| Route 56 | ||||
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| Route information | ||||
| Length: | 20.1 mi (32.3 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: | Route 12 in Oxford | |||
| Route 20 in Oxford Route 9 in Leicester Routes 31 and 122 in Paxton Route 122A in Rutland |
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| North end: | Route 68 in Rutland | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Massachusetts State Highway Routes
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Route 56 is a north–south state highway running 20.1 miles (32.3 km) through central Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Route 56 begins at Route 12 in North Oxford. It crosses the French River before meeting U.S. Route 20. It continues north, passing under I-90 (the Mass Pike) without access between the two. (The nearest access to the Pike is in Auburn.) Route 56 then crosses the French River again before entering the town of Leicester. It follows the Huntoon Memorial Highway until turning right onto Pleasant Street, following that street into the center of town, intersecting Route 9 just before turning north, passing Becker College in the process.
Route 56 continues northward, passing several of the Kettle Brook Reservoirs as it enters Paxton. In Paxton, Route 56 begins a 1.3 miles (2.1 km) concurrency with Route 122 which takes it into the center of Paxton. At the intersection of Route 122 and Route 31, Route 56 joins Route 31 northbound for less than a tenth of a mile before the two split, with Route 56 heading northward. The route then enters the town of Rutland, passing northward towards that town's center. The route has a 0.1 miles (0.16 km) concurrency with Route 122A through the town center before turning northward again, ending at Route 68 near the Hubbardston town line.
| County | Location | Mile | Roads intersected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | Oxford | 0.0 | Route 12 | Southern end of Route 56. |
| 0.5 | U.S. Route 20 | |||
| 1.5 | I-90/Mass Pike | No access from Route 56 to I-90. | ||
| Leicester | 6.3 | Route 9 | ||
| Paxton | 10.2 | Route 122 South | Begin concurrency with Route 122. | |
| 11.5 | Route 122 North Route 31 South |
End concurrency with Route 122. Begin concurrency with Route 31. |
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| 11.6 | Route 31 North | End concurrency with Route 31. | ||
| Rutland | 16.4 | Route 122A South | Begin concurrency with Route 122A. | |
| 16.5 | Route 122A North | End concurrency with Route 122A. | ||
| 20.1 | Route 68 | Northern end of Route 56. |