Massachusetts Route 57

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Route 57
Formed: by 1930[1]
West end: Routes 23/183 in Monterey
Major
junctions:		 Route 8 in Sandisfield
US 202/Route 10 in Southwick
East end: US 5 in Agawam
Massachusetts State Highway Routes
< Route 56 Route 58 >

Route 57 is an east-west Massachusetts state route that runs from Monterey to Agawam. The eastern 4.9 miles[2] (7.84 km) in Agawam is a freeway that runs from Route 187 to the route's eastern terminus at U.S. Route 5.[3]

Contents

[edit] Route description

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]

[edit] Communities along the route

Route 57 passes through the following towns and cities[4]:

[edit] History

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]

[edit] List of interchanges

The interchanges on the Route 57 freeway are not numbered.

Mile[7] Destinations[8] Notes
40 Route 187 – Feeding Hills, W. Suffield, CT. Western terminus of freeway
Route 57 continues on northbound Route 187.
41 Garden St. – Agawam Westbound exit / eastbound entrance only
42 Mill St. West – Feeding Hills Westbound exit / eastbound entrance only
42 Route 75 – Agawam, West Springfield
43 Route 159 – Agawam, Windsor Locks CT Westbound exit / eastbound entrance only
43 Main St. – Agawam, West Springfield Westbound exit / eastbound entrance only
44 Editha Ave. – Agawam Westbound exit only (unsigned)
44 US 5 – US 5 South to I-91: Springfield, Hartford CT; US 5 North: W. Springfield, Holyoke Eastern terminus of Route 57

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Kelley, Neil. MA 57. Massachusetts Route Log. neilbert.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Anderson, Steve. Henry E Bodurtha Highway (MA 57). bostonroads.com. Eastern Roads. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Google. Google Maps [map]. Cartography by NAVTEQ. (2007) Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  4. ^ a b c Moraseski, Dan. MA routes 50-59. MA route log. web.mit.edu. Archived from the original on 2004-12-06. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  5. ^ DeLorme. Massachusetts Atlas and Gazeteer [map], 1st edition, 1" = 1.3 miles. (1998) ISBN 0-89933-220-X. Page 45, section J21. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  6. ^ Kelley, Neil. US 5A. Massachusetts Route Log. neilbert.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  7. ^ Hogan, Jay. Mass Route 57. New England Turnpikes. shadyjay.com. Archived from the original on 2007-05-19. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
  8. ^ Moraseski, Dan. MA 57 exit lists. New England Exit Lists. web.mit.edu. Archived from the original on 2004-12-12. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.