After the overlap, it continues north and northeast through Hampton into Pomfret, where it ends at its northern of two intersections with US 44, also meeting Route 169.

[2] In 1922, the road from Abington to Pomfret Center along modern Route 97 was designated as State Highway 345.

Further south, the road from Taftville to Baltic was part of State Highway 354, which continued past Baltic to Lebanon center.

Most of modern Route 97 was commissioned in 1932 as well, including the Taftville-Baltic portion of old Highway 354.

It was relocated to its current route between Hampton and Abington using a previously unsigned state road (former SR 860) in 1934.