U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts

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U.S. Route 7 marker

U.S. Route 7

Map
US 7 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MassDOT
Length53.85 mi[1] (86.66 km)
Major junctions
South end US 7 at the Connecticut state line in Sheffield
Major intersections
North end US 7 at the Vermont state line in Williamstown
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountiesBerkshire
Highway system
Route 6A Route 7A

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

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

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

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

The entire route is in Berkshire County. [1]

Location[1]mi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Sheffield0.0000.000
US 7 south – Canaan
Continuation into Connecticut
1.9063.067Housatonic River
2.9584.760
Ashley Falls
Northern terminus of Route 7A (southern section)
Hillsdale, NY
Southern terminus of Route 23 / Route 41 concurrencies
11.45118.429
Route 41 north – West Stockbridge
Northern terminus of Route 41 concurrency
11.45118.429Housatonic River
11.94419.222

Route 23 east / Route 183 south – Monterey, Springfield
Northern terminus of Route 23 concurrency;
southern terminus of Route 183 concurrency
Interlaken
Northern terminus of Route 183 concurrency
Stockbridge17.80628.656Housatonic River
18.04929.047
Route 102 west – West Stockbridge
Southern terminus of Route 102 concurrency
18.40529.620

Route 102 east to US 20 / Mass Pike – Lee
Northern terminus of Route 102 concurrency
Town of Lenox
22.55136.292Southern end of limited-access section

At-grade intersection
; southern terminus of Route 7A (northern section)
23.41537.683

I-90 / Mass Pike – Lee
At-grade intersection; southern terminus of US 20 concurrency
Historic Lenox, Tanglewood, Lenox Dale
At-grade intersection; northern terminus of Route 183
25.56541.143
Historic Lenox
At-grade intersection; northern terminus of Route 7A (northern section)
Northern end of limited-access section
Albany, NY
Northern terminus of US 20 concurrency
31.00449.896


Route 9 west to US 20 west
Southern terminus of Route 9 concurrency
31.15750.142

Route 9 east to Route 8 – Dalton, Northampton
Northern terminus of Route 9 concurrency
Stephentown, NY
49.08478.993
Troy, NY
Southern terminus of Route 2 concurrency
Community of Williamstown51.40582.728
Route 2 east – North Adams
Northern terminus of Route 2 concurrency
Town of Williamstown
52.57284.606Hoosic River
53.8586.66
US 7 north – Pownal
Continuation into Vermont
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c MassDOT Planning Division. "Massachusetts Route Log Application". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Google (July 11, 2021). "U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 11, 2021.

External links

KML is from Wikidata
U.S. Route 7
Previous state:
Connecticut
Massachusetts Next state:
Vermont