Massachusetts Route 63

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Route 63 is a 24.048-mile (38.702 km) state-numbered route in Massachusetts, United States, running from Route 116 in Amherst north to the New Hampshire state line in Northfield, where it continues as New Hampshire Route 63.

[edit] Maintenance

The following sections are MassHighway-owned state highways:

Amherst

North of Sunderland Road (old Route 116)

Leverett

Full length

Sunderland

Full length

Montague

South of West Main Street (old Route 2A)
Bridge over the Millers River

Erving

Bridge over the Millers River
North of Forrest Street (connection to Route 2)

Northfield

Full length

All other sections are locally maintained.

[edit] History

Route 63 was defined by 1929, running from Route 116 in Sunderland north along current Route 47 into Montague, and then along Sunderland Road, Turners Falls Road and Montague Road towards Turners Falls. South of Turners Falls, it turned east and merged with Route 2 (later Route 2A), which it took to Millers Falls. There it turned north onto its present alignment, ending at Route 10 in Northfield.

Ca. 1939, Route 63 was extended south from Sunderland along present Route 47, ending at Route 116 in South Hadley. Around the same time, it was shifted to its current alignment from south of Montague center (where Route 47 now cuts over to Route 63) north to Millers Falls. Finally, also around 1939, New Hampshire Route 10 was shifted onto a shorter route near the state line, resulting in a different crossing of the state line. The former Route 10 became New Hampshire Route 63, and Route 63 was extended north concurrent with Route 10, splitting near the state line along old Route 10.

In the late 1940s, Route 63 was shifted east from south of Montague center south to a new terminus at Route 116 in Amherst; the old route became Route 47. Finally, a new alignment of Route 116 west of Amherst center was built ca. 1958, and Route 63 was extended slightly west at its south end to the bypass.