How Does 'Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Highway' Sound To You?

Could the portion of Route 99 that goes through Rocky Hill be designated in honor of the local fire department?

That's at least one porposal on the table, according to a piece of legislation introduced this year by state Sen. Paul Doyle and Rep. Antonio Guerrera, two members of Rocky Hill's delegation in Hartford, as well as state Sen. John Fonfara and Rep. Russ Morin of Wethersfield.

Under the proposal, titled Bill No. 244, the portion of Route 99, a state highway  that runs through Rocky Hill would be designated "Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Highway," while the portion of the highway running through Wethersfield would be designated the "Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Highway."

The bill is now being discussed by the General Assembly's Committee on Transportation.

Multiple state highways in Connecticut retain both a numerical designation but also a name, usually recognizing a local official, noted figure or a municipal police or fire department.

Here's the statement of purpose on the proposal, which explains a bit more about it:

"To rename Route 99 in Wethersfield and Rocky Hill to recognize the volunteer fire departments in each municipality.

Route 99 begins as the northbound Exit 18 ramp of Route 9 in Cromwell. At the end of the off ramp, the road continues north as Main Street. (Access from Main Street to the southbound on-ramp for Route 9 is designated as State Road 901).

Main Street is a two-lane road that goes north through Cromwell up to Rocky Hill for about 5.6 miles (9.0 km). At the junction with Elm Street (Route 160), the road becomes a four-lane road known as the Silas Deane Highway. The Silas Deane Highway continues through Rocky Hill up to the town of Wethersfield. It serves as the main thoroughfare of these two towns, also providing access to several shopping centers. Route 99 has interchanges with Interstate 91 in Rocky Hill and the Wilbur Cross Highway (Route 15) in Wethersfield.

At the Hartford city line, Route 99 ends but the road continues into downtown Hartford as Wethersfield Avenue."