The plan to extend the highway through the Forestville section of Bristol as a four-lane expressway is complete.

Route 72 continues, crossing Forestville Avenue as a four-lane expressway to the Bristol town line.

It continues on the four-lane expressway (known as the E. Bartlett Barnes Highway) to Pine Street, where it becomes a four-lane boulevard, and follows Pine Street to Riverside Avenue and crosses the Pequabuck River before intersecting with Route 229.

The route runs parallel to the Peqaubuck River in Bristol and crosses it several times.

[1] The section from Route 372 (Corbin Avenue) in New Britain to the freeway end at the Plainville-Bristol town line is also known as the Polish Legion of American Veterans Memorial Highway.

The section in Bristol from the Plainville town line to Pine Street is also known as the E Bartlett Barnes Highway.

[citation needed] In 1942, a portion of US 6 in Bristol and Plymouth was transferred to Route 72 after a realignment of US 6 to use former US 6A.

In 1979, the final part of the rerouting to New Britain was opened, connecting Ellis and West Main Streets.

In 2010, Route 72 was rerouted in Plainville and Bristol onto the new four-lane expressway, a widened Pine Street, and an extended section of Riverside Avenue that crosses the Pequabuck River.