U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts

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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 Lenox, the route transitions to a 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 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 Interstate 89) in the US 7 corridor. The only portions of this plan to be completed were the short super-two freeway section from the Connecticut border to Sheffield, and the four-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]kmDestinationsNotes
Sheffield0.0000.000
US 7 south – Canaan
Continuation into Connecticut
1.9063.067Housatonic River
2.9584.760
Route 7A south – Ashley Falls
Northern terminus of Route 7A (southern section)
Community of Great Barrington10.48116.868


Route 23 west / Route 41 south to Route 71 – South Egremont, 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
Town of Great Barrington13.32821.449
Route 183 north – Housatonic, 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 Lenox22.55136.292South end of expressway section

Route 7A north – Historic Lenox
Southern terminus of Route 7A (northern section)
23.41537.683

US 20 east to I-90 / Mass Pike – Lee
Southern terminus of US 20 concurrency
Community of Lenox23.71338.162
Route 183 south / Walker Street – Historic Lenox, Tanglewood, Lenox Dale
Northern terminus of Route 183
25.56541.143
Route 7A south – Historic Lenox
Northern terminus of Route 7A (northern section)
North end of expressway section
Pittsfield30.81449.590
US 20 west – 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
Town of Williamstown47.20575.969 Route 43 – Williamstown, Hancock, Stephentown, NY
49.08478.993
Route 2 west – 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 Williamstown52.57284.606Hoosic River
53.8586.66
US 7 north – Pownal
Continuation into Vermont
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

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

U.S. Route 7
Previous state:
Connecticut
Massachusetts Next state:
Vermont