Route 2 follows the path of two 19th-century turnpikes: the Hartford and New London, dating from 1800, and the Colchester and Norwich, dating from 1805. These turnpikes collected tolls for about 50 years.
Route 2 had several names in the 20th century, including NE-17. But, it was during the 1950s, when construction began to make Route 2 into the highway it is today.
In Marlborough, Route 2 once ran through the center of town, with North and South Main Streets. The new highway would run just to the east of the center, and include several on and off ramps to access Marlborough. The new Route 2 would run through the "Ten Curves" or "Dark Hollow" area of Marlborough. The curves were straightened, but parts of the original road can still be seen at times in the brush.
The road was completed in sections, with
# Route 17 to West Road, Marlborough, completed Oct. 15, 1964. Portions were only 2 lanes wide, though.
# West Road to Route 66 completed in 1966
# Route 66 to South Main St (exit 15) completed in 1964
# South Main St to Prospect Hill Road (near exit 17), Colchester completed in 1959.
One of the oddities of Route 2 that Marlborough can claim is the absence of Exit 14. Supposedly, it was to create a Route 66 bypass around the center of Marlborough. When it became too cost prohibitive, the idea was abandoned.
