U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts

(Redirected from US 7 (MA))

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. The entire route in Massachusetts is within Berkshire County.

U.S. Route 7 marker
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

Route description

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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 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 road 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

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Like Connecticut, Massachusetts planned an Interstate-grade freeway (proposed Interstate 89) in the US 7 corridor. The only portion of this plan to be completed was the four-lane expressway 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

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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); former routing of US 7
Community of Great Barrington10.48116.868 
 
 
 
Route 23 west / Route 41 south – South Egremont, Hillsdale, NY
Rotary; southern terminus of Route 23 / Route 41 concurrency
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
14.1222.72 
 
 
To Route 183 north – Housatonic, Interlaken
Access via Old Stockbridge Road
Stockbridge17.80628.656Housatonic River
18.04929.047 
 
Route 102 west – West Stockbridge
Southern terminus of Route 102 concurrency
18.40529.620 
 
Route 102 east – Lee
Northern terminus of Route 102 concurrency
Town of LenoxSouthern end of limited-access section
22.25135.810 
 
Route 7A north – Historic Lenox
At-grade intersection; southern terminus of Route 7A (northern section); former routing of US 7
23.41537.683 
 
 
 
US 20 east to I-90 (Mass Pike) – Lee
At-grade intersection; southern terminus of US 20 concurrency
Community of Lenox23.71338.162 
 
Route 183 south (Walker Street) – Historic Lenox, Tanglewood, Lenox Dale
At-grade intersection; northern terminus of Route 183
25.56541.143Northern end of limited-access section
 
 
 
 
Route 7A south to Route 183 – Historic Lenox
Northern terminus of Route 7A (northern section); former routing of US 7
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 – Dalton, Northampton
Northern terminus of Route 9 concurrency
Lanesborough34.7755.96 
 
To Route 8
Access via US 7–Route 8 Connector Road
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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c MassDOT Planning Division. "Massachusetts Route Log Application". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
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KML is from Wikidata
  U.S. Route 7
Previous state:
Connecticut
Massachusetts Next state:
Vermont