Connecticut Route 197

Route 197
Map of northeastern Connecticut with Route 197 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ConnDOT
Length:	10.97 mi (17.65 km)
Existed:	1932 – present
Major junctions
West end:	Route 171 in Union
East end:	Route 197 in Dudley, MA
Location
Counties:	Tolland, Windham
Highway system
Routes in Connecticut Interstate U.S. State SSR SR ← Route 196 Route 198 →

Route 197 is a state highway in northeastern Connecticut, running from Union to the Massachusetts state line in Thompson.

Route 197 begins as Lawson Road at an intersection with Route 171 in southeastern Union. It heads east towards , entering the town after 0.9 miles (1.4 km) and becoming Red White School Road. Route 197 travels east for about 6.3 miles (10.1 km) through rural northern Woodstock, becoming Old Turnpike Road after two miles (3 km) and curving southeast and then northeast across the town, and intersecting Route 198. Route 197 eventually reaches the village of , where it has a junction with Route 169. The road continues another three miles (5 km) to the Thompson town line. In Thompson, it soon crosses the Quinebaug River into the village of Quinebaug, intersecting with Route 131 in the village. Route 197 continues northeast another 0.3 miles (0.48 km) to the Massachusetts state line, where it continues as MA Route 197 after crossing the south end of MA Route 31.

The Center Turnpike was chartered in May 1826 as a road from the center of Tolland to the village of Quinebaug via Westford, North Ashford, and . In 1922, a portion of the Center Turnpike was designated as State Highway 151, which began at New England Route 32, and followed Turnpike Road, Boston Hollow Road, Centre Pike, and Old Turnpike Road to the Massachusetts state line.