Massachusetts Route 125
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| Route 125 |
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| South end: |  Interstate 93 in Wilmington |
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| Major junctions: |
 Route 28 in Andover Route 114 in N. Andover (short concurrency) Route 133 in N. Andover (concurrency)  Route 97/113 in Haverhill Route 110 in Haverhill (brief concurrency) Interstate 495 in Haverhill |
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| North end: |  Route 125 in Plaistow, NH |
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Route 125 is a Massachusetts state route that essentially is a southwest-northeast route, but is technically considered to go north-south. It runs from Interstate 93 in Wilmington to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire state line in Haverhill, where it continues as New Hampshire Route 125 through Plaistow to Rochester, New Hampshire.
As you travel south to north on Rt. 125 from the I-93 interchange, a variety of different highway designs are encountered. In the immediate vicinity of the I-93 interchange, it is a four-lane arterial with traffic lights. This is due to an intersection with Ballardvale Road, a major collector serving the industrial areas in the vicinity.
As you continue north, the segment is believed to be of recent construction that sports wide lanes and wide shoulders on both sides. It is a first class commuting facility. However, there is no median separator and the speed limit is 50 mph.
At the MA Rt. 28 interchange, there is a fully grade-separated interchange and at this point the highway narrows substantially. This section has been repaved in 2005-2006 but was not widened. Left turn lanes were added but Vine Street (Andover) was closed to reduce the number of flat crossings over the roadway. Locally the highway is known as the Andover By-pass as it travels through the 'back woods' of Andover. A feature of that segment is very narrow shoulders and a sign advising motorists to 'use HEADLIGHTS during DAYLIGHT hours'. Typically, when highways are constructed, a wide right-of-way is cleared and the actual pavement is fairly narrow compared to the area cleared. In this case, possibly for conservation reasons, the trees were carefully left in place right up to the edge of the paving, resulting in substantial shadows over the roadway, even during daylight hours. (Illustration needed.) There are sometimes deer sightings in this area despite close proximity to suburban development. It is a rare example of a semi-limited access highway. Active effort seem to have been made (by either MassHighway or the Town of Andover) to prevent commercial development alongside this route; all of the commercial development are on the parallel Rt. 28, which has the effect of reducing travel times and conserving the rustic feel of the highway. This beautiful section of highway ends as Rt. 125 becomes co-routed with Rt. 114 in the vicinity of Merrimack College.
As Rt.125 splits from Rt.114 in North Andover, the route passes through parts of North Andover and abuts the Lawrence Municipal Airport. At this point it is a four lane arterial. At the "Rt.125 Connector" from I-495, an interesting flat junction is observed. (Diagram needed). The route continues across the Merrimack River and passes Haverhill City Hall on its way to New Hampshire.
[edit] Communities along the route
Route 125 passes through the following towns and cities:
