State Route 128, 140 and 146 in Massachusetts
State Route 128 in Massachusetts
SR-128 | |||
Begin | Canton | ||
End | Gloucester | ||
Length | 58 mi | ||
Length | 93 km | ||
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State Route 128 or SR-128 is a state route and partial highway in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. The route runs from the south side of the Boston metropolitan area, beginning at Canton, and is double-numbered with Interstate 95 as far as Peabody. Only on the northeast side of Boston does SR-128 form its own highway route. SR-128 serves the suburbs along the Atlantic Ocean northeast of Boston. The route is 93 kilometers long.
- Topschoolsoflaw: State overview and brief history of Massachusetts, including its geography and popular cities.
Travel directions
For the stretch from Canton to Peabody see Interstate 95
At Peabody, I-95 turns north toward Portsmouth and Portland in Maine. SR-128 forms the Yankee Division Highway here and has 2×2 lanes. It passes through the suburbs of Salem, Beverly and Danvers. After Beverly, the continuously built-up agglomeration ends, and one passes through wooded areas, some distance from the Atlantic coast. The last destination of the SR-128 is Gloucester, a distant suburb of 30,000 inhabitants. The highway ends here at a roundabout 70 kilometers from downtown Boston.
- thembaprograms: Geography information of Massachusetts, including animals and plants. Also covers brief history and major cities of the state.
History
See also Interstate 95 in Massachusetts.
A bypass of the Boston area was planned as early as 1912, but then obviously not as a highway, as vehicles did not go much faster than 30 km/h. The first section around Peabody was opened between 1936 and 1941. The remainder of the route to Gloucester was opened in 1959.
Traffic intensities
Traffic volumes on the east portion of I-95 are quite low, with up to 97,000 vehicles at Peabody, dropping quickly to 25,000 vehicles at Gloucester.
State Route 140 in Massachusetts
SR-140 | |||
Begin | New Bedford | ||
End | Winchendon | ||
Length | 108 mi | ||
Length | 173 km | ||
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State Route 140 is a state route in the US state of Massachusetts. The road forms a fairly long north-south route from New Bedford in the south to Winchendon near the New Hampshire border . Most of the route is a minor road, but between New Bedford and Taunton, State Route 140 is a freeway. State Route 140 is 173 kilometers long.
Travel directions
The highway begins in the port town of New Bedford, where it crosses Interstate 195 almost immediately. The highway has 2×2 lanes and heads north, first past New Bedford, then through rural but heavily built-up areas. The highway ends at Taunton on State Route 24 leading to Boston.
The rest of the route is secondary in character and is hardly used by through traffic. The route passes through all city centers, while highways in the region offer a much faster alternative. State Route 140 runs through the outer suburbs of Boston and just east of Worcester. State Route 140 ends in Winchendon on US 202.
History
In 1947, plans were announced to build an expressway from Taunton to New Bedford, connecting the port city of New Bedford to Boston via State Route 24. The southernmost section in New Bedford was constructed between 1960 and 1963, followed by the section north of New Bedford between 1964 and 1970. The northernmost section between Ashley Boulevard and Taunton was constructed as a super two between 1955 and 1959 and was completed between 1964 and 1970 doubled to a 2×2 freeway. The highway from New Bedford to Taunton was completed in 1970.
Traffic intensities
Every day 49,000 vehicles pass through New Bedford and 37,000 vehicles between New Bedford and Taunton.
State Route 146 in Massachusetts
SR-146 | |||
Get started | North Smithfield | ||
End | Worcester | ||
Length | 21 mi | ||
Length | 34 km | ||
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State Route 146 or SR-146 is a state route in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. The road connects Providence in Rhode Island with Worcester. The road is 34 kilometers long, and largely a freeway.
Travel directions
The road begins at the border of Rhode Island, where State Route 146 in Rhode Island merges into the Massachusetts State Route of the same name. The road here is a highway, connecting the city of Providence with Worcester. Almost the entire route is a freeway, only a part is at ground level between Sutton and Millbury.
History
In the late 1940s, a high-quality route between Providence and Worcester was planned. The road was constructed between 1949 and 1952, but only had 2×2 lanes between US 20 at Millbury and Sutton, the rest being a three- lane road. Not all connections were grade separated. In the mid-1960s, plans were made to upgrade the road to a 2×2 lane freeway with grade separated intersections. Between 1981 and 1984, the southernmost 20 kilometers was widened from 3 to 2×2 lanes with connections.
However, State Route 146 did not connect with I-290 in Worcester. This happened relatively late, between 2002 and 2007, and was one of the last new highways in Massachusetts. However, the part between Sutton and Millbury was not made grade separated, this part remained a 2×2 divided highway.
Traffic intensities
Every day 32,000 vehicles drive on the southern part and 31,000 vehicles pass Millbury. 27,000 vehicles drive through the south of Worcester.