For now this list covers the area inside and including 128.
C routes were city routes.
Please email me if you have any comments or corrections.
Links:
Old maps (Paul Schlictman)
Old Boston maps (Neil Kelly) (includes a 1933 Boston map)
Historic USGS Maps of New England
Current maps of state routes from MassGIS info (John Carr)
Route log for all of MA (Paul Schlictman)
New England Interstate Highways of the 1920s (Mike Moroney)
Boston's Cancelled Highways (Scott Moore)
Boston photos (mine, with links to others)
Boston exit lists (me and others)
Other MA road links (ODP)
US 1
US 1 comes from the south paralleling I-95, and then turns east on 128 going along I-95 the wrong way. It then continues with 128 and I-93, and continues on I-93 thru downtown to Charlestown, where it splits off at exit 27 (at the old Tobin Merge) and takes the Tobin Bridge on once proposed I-95. It continues as a freeway to 60 in Revere, and then is a Jersey freeway to 128/I-95, with a NB jughandle U-turn in the interchange.
The old route south of downtown until 1989(?) used Providence Hwy [Nathan Perry], VFW Pkwy, Centre St, Arborway, Jamaicaway, Riverway, Fenway/Park Dr, Charlesgate Overpass, and Storrow Dr from 128/I-95 to I-93 downtown. US 1 was moved to the freeway routing because trucks kept using the cars-only route. This left 1A, 109, and 203 with hanging ends at old US 1. Even earlier, NB US 1 turned off Riverway at Longwood Ave and jogged over to Chapel St/Colchester St/Carlton St, and then on Mountfort St (current 2) and over the BU Bridge. US 1 SB used Mountfort St from the BU Bridge, then went south on Park Dr and Riverway. Then it turned east on Memorial Dr (now 3) and Land Blvd/Cambridge Pkwy along the north of the Charles, and then north on 28, east on 16, and north on 99 to current US 1. Current US 1 north of I-93 was I-95 on the Northeast Expwy and C1 from 60 to 99.
US 1 signage is up to par, except on side roads approaching I-93, where many signs only list I-93/MA 3, since they were put up when US 1 used its old routing. However on I-93 reassurance markers list US 1, although sometimes on a separate post. Many signs on Storrow Dr and Charlesgate Overpass still list US 1 - typical MDC.
Exit list (I-93 to I-95 near Danvers)
Photos: US 1 marked on old route #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 (Boylston St near Fenway Park) | US 1 marked with I-93 and MA 3 on a Storrow Dr entrance | US 1 marked with I-93 but not MA 3 at Leverett Circle - note how US 1 isn't with SOUTH I-93 even though the signs are recent | Signs for the S Boston Bypass/Haul Rd on I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB #1 #2 #3 #4 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB approaching exits 17-18 - note how I-93 is signed overhead and US 1/MA 3 on the side | Approaching I-93/US 1/MA 3 with no US 1 signage | I-93/US 1/MA 3 SB approaching exit 15 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB south of exit 20 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 frontage road NB at exit 18 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 frontage road NB at Berkeley St/4th St | I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB exit 20 BGS | Dead signs and Broadway Bridge approach east of I-93/US 1/MA 3 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 frontage road NB using Atlantic Ave | Dead signs on the Surface Artery NB, which ran under I-93/US 1/MA 3 downtown | Ghost ramps at old Tobin Merge #1 #2 #3 | No Peds sign on I-93/US 1/MA 3 frontage road NB | I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB tunnel under Chinatown | Half of a pedestrian overpass over I-93/US 1/MA 3 near South Station | Orange US 1/I-93 shields | 3 SB coming off the Longfellow Bridge; includes US 1 and I-93 shields | Ghost bridge at the north end of the Northeast Expwy - was to carry US 1 and I-95 (Mike Moroney) | BGSs for I-93/MA 3 (no US 1) TO I-90 coming out of the Sumner Tunnel on 1A SB (Neil Kelly) | Approaching I-93/MA 3 (no US 1 shields) somewhere south of downtown (Jim Georges)
1A
The south segment of 1A parallels US 1 using the old route (Washington St) (old old route inside 128/I-95). Just past 128/I-95 it turns east on Elm St and ends at old US 1 (Providence Hwy [Nathan Perry]).
The south segment used to continue north on Washington St past Elm St to central Dedham, where it intersected US 1 (Providence Hwy). It may have been ALT US 1 at one time.
The north segment starts at I-93 exit 24 and goes thru the Callahan (NB) and Sumner (SB) Tunnels to Logan Airport as a freeway. It then continues as a surface street roughly along the ocean (Massachusetts Bay), and turns inland north of Salem to cross 128 at exit 20.
The north segment of 1A used to start in Everett at the current 16/99 circle, where US 1 used to run thru. 1A ran east on current 16 until the present alignment of 1A. South of there C1 ran down current 1A. Later, 1A was moved to the current alignment but went north on I-93 a bit to Storrow Dr, which is where US 1 left.
1A signage is up to par, except it is not included on I-93 BGSs. It is on trailblazers on the side on I-93 SB, and isn't signed at all NB.
Exit list (I-93 to north of Logan Airport)
Photos: Sign downtown pointing to Callahan Tunnel | BGSs for I-93/MA 3 (no US 1) TO I-90 coming out of the Sumner Tunnel on 1A SB (Neil Kelly) | Circle SOUTH MA 1A shield in Salem (Shawn DeCesari)
C1
C1 started on Brookline Ave at Riverway, and went northeast to Beacon St. Then it took Beacon St and switched to Storrow Dr at Charlesgate. It stayed with the Charles River to Leverett Circle, where it continued on Nashua St and some now-gone roads to Merrimac St, and then cut over to the Sumner Tunnel. It went up current 1A until current 16, where it ended at 1A. Later on it used I-93 from Leverett Circle to the Sumner Tunnel.
2
2 comes from Concord and west as a 4 lane surface street. At 128/I-95 it becomes a freeway to near Cambridge, where the freeway ends at US 3. 2 then runs with US 3 south on Alewife Brook Pkwy, Fresh Pond Pkwy, and east on Memorial Dr to the BU Bridge, where it leaves US 3. By the way at this interchange US 3 becomes MA 3. 2 then crosses the BU Bridge and runs east on Mountfort St and Park Dr. 2 WB has to use Carlton St and Commonwealth Ave (US 20) because Mountfort is 1-way for a bit. Then 2 turns east on Beacon St, and switches to Commonwealth Ave at Kenmore Square. Where Commonwealth Ave ends at Arlington, on the border of the Public Garden, 2 makes a complete loop around, using Arlington St, Boylston St (which is divided but 1 way), Charles St, Beacon St, (latter 2 also 28 NB), and Arlington St again. There is no clear end.
Originally, 2 stayed with Memorial Dr (3) until Mass Ave, and went over the Harvard Bridge (now 2A) and ended at Commonwealth Ave (then US 20).
Signage is fairly poor, including several directional signs without the shield. Not all turns are signed.
Exit list (west of US 3)(Mike Adams)
Map (John Carr)
Photos: Rotary at north end of BU Bridge, where 2 leaves 3 and 3 goes over #1 #2 | Sign on Beacon St at Charlesgate with many control cities including "Route 2" | On the exit ramp from Charlesgate NB to 2 | Old school RTE 2 shield on the Harvard Bridge, now 2A | END US 20 at 2 | 28 and TO 2 signage coming off Storrow Dr | I-90 BGS on Memorial Dr/MA 2 EB/US 3 SB (Shawn DeCesari) | EAST MA 2/cutout US 3 on Memorial Dr in Cambridge (Shawn DeCesari)
2A
2A is mostly the very old route of 2. It starts at 2 east of Concord, and uses Great Rd, Mass Ave, Marrett Rd, Mass Ave, Maple St, Lowell St, Summer St, Mystic St (where US 3 joins it), Pleasant St, and Mass Ave (US 3 leaves at Alewife Brook Pkwy/16). It ends at 2 (Commonwealth Ave) just past the Harvard Bridge. 2A passes thru Harvard and MIT.
2A used to end at Memorial Dr (3) north of the Harvard Bridge, and 2 picked up on the Harvard Bridge.
Signage is fairly poor. Not all turns in Cambridge are signed. 2 old school RTE 2 signs are on the Harvard Bridge. Some signs mark it N-S and some mark it E-W.
Map (John Carr)
Photos: 2A NB at Memorial Dr (MA 3 on both sides despite the signage) | 2A exit from Storrow Dr WB | 2A exit from Memorial Dr WB | Old school RTE 2 shield on the Harvard Bridge, now 2A | EAST plate near the Harvard Bridge, the 2A shield fell off | Cuckoo street crossing sounder for the blind on MA 2A in MIT
MA 3/US 3
3 comes from southeast of Boston along a freeway, then takes the Southeast Expwy (I-93) to downtown. It exits at Leverett Circle (exit 26) and goes south on Charles St (commonly known as Storrow Dr) to the Longfellow Bridge, where it crosses the Charles and then heads west on Memorial Dr along the north bank. At the BU Bridge, 2 joins on and MA 3 becomes US 3. More on that in the next paragraph (history). US 3 stays with 2 up Fresh Pond Pkwy and Alewife Brook Pkwy, and stays with Alewife Brook Pkwy when 2 splits off. At Mass Ave (2A) it turns west, and then follows 2A up Pleasant St and Mystic St past Summer St, where 2A leaves. In Winchester the name changes to Cambridge St, and that name stays past 128/I-95, which US 3 joins for 2 exits west (3A continues north on Cambridge St). When US 3 leaves 128/I-95, it is a freeway and stays one into NH.
3 used to stay off freeways in the Boston area. It used the old route (now 53 and 3A) thru Quincy. The freeway was an extension of 128. Where 3A currently ends at I-93 and 203, 3 went west on Gallivan Blvd, Morton St, and Arborway (current 203), and then with US 1 up Arborway, Jamaicaway, Riverway, Longwood Ave, Chapel St, Colchester St, Carlton St, Mountfort St, and the BU Bridge. At the north end, where it left US 1 and turned west on Memorial Dr (which is currently US 3), MA 3 became US 3. Back then, this ending for US 3 made a lot of sense, since it ended at US 1. Nowadays, however, it makes almost no sense.
Later on, 3 was rerouted onto the freeways south of I-93 exit 11 (Granite Ave). It was routed up Granite Ave to Gallivan Blvd, and then west on Gallivan Blvd and the rest stayed the same. The older route became 53 and 3A, which it remains to this day, except for 3A west of I-93, which is now 203.
Another even newer old alignment was that 3 SB (goes almost NB there!) used to stay on the north side of the Charles past the Longfellow Bridge, using Cambridge Pkwy and Land Blvd. It then went over the Charles River Dam (28) and rejoined 3 NB at Leverett Circle. This is still shown on many maps. Signage is totally nonexistent for 3 NB there, so I thought it was still possible, except the official MassGIS info (see the map link below) says otherwise.
Signage is pretty bad. It is not clear where MA 3 becomes US 3; for example on 2A (Harvard Bridge) it is shown as US 3 NORTH and MA 3 SOUTH where US 3 doesn't begin till the BU Bridge. There is even a SOUTH US 3 shield on the onramp to I-93 from Leverett Circle! It is signed well on I-93 and south however, and I assume so to the north.
Exit list (MA 3 south of 128/I-93)(Mike Adams)
Exit list (US 3 north of 128/I-95)(Mike Adams)
Map (John Carr)
Photos: Rotary at north end of BU Bridge, where MA 3 becomes US 3 #1 #2 | 2A NB at 3 (MA 3 on both sides despite the signage) | U-turn on 3 north/west of 2A | 3 marked with US 1 and I-93 on a Storrow Dr entrance | U-turn on MA 3 NB south/east of 2A | 3 NB at the 2A exit | Dead sign on 3 SB for the U-turn past 2A | Pedestian crossing on 3 NB in MIT | 3 SB on the ramp from Memorial Dr to the Longfellow Bridge | Tall vehicle detector on MA 3 NB approaching the 2A underpass - doesn't work #1 #2 | 3 SB on Charles St (heading NB!) approaching Leverett Circle | 3 SB in Leverett Circle; note the lack of 3 SOUTH (or US 1 SOUTH) signage with I-93 SOUTH | Signs for the S Boston Bypass/Haul Rd on I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB #1 #2 #3 #4 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB approaching exits 17-18 - note how I-93 is signed overhead and US 1/MA 3 on the side | Approaching I-93/US 1/MA 3 with no US 1 signage | I-93/US 1/MA 3 SB approaching exit 15 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB south of exit 20 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 frontage road NB at exit 18 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 frontage road NB at Berkeley St/4th St | I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB exit 20 BGS | Dead signs and Broadway Bridge approach east of I-93/US 1/MA 3 | I-93/US 1/MA 3 frontage road NB using Atlantic Ave | Dead signs on the Surface Artery NB, which ran under I-93/US 1/MA 3 downtown | No Peds sign on I-93/US 1/MA 3 frontage road NB | I-93/US 1/MA 3 NB tunnel under Chinatown | Half of a pedestrian overpass over I-93/US 1/MA 3 near South Station | 3 SB coming off the Longfellow Bridge; includes US 1 and I-93 shields | NORTH US 3 shield (David Chesler) | Cutout US 3 near the freeway part (Mike Moroney) | Cutout NORTH US 3 on the freeway (Neil Kelly) | BGSs for I-93/MA 3 (no US 1) TO I-90 coming out of the Sumner Tunnel on 1A SB (Neil Kelly) | I-93 SB with HOV lane approaching Boston; MA 3 is shown even though it hasn't entered yet (Jim Georges) | Approaching I-93/MA 3 (no US 1 shields) somewhere south of downtown (Jim Georges) | Approaching I-93/MA 3 (no US 1 shields) somewhere south of downtown (Jim Georges) | US 3 SB approaching I-95 (128) #1 #2 | I-90 BGS on Memorial Dr/MA 2 EB/US 3 SB (Shawn DeCesari) | EAST MA 2/cutout US 3 on Memorial Dr in Cambridge (Shawn DeCesari)
3A
The south section of 3A goes along the shore from the southeast to Quincy, and then heads north on the old route of 3 to I-93/US 1/MA 3 at 203.
At first 3A ended in Quincy, where 3 took over from current 53. Later on was moved to the freeways and 3A went to its current route, but it went west on 203 until Granite Ave, where 3 entered.
The north section of 3A is old US 3 north of 128/I-95, where 3 is now freeway.
4
4 comes from the northwest, including Bedford, and heads southeast on Bedford St, Mass Ave, Pleasant St, and Watertown St to end at 2. It is all multiplexed with 225.
9
9 comes from the west via Wellesley, and then goes east on Worcester St and Boylston St thru Newton and Brookline as an almost freeway, and then onto Huntington Ave in Boston. It has an interchange with I-90 (EB off, WB on) and then splits into a 1-way pair of Stuart St (EB) and St James Ave (WB). EB it ends at Arlington St/Columbus Ave (28 NB) and WB it begins at Clarendon St (28 SB).
9 used to end at Riverway/Jamaicaway, which was US 1 then. C9 continued on current 9.
9 is only signed west of I-90.
Map (John Carr)
Photos of MA 9 shields (Neil Kelly)
9A
9A started on 9 in Brookline, and headed north on Chestnut Hill Ave to Cleveland Circle, then east on Beacon St with 20A. It is unclear exactly where it ended; it could have ended at Carlton St (then US 1/3/28), or maybe Kenmore Square at Commonwealth Ave and Brookline Ave (then US 20 and C1/C9).
C9
C9 eastbound went east on Huntington Ave (current 9) from Riverway/Jamaicaway, then east on Boylston St and north on Charles St, then east on Cambridge St and Hanover St to end at C1 (Union St?). Westbound C9 stayed with eastbound until Charles St, where it went west on Storrow Dr. It cut over to Beacon St at Charlesgate, and went southwest on Brookline Ave to either Riverway and south to 9 and C9 EB, or directly to 9 on Brookline Ave.
16
16 comes from Wellesley and heads northeast on Washington St and Watertown St. Then it goes east on Mt Auburn St and north on Aberdeen Ave, Huron Ave, Fresh Pond Pkwy, and Alewife Brook Pkwy. 16 heads east on Mystic Valley Pkwy and Revere Beach Pkwy to end at 1A in Revere.
16 used to end at 28, where US 1 joined and then later 1A used current 16.
18
18 comes north thru Weymouth on Main St and ends at 53.
US 20
US 20 comes from the west and into Waltham on the Boston Post Rd. It takes Weston St and Main St to Watertown, and then east on Beacon St, Brighton Ave, and Commonwealth Ave to end at 2 (Beacon St, Commonwealth Ave) in Kenmore Square. Most if not all maps end it at the end of Brighton Ave, and take 30 on Commonwealth Ave past there, but signage says otherwise.
Photos: END US 20 at Kenmore Square
20A
20A started on US 20 in Brighton, and headed south on Market St and Chestnut Hill Ave to Cleveland Circle, then east on Beacon St with 9A. It is unclear exactly where it ended; it could have ended at Carlton St (then US 1/3/28), or maybe Kenmore Square at Commonwealth Ave and Brookline Ave (then US 20 and C1/C9).
22
22 starts on 1A in Beverly and heads north on Cabot St and Essex St. It ends at 133 in Essex while on Martin St.
24
24 comes from Fall River as a freeway and ends at 128/I-93/US 1.
Exit list (Mike Adams)
25
Old 25 is now 225. Now 25 is near Cape Cod.
28
28 comes from the south on Main St in Randolph. It then goes up Randolph Ave, Reedsdale Rd, Brook Rd, Blue Hills Pkwy, Blue Hill Ave, Seaver St, and Columbus Ave to Roxbury. It used to go straight up Columbus Ave to downtown, but new construction on the Orange Line of the T in the late 1980s (?) killed part of Columbus Ave, so Columbus Ave becomes Tremone St, and then 28 turns at Melnea Cass Blvd to get back to Columbus Ave. At I-90, it splits into a 1-way pair, with northbound using Columus Ave, Stuart St, Charles St, Beacon St, and Storrow Dr, while southbound 28 exits Storrow Dr to Beacon St west, then goes down Clarendon St to Columbus Ave. Charles St from Beacon St to the Longfellow Bridge used to be 2-way, so 28 NB used that, but it is now 1-way SB so NB 28 has to detour west on Beacon St. 28 then uses Storrow Dr (and Charles St) to Leverett Circle, where it exits for O'Brien Hwy and McGrath Hwy (originally Northern Artery). Then it runs along the Fellsway, taking the west spur and becoming a frontage road to I-93 between exits 33 and 34. It then uses Main St in Stoneham and Reading and crosses 128/I-95 at exit 38.
28 used to bypass downtown, leaving its current path at current 203 (Morton St). It went west on 203 (then 3) and onto the Arborway and with US 1 along Jamaicaway, Riverway, Longwood Ave, Chapel St, Colchester St, Carlton St, Mountfort St, and the BU Bridge. It turned east on Memorial Dr and followed it and Cambridge Pkwy/Land Blvd to O'Brien Hwy, where it rejoined the current path. Most of the current path was C28.
Signage is pretty good, except on the realigned section on 28 NB where it used Charles St; no signs exist here. Also a SOUTH 28 sign is on Columbus Ave SB at Stuart St/Arlington St, when 28 SB doesn't enter Columbus Ave for 2 more blocks.
Map (John Carr)
Photos: 28 N signed with I-93/US 1/MA 3 on a Storrow Dr entrance (just before 28 NB actually enters) | 28 NB approaching Leverett Circle | Coming off the Gimore Bridge (Austin St) towards MA 28 | 28 and TO 2 signage coming off Storrow Dr
C28
C28 started where 28 left its current path in Dorchester. C28 went up Columbus Ave, then made its way somehow to the Longfellow Bridge and back to 28, which used Memorial Dr at the time.
30
30 comes from the west on South Ave in Weston, then becomes Commonwealth Ave in Newton. It stays with Commonwealth Ave until US 20 (Brighton Ave), where it ends and US 20 comes onto Commonwealth Ave, despite most maps showing it continuing to Kenmore Square (at 2), where US 20 ends.
30 used to leave Commonwealth Ave at Chestnut Hill Ave (also 20A back then), and then went east on Beacon St (with 9A and 20A). It ended at Kenmore Square (?).
35
35 starts on 114 in Peabody, and goes north on Water St and High St.
37
37 heads north on Granite St and Willard St from Braintree, and ends at I-93 exit 8 (after crossing it once already with 128 at exit 6).
37 used to continue north on Williard St and Granite Ave to current 203, which was 3. C37 continued towards downtown.
C37
C28 started where 37 ended, at Granite Ave and Gallivan Blvd (then 3, now 203) in Dorchester. It went east on Gallivan Blvd with 3 and then north on Morrissey Blvd, Old Colony Ave, Dorchester Ave (part of which is now buses only), Congress St, Atlantic Ave, and Cross St to C1 at the Sumner Tunnel.
38
38 starts in Somerville at 28 (McGrath Hwy). It heads northwest on Mystic Ave at the west frontage road to I-93. Then it goes west a bit on Mystic Valley Pkwy (16) and north on Winthrop St; it used to jog at South St until that became 1-way EB. In Winchester and Woburn it uses Main St and crosses 128/I-95 at exit 35.
Map (John Carr)
Photos: 38 shield in Winchester (David Chesler)
53
53 is old 3 south of Quincy, ending at 3A.
60
60 starts on US 20 in Waltham, and heads east on Linden St and Waverly Oaks Rd. It turns east on Trapelo Rd and then northeast on Pleasant St into Arlington. Then it goes east on Chestnut St, High St, Salem St, Pleasant St, Centre St, Eastern Ave, Squire Rd, and American Legion Hwy to end at 1A in Revere.
60 used to head east on Revere St in Revere to Revere Beach.
62
62 heads east from Danvers to end at 127 in Beverly.
I-90
I-90 uses the Mass Pike from the west and ends at I-93. It is under construction east to Logan Airport and 1A.
I-90 is usually signed with the Mass Pike pilgrim hat shield.
Exit list (Neil Kelly)
Exit list (Jay Hogan)
Exit list (Mike Adams)
Big Dig links
Photos: Sign on Beacon St at Charlesgate with many control cities including "Mass Pike" | I-90 BGS on I-93 NB | Sign for the Ted Williams Tunnel, which will be I-90 | I-90/Masspike shields on the EB frontage road for Soldiers Field Rd | BGSs for I-93/MA 3 (no US 1) TO I-90 coming out of the Sumner Tunnel on 1A SB (Neil Kelly) | Approaching I-93/MA 3 (no US 1 shields) somewhere south of downtown - includes Mass Pike text (Jim Georges) | I-90 BGS on Memorial Dr/MA 2 EB/US 3 SB (Shawn DeCesari)
I-93
I-93 starts at I-95 and goes east along 128 till the Southeast Expwy. Then it heads north on the Central Artery and Northwest Expwy.
I-93 is signed well.
Exit list (mine - exits 15-28)
Exit list (Neil Kelly)
Exit list (JP Kirby)
Exit list (Jay Hogan)
Exit list (Mike Adams)
Big Dig links
Photos: I-93 marked with US 1 and MA 3 on a Storrow Dr entrance | I-93 signs at Leverett Circle - note how US 1 isn't with SOUTH I-93 even though the signs are recent | Signs for the S Boston Bypass/Haul Rd on I-93 NB #1 #2 #3 #4 | I-93 NB approaching exits 17-18 - note how I-93 is signed overhead and US 1/MA 3 on the side | Approaching I-93 with no US 1 signage | I-93 SB approaching exit 15 | I-93 NB south of exit 20 | I-93 frontage road NB at exit 18 | I-93 frontage road NB at Berkeley St/4th St | I-93 NB exit 20 BGS | Dead signs and Broadway Bridge approach east of I-93 | I-93 frontage road NB using Atlantic Ave | Dead signs on the Surface Artery NB, which ran under I-93 downtown | Ghost ramps at old Tobin Merge #1 #2 #3 | No Peds sign on I-93 frontage road NB | I-93 NB tunnel under Chinatown | Half of a pedestrian overpass over I-93 near South Station | Orange US 1/I-93 shields | 3 SB coming off the Longfellow Bridge; includes US 1 and I-93 shields | BGSs for I-93/MA 3 (no US 1) TO I-90 coming out of the Sumner Tunnel on 1A SB (Neil Kelly) | I-95 (128) exit from I-93 (Jim Georges) | I-93 SB with HOV lane approaching Boston; MA 3 is shown even though it hasn't entered yet (Jim Georges) | Approaching I-93/MA 3 (no US 1 shields) somewhere south of downtown (Jim Georges)
I-95
I-95 comes from Providence, RI and joins with 128 around the west, and then leaves towards coastal NH.
Originally I-95 was to go thru downtown, entering current I-93 at exit 18 (Mass Ave). It would have gone up US 1 on the Northeast Expwy and then back to 128 and I-95.
Exit list (Chris O'Leary)
Exit list (Jay Hogan)
Exit list (JP Kirby)
Exit list (Mike Adams)
Photos: Ghost I-95 shields on 99 (Rutherford Ave) in Charlestown #1 #2 #3 | Ghost bridge at the north end of the Northeast Expwy - was to carry US 1 and I-95 (Mike Moroney) | I-95 (128) exit from I-93 (Jim Georges) | US 3 SB approaching I-95 (128) #1 #2 | NORTH I-95/MA 128 shield in Wakefield (Shawn DeCesari)
97
97 goes north from 1A in Beverly on Cabot St.
99
99 starts at US 1 in Charlestown and goes north on Rutherford Ave. At Sullivan Square it goes onto Alford St and Broadway, and ends at US 1.
Originally 99 was US 1 north of 16 and not a state road south of there.
Signage starts at Sullivan Square; south of there it's signed TO 99.
Map (John Carr)
Photos: Ghost I-95 shields on 99 in Charlestown #1 #2 #3
107
107 starts on 16 in Revere and goes north on Broadway, Salem Tpk, Western Ave, Highland Ave, Boston St, and Bridge St, ending at 114 in Salem.
109
109 goes north from Westwood on High St and Bridge St, ending at VFW Pkwy (old US 1).
114
114 comes from Middleton and goes east on Main St, Andover St, Gardner St, and North St to Salem, and then south on 1A for a bit and east to Marblehead, ending at 129.
117
117 comes into Waltham from the west on Main St and ends at US 20.
121
121 is now 133.
127
127 starts in Beverly on 1A and goes north and east on Water St, Lothrop St, and Hale St, and then along Massachusetts Bay to Gloucester, and then looping around north of Gloucester and ending at Grant Circle (on 128).
127A
127A goes closer to Massachusetts Bay than 127 from Gloucester to Rockport. Both ends are at 127.
128
128 forms a beltway around Boston. Officially, it goes from I-95 in Peabody to 127A in Gloucester. However common usage and some signage takes it all the way down I-95 to Canton, and then on I-93 north to end where 3 joins on, although there is an END sign where I-95 leaves and I-93 begins [Allan Sherman], put up in 1997 [Shawn DeCesari].
Originally 128 extended further east from the south end on current I-93 and 3, and exited the freeway at exit 14 (now 228) and went along 228 to Nantasket.
Even earlier, before the freeway was built, 128 used surface streets. Northeast of Salem, it used 1A to Beverly, and 22 to Essex and 133 (then 121) to Gloucester. It went west from Salem on Boston St, Washington St, Lynnfield St, and Salem St (partly 129). Then it entered Wakefield on New Salem St and left on Albion St and Elm St to Stoneham, and then used Montvale Ave to Woburn. Then 128 used Pleasant St, Lexington St, and Woburn St to Lexington, and Waltham St and Lexington St to Waltham. It left on Newton St, High St, Wlatham St, Crafts St, and Walnut St to Newton Highlands, and then southwest on Needham St and Highland Ave and southeast on Greendale Ave (which closely parallels current 128) to Dedham. From there it used the current route for a while; it was later upgraded on location, which is probably why it has a wide median. The southbound lanes are the old alignment. In Westwood/Dedham, it left the current freeway alignment and went onto Blue Hill Dr, which is now a frontage road. Then it went east on Royall St (this path is now cut off by the T commuter rail AND the I-93/I-95 interchange!) and Blue Hill River Rd. Then at Randolph it is broken again, and the old route becomes West St in Braintree. It then used Franklin St and Washington St (37) to go south a bit, and then went east again on Plain St, Grove St, Columbian St, Park Ave, Ralph Talbot St, Derby St, and Whiting St (now 53, then 3, which it picked up current 228 from and ran north to end in Nantasket. [Thanks to Allan Sherman for the part east of Dedham]
Exit list (Mike Adams)
Map (John Carr)
Photos: Sign pointing towards 128 on 38 in Winchester (David Chesler) | NORTH I-95/MA 128 shield in Wakefield (Shawn DeCesari)
128A
When the new 128 freeway was built, old 128 became 128A before ceasing to be a state route.
129
129 comes east out of Reading on Salem St, and then goes to Wakefield on Main St. It turns east on Water St and Walnut St, and then runs up US 1 a bit to Salem St. Then it runs southeast on Lynnfield St and Chestnut St. It used to run northeast on 107 (Western Ave) a bit, and then southeast on Eastern Ave to the Bay. Now that is 129A and 129 goes south on Boston St, east on Washington St, and north on 1A to Eastern Ave, where it goes southeast a bit to the Bay. 129 then goes northeast along Massachusetts Bay on Humphrey St and Atlantic Ave to end in Marblehead.
Originally 129 crossed US 1 on Walnut St to Lynn, and then went north with 1A to Nahant St and southeast to the shore, then northeast.
129A
129A is old 129 in Lynn. It starts on Chestnut St at Boston St (129) and goes east to 107, north on 107, and southeast on Eastern Ave to 1A and 129. Thanks to Thomas Lee Jr for telling me about this.
133
133 crosses 128 at exit 14 and comes into Gloucester from the west, ending at 127.
133 was once 121.
135
135 goes east from Needham and ends at 128/I-95 exit 17.
135 used to extend east on Common St, High St, Milton St, Canton Ave, Brook Rd, Adams St, Hancock St, and Washington St to end at 3 and 3A in Quincy (now 3A and 53).
138
138 comes from the south on Blue Hill Ave and ends at 28 in northern Milton.
138 used to extend north on 28, which itself went west on current 203 and north on old US 1 (along with 3 as well). 138 left at Brookline Ave and ended at Kenmore Square.
145
145 makes a U from 1A north of Logan Airport along the shore via Winthrop to 16 in Revere.
In eastern Revere some maps show 145 using Winthrop Ave; signage shows it on Beach Pkwy the whole way and then picking up Winthrop Pkwy, a slightly longer route but wider.
203
203 begins at Murray Circle at Centre St (old US 1) and Arborway, and goes east on Arborway, Morton St, and Gallivan Blvd to end at I-93 exit 12, which is also the start of 3A.
203 was once 3.
225
225 comes from Bedford on Bedford St along with 4 and then goes on Mass Ave, Pleasant St, and Watertown St and ends at 2, still with 4.
225 used to be 25.
228
228 starts at 3 exit 14 and goes north thru Hingham to end near Nantasket.
228 was once 128.
I-695
I-695 was to be Boston's inner belt. It would have started at I-95 near Roxbury, and I-95 would continue northeast to I-93 exit 18 (Mass Ave). Then 695 would loop around, crossing the Charles River directly over the BU Bridge (2) and then come back to I-93 at the ghost ramps in Charlestown, 2 of which now serve exit 26B (Storrow Dr).
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