Massachusetts Route 126

Route 126
Map Route 126 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MassDOT
Length	33.57 mi (54.03 km)
Major junctions
South end	Route 126 in Woonsocket, RI
Major intersections	I-495 in Bellingham Route 9 in Framingham US 20 in Wayland
North end	Route 2 / Route 2A in Concord
Location
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
Counties	Worcester, Norfolk, Middlesex
Highway system
Massachusetts State Highway System Interstate US State
← Route 125 → Route 127

Route 126 is a 33.57-mile-long (54.03 km) north–south state highway in Massachusetts. Its southern terminus is a continuation of Rhode Island Route 126 by Woonsocket, Rhode Island and its northern terminus is at Route 2 and Route 2A in Concord. Along the way it intersects several major routes including Interstate 495 (I-495) in Bellingham, Route 9 in Framingham, and U.S. Route 20 (US 20) in Wayland.

Route description

Route 126 begins at the Rhode Island state line, continuing into Woonsocket as Rhode Island Route 126. After a short stretch in the town of Blackstone and Worcester County, Route 126 enters the town of Bellingham and Norfolk County, heading north. In Bellingham, Route 126 has a short concurrency with Route 140 at the center of town. In the north of the town, the route turns east on Hartford Avenue, crossing I-495 at Exit 18. Shortly after entering the town of Medway, the route turns north again, crossing Route 109 shortly after that. Route 126 then enters Holliston, in Middlesex County.

Route 126 northbound in Wayland

In Holliston, Route 126 shares a 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long concurrency with Route 16 through the center of town. After splitting from Route 16, Route 126 heads north into Ashland, passing through the eastern side of town before entering Framingham. The route passes Waushakam Pond before crossing Route 135 near the center of town, next to the Framingham MBTA station. The road bears to the right, passing Gleason Pond before crossing over Route 9 with exit ramps between the two. At this point, Route 30 eastbound joins Route 126 for a short stretch before meeting Route 30 westbound. Route 126 continues northward, crossing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) without junction. (The nearest exit along the Pike is on Route 30 to the east.)

As it passes Lake Cochituate, Route 126 enters the town of Wayland. The route then joins Route 27 for a mile, crossing U.S. Route 20 together just before the two routes split. Route 126 then enters the town of Lincoln. After crossing Route 117, the route continues north, crossing the Fitchburg Line before entering Concord. As the route rounds the banks of Walden Pond through the State Reservation, it finally ends at Routes 2 and 2A next to Concord-Carlisle Regional High School.

History

Route 126 used to be longer. North of Route 2, it took Walden St. to Route 62 in Concord, then Lowell Rd./Concord St. to Route 225 in Carlisle, and Lowell St./Concord Rd. to Route 4 in Chelmsford. When Route 2 got upgraded in the 1950s, Route 126 got truncated to its current terminus.

Major intersections

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Worcester	Blackstone	0.00	0.00	Route 126 south – Woonsocket	Continuation into Rhode Island
Norfolk	Bellingham	5.40	8.69	Route 140 south – Franklin, Taunton	Southern terminus of concurrency with Route 140
		5.48	8.82	Route 140 north – Milford, Worcester	Northern terminus of concurrency with Route 140
		7.66	12.33	I-495 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) – Cape Cod, Marlboro	I-495 Exit 46; partial cloverleaf interchange
	Medway	10.30	16.58	Route 109 – Westwood, Milford
Middlesex	Holliston	12.90	20.76	Route 16 west (Washington Street) – Milford, Uxbridge	Western terminus of concurrency with Route 16
		15.20	24.46	Route 16 east (Washington Street) – Sherborn, Wellesley	Eastern terminus of concurrency with Route 16
	Framingham	20.00	32.19	Route 135 (Waverly Street) – Hopkinton, Natick	Crossing point for the Boston Marathon
		21.60	34.76	Route 9 (Worcester Road) – Natick, Worcester
		21.80	35.08	Route 30 (Cochituate Road) to I-90 (Mass Pike) – Weston, Southboro	To I-90 (Mass Pike) via Route 30 eastbound
	Wayland	26.30	42.33	Route 27 south (Cochituate Road) – Natick	Southern terminus of concurrency with Route 27
		27.30	43.94	US 20 (Boston Post Road) – Marlboro, Boston
		27.40	44.10	Route 27 north (Old Sudbury Road) – Sudbury	Northern end of concurrency with Route 27
	Lincoln	31.30	50.37	Route 117 (South Great Road) – Waltham, Bolton
	Concord	33.57	54.03	Route 2 / Route 2A to Route 27 – Cambridge, Boston, Ayer, Fitchburg / Walden Street	Northern terminus; to Route 27 via Route 2 west; Walden Street continues north to Route 62
	1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus