U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts
U.S. Route 7 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US 7 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by MassDOT | ||||
| Length | 53.85 mi[1] (86.66 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  US 7 at the Connecticut state line in Sheffield | |||
| ||||
| North end | US 7 at the Vermont state line in Williamstown | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Massachusetts | |||
| Counties | Berkshire | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
U.S. Route 7 (US 7) in of Massachusetts is a 54-mile (87 km) section of the larger federal route extending from southern Connecticut to the northernmost part of Vermont. Within Massachusetts, the entire route in Massachusetts is within Berkshire County.
Route description[edit]
With a few exceptions, US 7 is mainly a two-lane rural road winding through the Berkshires, largely parallel to the Housatonic River. In Great Barrington, US 7 is briefly concurrent with Route 41 along Main Street, as well as with Route 183 on State Road. Further north, US 7 is concurrent with Route 102 along Main Street through the center of Stockbridge.[2]
In the vicinity of Lenox, the route transitions to two-lane expressway around the historic center of town. While on this bypass route, it meets US 20, which travels southeast to Lee and the Massachusetts Turnpike. The two routes continue north via the bypass as a four-lane expressway, while Route 7A travels along Kemble and Main Streets via the original routing of the road. The three routes meet just north of the Lenox census-designated place boundary, with US 7/US 20 becoming a four-lane surface road until Pittsfield.[2]
US 7 enters Pittsfield along South Street. At a signalized intersection with Housatonic Street, US 20 makes a left turn to continue west toward Albany. At Park Square, the route meets Route 9 near its western terminus, and the two routes share a two-block concurrency along East Street until US 7 makes a left turn to continue north.[2]
US 7 leaves downtown Pittsfield as a two-lane surface road and continues as a rural highway with occasional three-lane stretches for climbing the grades along the Berkshires. It passes west of Mount Greylock before passing through Williamstown, connecting the Taconic Trail with the Mohawk Trail (Route 2). The road passes Williams College and crosses the Hoosic River one last time before entering Vermont.[2]
History[edit]
Like Connecticut, Massachusetts planned an Interstate-grade freeway (proposed Interstate 89) in the US 7 corridor. The only portion of this plan to be completed was the four-lane expressway section south of Lenox, although land takings for additional freeway sections occurred. The highway was ultimately canceled due to environmental and community opposition.
Major intersections[edit]
The entire route is in Berkshire County. [1]
| Location[1] | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield | 0.000 | 0.000 |  US 7 south – Canaan | Continuation into Connecticut | |
| 1.906 | 3.067 | Housatonic River | |||
| 2.958 | 4.760 |  Route 7A south – Ashley Falls | Northern terminus of Route 7A (southern section) | ||
| Community of Great Barrington | 10.481 | 16.868 |      Route 23 west / Route 41 south to Route 71 – South Egremont, Hillsdale, NY | Southern terminus of Route 23 / Route 41 concurrencies | |
| 11.451 | 18.429 |  Route 41 north – West Stockbridge | Northern terminus of Route 41 concurrency | ||
| 11.451 | 18.429 | Housatonic River | |||
| 11.944 | 19.222 |   Route 23 east / Route 183 south – Monterey, Springfield | Northern terminus of Route 23 concurrency; southern terminus of Route 183 concurrency | ||
| Town of Great Barrington | 13.328 | 21.449 | Route 183 north – Housatonic, Interlaken | Northern terminus of Route 183 concurrency | |
| Stockbridge | 17.806 | 28.656 | Housatonic River | ||
| 18.049 | 29.047 |  Route 102 west – West Stockbridge | Southern terminus of Route 102 concurrency | ||
| 18.405 | 29.620 |  Route 102 east to US 20 / Mass Pike – Lee | Northern terminus of Route 102 concurrency | ||
| Town of Lenox | 22.551 | 36.292 | Southern end of limited-access section | ||
| Route 7A north – Historic Lenox | At-grade intersection; southern terminus of Route 7A (northern section) | ||||
| 23.415 | 37.683 |   US 20 east to I-90 / Mass Pike – Lee | At-grade intersection; southern terminus of US 20 concurrency | ||
| Community of Lenox | 23.713 | 38.162 | Route 183 south / Walker Street – Historic Lenox, Tanglewood, Lenox Dale | At-grade intersection; northern terminus of Route 183 | |
| 25.565 | 41.143 | Route 7A south – Historic Lenox | At-grade intersection; northern terminus of Route 7A (northern section) | ||
| Northern end of limited-access section | |||||
| Pittsfield | 30.814 | 49.590 | US 20 west – Albany, NY | Northern terminus of US 20 concurrency | |
| 31.004 | 49.896 |  Route 9 west to US 20 west | Southern terminus of Route 9 concurrency | ||
| 31.157 | 50.142 |  Route 9 east to Route 8 – Dalton, Northampton | Northern terminus of Route 9 concurrency | ||
| Town of Williamstown | 47.205 | 75.969 |  Route 43 – Williamstown, Hancock, Stephentown, NY | ||
| 49.084 | 78.993 |  Route 2 west – Troy, NY | Southern terminus of Route 2 concurrency | ||
| Community of Williamstown | 51.405 | 82.728 | Route 2 east – North Adams | Northern terminus of Route 2 concurrency | |
| Town of Williamstown | 52.572 | 84.606 | Hoosic River | ||
| 53.85 | 86.66 | US 7 north – Pownal | Continuation into Vermont | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c MassDOT Planning Division. "Massachusetts Route Log Application". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Google (July 11, 2021). "U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
