The Westbrook to Centerbrook route was designated as a secondary state highway in the 1920s and was known as Highway 332. Route 153 was established as a renumbering of old Highway 332 in the 1932 state highway renumbering. When first created, the northern end of Route 153 ran along Westbrook Road like the old highway. In January 1967, the northern end was rerouted to its current location to accommodate an interchange with the Route 9 freeway.