page_title: Route 78 (Rhode Island–Connecticut)
section_title: Route description
hierarchical_section_title: Route 78 (Rhode Island–Connecticut) / Route description
caption_attribution_description: RI 78 at interchange with RI 91 sign in Westerly, RI
context_page_description: Route 78, also known as the Westerly Bypass is a two-lane arterial boulevard and expressway between Stonington, Connecticut to Westerly, Rhode Island. The route is about 4.6 miles long and begins at Connecticut Route 2 in Stonington, crossing into Rhode Island at the Pawcatuck River, where it continues as an expressway to U.S. Route 1 in Westerly. The route was constructed in 1979, after a sixteen-year delay. The designation was to become part of the Orient Point–Watch Hill Bridge, but this plan was later dropped. The route was given the memorial name of Veterans Way in 2004.
context_section_description: Route 78 begins at an interchange with Route 2 in Stonington, Connecticut. The expressway heads eastward, crossing over the Pawcatuck River and into Rhode Island. Route 78 crosses over White Rock Road and Canal Street, entering the community of Stillmanville. There, the highway comes upon a small, partial interchange with High Street, which connects drivers to Route 3. After crossing over Route 3, Route 78 turns to the south. In the opposite direction, where it turns eastward, there is an interchange with Route 3. The route heads southward through the local development, coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Route 91 at exit 2. The route continues southward, passing Chapman Pond and the route becomes an arterial. The route turns southwest, interchanging partially with U.S. Route 1, where the Route 78 designation ends. The right-of-way continues as Airport Road towards Westerly State Airport.
caption: Signage for exit 2 in Westerly until the exits were renumbered
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