|
PARTING STONE 1744 P DUDLEY |
|
4 MILES 1729 PD |
|
5 MILES 1729 PD |
|
6 MILES 1729 |
|
7 MILES 1779 PD |
|
8 MILES 1734 AI |
|
New BRIDGE 2 1/4 MILES 1794 |
|
|
|
|
All branches of the BPR started at Downtown Crossing, at the intersection of Washington St and Summer St/Winter St. Mileage was measured however to the old town line, somewhere around the current Masspike. The BPR headed south on Washington St. This is now one way northbound, so to go southbound you must use Tremont St, one block to the west. Tremont St becomes Shawmut Ave, and at E Berkeley St turn left and then make the first right onto Washington St, which is now 2-way. Right around here is the old town line.
|
The BPR continued up Washington St to Downtown Crossing. The final block is now closed to passenger cars, but you can go almost to Downtown Crossing.
|
After Washington St becomes 1-way, there is a bus stop area on the right. The BPR took this to cut the corner. But cars now must go to the next light after at Malcolm X Blvd and turn right; this merges into the BPR at the next light. Then make a left onto Roxbury St. At Eliot Sq is the Parting Stone, where the north and south branches split.
|
Since Roxbury St (the old BPR) is now 1-way WB, you must bear right onto Dudley St. Make a left at the end onto Guild Row. At the next light at Malcolm X Blvd, the BPR went left and straight. But you must turn right to continue on the path of it. Make a left at the second light onto Warren Ave, which soon merges into Washington St and the BPR.
|
|
Bear right out of Eliot Sq onto Roxbury St to stay with the north branch (the south branch goes left on Centre St). At the recent (1989) T Orange Line/Amtrak Southwest Corridor, the BPR was cut. At the end of Roxbury St, turn right onto Elmwood St and left at the end onto Malcolm X Blvd, which becomes Tremont St soon and rejoins the BPR. At Huntington Ave, make a left; this will take you under old 1 into Brookline. On the right side of Huntington Ave after Mission Park Dr, built into the stone wall on the side of the road, is the 4 mile stone.
|
|
Soon after going under old 1, the 4 mile stone is on the left side, built into the stone wall. At the fourth light on Huntington Ave (third after the stone), turn right onto Tremont St. At Columbus Ave, the BPR bore right; new consturction has cut it off. Continue across Columbus Ave into Malcolm X Blvd, take the first right onto Elmwood St, and the first left onto Roxbury St. At Eliot Sq is the Parting Stone, where the north and south branches joined.
|
After going under old 1, make a right at the second light onto Washington St. Bear right at the fork onto Harvard St. In the parking lot of the United Parish Church on the left side of the road is the 5 mile stone. Just after crossing Commonwealth Ave is the 6 mile stone on the right side of the road, in front of Economy True Value Hardware. At Cambridge St, make a right and go over the Masspike (and some railroads). Make a left at the second light onto N Harvard St. After Rena St on the right side is the 7 mile stone, built into the stone wall. N Harvard St will take you over the Charles River into Cambridge.
|
|
The 7 mile stone will be on the left side, built into the stone wall, just after Franklin St/Kingsley St. At the end of N Harvard St, turn right onto Cambridge St. After going over the Masspike, turn left onto Harvard St. After crossing N Beacon St, the 6 mile stone will be on the left side in front of Economy True Value Hardware. After entering Brookline and crossing Beacon St, the 5 mile stone will be on the right side in the parking lot of the United Parish Church. Harvard St will merge into Washington St. At Boylston Ave (MA 9), make a left and go under old 1 to enter Boston.
|
After crossing the Charles, you enter Harvard Square. At the sign for Broadway/Cambridge St/Kirkland St, bear left, and turn left at the next light. Then make a right at the next light onto Garden St. This complicated maneuver takes you around a sort of rotary; the BPR just turned left onto Garden St. Just to the left at this turn onto Garden St is the Old Burying Ground, which has the 8 mile stone. At the first light on Garden St, make a left onto Mason St and then bear right onto Brattle St. Note the old street names that Cambridge posts on the street signs. Brattle St merges into Mt Auburn St and MA 16, and goes to Watertown Center.
|
|
At Watertown Center, make a left onto MA 16 EAST (Mt Auburn St). After a while MA 16 will turn left. Go straight and bear left soon after onto Brattle St. Bear left at Mason St and turn right onto Garden St. Note the old street names that Cambridge posts on the street signs. Where Garden St ends, the 8 mile stone is on the right in the Old Burying Ground. Make a right at the end onto Massachusetts Ave. Bear right as required by the one-way streets (BPR used the left fork onto JFK St at the second intersection where you are forced right); this will become Eliot St and merge back into JFK St/BPR. JFK St will go over the Charles into Boston on N Harvard St.
|
At Watertown Center, turn right onto US 20 WEST (Main St). Follow US 20 thru Waltham, making sure to bear left at the 117 split. At 128, you will enter Weston; soon after is a turnoff to the left signed for Wellesley. Bear right at this intersection onto Boston Post Rd. This goes thru Weston Center (US 20 is By-Pass Rd) and merges back into US 20 on the other side. US 20 will then pass thru Wayland and Sudbury. After S Sudbury will be Peakham Rd on the right side; there is an old stone sign here for Maynard and Lowell. Soon after that is the turnoff for Wayside Inn; bear right to stay with BPR. This will enter Marlboro and go back to US 20 at a light; turn right here. I think the BPR used the current alignment of US 20 thru Marlboro Center, even though it makes several turns. A bit after I-495 is a short old alignment on the right side. After entering Northboro, bear right onto E Main St. If you miss it turn right at the light and left at the end onto E Main St. At the fork bear left; this will lead back into US 20. After Northboro Center, go straight towards Shrewsbury where US 20 turns left. After entering Shrewsbury, there will be a short old alignment to the left. At the next light after MA 140 in Shrewsbury Center, bear left onto Maple Ave. This will merge into MA 9 and enter Worcester.
|
|
After leaving Worcester on MA 9, bear left towards Shrewsbury Center on Maple Ave. If you get to the controlled access section of MA 9 you have gone too far. Merge right onto Main St in Shrewsbury Center. After Shrewsbury Center will be a short old alignment on the right. In Northboro, the BPR will rejoin with US 20. A bit before I-495 in Marlboro will be a short old alignment on the right. I think the BPR used current US 20 thru Marlboro Center, even though it makes a couple turns. At the turnoff for Wayside Inn, bear left onto BPR, which then enters Sudbury. Just after this merges back into US 20 is an old stone sign for Maynard and Lowell on the left side. Go thru Wayland and enter Weston. Take the fork to the left signed for Weston Center; this will join back into US 20. US 20 then crosses 128 and goes into Waltham and Watertown.
|
Go past I-290 on MA 9 and then turn left onto Main St at Lincoln Sq, a block past MA 70. After downtown, BPR bore left onto Southbridge St. This is now one-way northbound for a block, so you must turn left onto Myrtle St and right onto Southbridge St. Go straight at the rotary. Just after going under I-290, bear left onto College St. At the next fork, bear left onto Pakachoag St and enter Auburn. Go straight across Auburn St/Millbury St and the railroad and under the Masspike onto Central St thru Auburn Center. At I-395, Central St is cut off. Follow the road to the right into Dartmouth Dr, and turn left onto MA 12 to go under I-290. Turn left onto the ramp to I-290/I-395. Keep right onto I-395 SOUTH and take the first exit (6A). Take the ramp to I-290 EAST and take the first exit (6B). After the ramp to I-395 SOUTH, turn right onto Faith Ave. This curves a couple times and then parallels the I-90/I-290/I-395 connector ramps; this straight section was part of BPR. At MA 12, make a left (staying on old BPR) and merge into US 20.
|
At the turnoff for MA 12 NORTH, bear left (towards Auburn Center and I-90). Just before the I-290/I-395 ramp, turn right onto Faith Ave. This runs straight for a bit as the old BPR, but is then cut by I-395. Make a left onto US 20 after a couple curves and take the ramp to I-290 EAST. Take the second exit (7) and merge onto MA 12. Make the second left onto Dartmouth Dr, just before I-290. Bear right to stay on Dartmouth Dr; this will curve into Central St and the old BPR. Central St will go under the Masspike; bear slightly to the right to cross Auburn St, Millbury St, and the railroad and enter Pakachoag St. Pakachoag St merges into College St (after entering Worcester) and then Southbridge St. Southbridge St will then merge into Main St downtown. A bit after the sign directing traffic for Upper Main St to keep left, make a right onto Belmont St/MA 9. Do not turn at the sign marked TO 9-70. MA 9 then leaves Worcester into Shrewsbury.
| | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||