcttop|exit|county=New London|location=Groton|length_ref=|state=CT}}
{{CTint|exit
|mile=0.00
|espan=2
|road=Shennecossett Road
|notes=Continuation east}}
{{CTint
|mile=2.30
|mspan=2
|road=Rainville Avenue (SR 649 east)
|notes=}}
{{CTint|exit
|mile=none
|place=Southern end of limited-access section
}}
{{CTint|exit
|mile=3.07
|exit=–
|road=Meridian Street
|notes=At-grade intersection}}
{{CTint|exit
|exit=3A
|mile=3.58
|mile2=3.81
|mspan=2
|road={{Jct|state=CT|US|1|Route|12|to2=yes|dir2=north|location1=Downtown Groton|location2=Groton Waterfront}}
|notes=Signed as exit 3 southbound; signed for Route 12 northbound, Groton Waterfront southbound}}
{{CTint|exit
|exit=3B
|mile=none
|road={{Jct|state=CT|I|95|dir1=south|city1=New London}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; exit 87 on I-95
|type=incomplete
}}
{{CTint|exit
|exit=–
|mile=4.17
|road={{Jct|state=CT|I|95|dir1=North|location1=Providence}}
|notes=Northern terminus}}
{{jctbtm|col=8}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{Portal|Connecticut}}