Route 57 is a 45.42-mile-long (73.10 km) east–west Massachusetts state route that runs from Monterey to Agawam. The eastern 5.0 miles[2] (8.1 km) in Agawam is a freeway that runs from Route 187 to the route's eastern terminus at U.S. Route 5.[3]

Route 57 marker
Route 57
Map
Route 57 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MassDOT
Length45.42 mi[citation needed] (73.10 km)
Existedby 1930[1]–present
Major junctions
West end Route 23 / Route 183 in Monterey
Major intersections Route 8 in Sandisfield
US 202 / Route 10 in Southwick
East end US 5 in Agawam
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountiesBerkshire, Hampden
Highway system
Route 56 Route 58

Route description

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Eastbound entering Sandisfield

The route begins in Monterey, at its intersection with routes 23 and 183.[4] The section from there to New Marlborough (which is a concurrency with Route 183) primarily takes a southeastern path that passes several stretches of farmland.[3] In New Marlborough, Route 57 splits from Route 183 and follows a mainly easterly route with frequent curves, passing more farmland.[3] During this stretch, there is a brief concurrency with Route 8 in Sandisfield to cross the Farmington River's west branch.[5]

In Southwick, Route 57 starts to enter a more suburban area.[3] There are more concurrencies during this stretch, first with U.S. Route 202 and Massachusetts Route 10 in Southwick, and then with Route 187 in Agawam.[3]

When Route 57 splits off from Route 187, it becomes a freeway,[3] the Henry E. Bodurtha Highway.[2] It has five exits before terminating in a rotary that is served by an interchange from U.S. Route 5.[4]

History

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Crossing the Clam River in Sandisfield

Route 57 (which was formed by 1930[1]) initially went from Southwick to West Springfield.[1] It was extended to Sandisfield in the mid-1930s and Monterey in the late 1940s.[1]

Construction on the freeway portion began in 1958,[2] with the first portion (to today's Route 159,[1] then called Route 5A[6]) opening in 1961.[2] It was extended to past Route 75 in 1966, with Route 57 being moved to the freeway around this time (the old alignment became Route 147).[1] In 1991, work to extend the freeway to Route 187 began, with the new section opening in 1995.[2] A further extension to Southwick has been proposed, but it was put on hold by then-Governor Mitt Romney in June 2005; nevertheless, Agawam's city council continues to urge the state to construct the extension.[2] The MA 57 freeway exits do not have numbers.

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
BerkshireMonterey0.00.0  
 
Route 23 / Route 183 north – Great Barrington, Lenox, Monterey
Western terminus; western end of Route 183 concurrency
New Marlborough6.09.7 
 
Route 183 south (South Sandisfield Road) – Colebrook, CT
Eastern end of Route 183 concurrency
Sandisfield15.224.5  Route 8 – Otis, Winsted, CTBrief concurrency
HampdenGranville27.844.7 
 
Route 189 south – Granby, CT, Hartford, CT
Northern terminus of Route 189
Southwick34.355.2 
 
 
 
US 202 south / Route 10 south – Granby, CT
Western end of US 202 / Route 10 concurrency
34.956.2 
 
 
 
US 202 north / Route 10 north – Westfield
Eastern end of US 202 / Route 10 concurrency
Agawam39.663.7 
 
Route 187 north – Westfield
Western end of Route 187 concurrency
40.465.0 
 
Route 187 south – West Suffield, CT
Eastern end of Route 187 concurrency
Western end of freeway section
41.867.3Garden StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
42.668.6Mill Street westWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
43.169.4  Route 75 – West Springfield, Suffield, CT
43.970.7  Route 159 – Agawam Center, Windsor Locks, CT, West SpringfieldWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
45.072.4Editha AvenueWestbound exit only
45.473.1  
 
US 5 to I-91 – West Springfield, Holyoke, Springfield, Hartford, CT
Eastern terminus; rotary
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Kelley, Neil. "MA 57". Massachusetts Route Log. neilbert.com. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Anderson, Steve. "Henry E Bodurtha Highway (MA 57)". bostonroads.com. Eastern Roads. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Massachusetts Route 57" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
  4. ^ a b Moraseski, Dan. "MA routes 50-59". MA route log. web.mit.edu. Archived from the original on 2004-12-06. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
  5. ^ Massachusetts Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (1st ed.). 1" = 1.3 miles. DeLorme. 1998. p. 45. § J21. ISBN 0-89933-220-X.
  6. ^ Kelley, Neil. "US 5A". Massachusetts Route Log. neilbert.com. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
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