U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts
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.
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![]() US 7 highlighted in red | ||||
Route information | ||||
Maintained by MassDOT | ||||
Length | 53.85 mi[1] (86.66 km) | |||
Major junctions | ||||
South end | ![]() | |||
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North end | ![]() | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Massachusetts | |||
Counties | Berkshire | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Route description
With a few exceptions, US 7 is mainly a two-lane rural road winding through the Berkshire Mountains, 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 a four-lane bypass around the historic center of town, with a grassy central median and a speed limit of 50–55 miles per hour (80–89 km/h). While on this bypass route, it meets U.S. Route 20, which travels southeast to Lee and the Mass Pike. The two routes continue north via the bypass route, while Route 7A travels along Kemble Street and Main Street via the original routing of the road. The three routes meet just north of the Lenox CDP boundary, with US 7 / US 20 merging back to a two-lane 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 towards 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 arterial, 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 I-89) in the US-7 corridor. The only portions of this plan to be completed were the short "Super-2" freeway section from the Connecticut border to Sheffield, and the 4-lane 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] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
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Sheffield | 0.000 | 0.000 | ![]() | Continuation into Connecticut | |
1.906 | 3.067 | Housatonic River | |||
2.958 | 4.760 | ![]() | Northern terminus of Route 7A (southern section) | ||
Community of Great Barrington | 10.481 | 16.868 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Southern terminus of Route 23 / Route 41 concurrencies | |
11.451 | 18.429 | ![]() | Northern terminus of Route 41 concurrency | ||
11.451 | 18.429 | Housatonic River | |||
11.944 | 19.222 | ![]() ![]() | Northern terminus of Route 23 concurrency; southern terminus of Route 183 concurrency | ||
Town of Great Barrington | 13.328 | 21.449 | ![]() | Northern terminus of Route 183 concurrency | |
Stockbridge | 17.806 | 28.656 | Housatonic River | ||
18.049 | 29.047 | ![]() | Southern terminus of Route 102 concurrency | ||
18.405 | 29.620 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Northern terminus of Route 102 concurrency | ||
Town of Lenox | 22.551 | 36.292 | ![]() | Southern terminus of Route 7A (northern section) | |
23.415 | 37.683 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Southern terminus of US 20 concurrency | ||
Community of Lenox | 23.713 | 38.162 | ![]() | Northern terminus of Route 183 | |
25.565 | 41.143 | ![]() | Northern terminus of Route 7A (northern section) | ||
Pittsfield | 30.814 | 49.590 | ![]() | Northern terminus of US 20 concurrency | |
31.004 | 49.896 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Southern terminus of Route 9 concurrency | ||
31.157 | 50.142 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Northern terminus of Route 9 concurrency | ||
Town of Williamstown | 47.205 | 75.969 | ![]() | ||
49.084 | 78.993 | ![]() | Southern terminus of Route 2 concurrency | ||
Community of Williamstown | 51.405 | 82.728 | ![]() | Northern terminus of Route 2 concurrency | |
Town of Williamstown | 52.572 | 84.606 | Hoosic River | ||
53.85 | 86.66 | ![]() | Continuation into Vermont | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
United States portal
U.S. Roads portal
References
- MassDOT Planning Division. "Massachusetts Route Log Application". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- Google (July 11, 2021). "U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 11, 2021.