Connecticut Route 71

Route 71
Map of central Connecticut with Route 71 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ConnDOT
Length:	19.19 mi (30.88 km)
Existed:	1932 – present
Major junctions
South end:	US 5 in Wallingford
	I-691 in Meriden Route 72 in New Britain Route 9 in New Britain I-84 / US 6 in West Hartford
North end:	Route 173 in West Hartford
Location
Counties:	New Haven, Hartford
Highway system
Routes in Connecticut Interstate U.S. State SSR SR ← Route 70 Route 72 →

Route 71 is a north–south state highway in Connecticut, running from Wallingford to West Hartford. It is the main north–south road of Meriden, Berlin and New Britain.

Route 71 begins at an intersection with US 5 in Wallingford. After 0.23 miles, it joins Route 150 for a 0.13 mile wrong way concurrency through the Yalesville Underpass. Route 71 resumes its northward course, entering Meriden and passing the east end of Route 70. In the center of Meriden, Route 71 becomes a pair of one way sections as it intersects West Main Street. While southbound traffic may continue from West Main Street onto Cook Avenue, northbound traffic must turn right onto Hanover Street, then left onto South Grove Street, and left onto West Main Street to continue. Once reunited, Route 71 proceeds west on West Main Street before turning north onto Chamberlain Highway. It then crosses I-691 at Exit 5, with access to and from the west. It then crosses into Berlin, passing the eastern end of Route 364 before turning northeast as the Chamberlain Highway becomes Route 71A. In the Kensington section of town, it turns more northward, and intersects Route 372. It then has a junction with SR 571, a limited access connector that provides access to Route 9 and Routes 71A and 372. After the SR 571 overpass, Route 71 immediately enters New Britain as it passes by New Britain Stadium. It then continues toward downtown, before meeting the east end of the Route 72 expressway as it intersects Route 9, with direct access to Route 9 south. After the overpass, it intersects the west end of Route 174. Continuing north, it intersects the west end of Route 175 before passing by Central Connecticut State University. After turning northeast, it once again intersects Route 9 at Exit 30. After passing through a 0.18 mile portion of Farmington, and a 0.04 mile sliver of Newington, Route 71 enters West Hartford and becomes New Britain Avenue, where it turns east and has an interchange with, but does not cross, I-84 and US 6 at Exit 40. Access to and from I-84 west is provided by SR 535 (Ridgewood Road). Shortly thereafter, Route 71 ends at South Main Street, as Route 173 south turns east onto New Britain Avenue to assume through traffic.