It then reenters East Haddam, where it passes the western end of Route 156 before entering Salem.

In Norwich, it intersects Interstate 395 (I-395) at exit 11 before ending at a triangular one-way couplet in downtown Norwich, intersecting Route 2/Route 32 over two bridges across the Yantic River.

[1] Modern Route 82 east of Route 85 was built along the alignment of an early toll road known as the Salem and Norwich Turnpike, which was chartered in 1827 to connect its namesake cities.

The road between East Haddam and Norwich, incorporating both turnpike alignments, was designated in 1922 as State Highway 153.

The only major changes since then are the extension along a new limited-access road west of Route 154 to a trumpet interchange with Route 9 in 1971, and a reorganization of the eastern terminus in Norwich in the late 1980s.