.gif)
Route 63 (Massachusetts)
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
.
at the north end of the UMass Amherst
campus. It heads eastward for a third of a mile before turning onto Sunderland Road (the old alignment of Route 116) for fifty yards, before turning onto Montague Road. Montague Road passes through the western side of the town of Leverett
, crossing the New England Central Railroad
tracks before entering Sunderland
for a short distance, crossing the tracks again before entering Montague
. It meets the northern end of Route 47
south of Montague Center before passing Lake Pleasant and crossing the tracks twice more before crossing the Millers River
at Millers Falls, entering the town of Erving
.
In Erving, Route 63 passes under Route 2 (the Mohawk Trail
) without direct access between the two. Signage on both roads directs traffic along Prospect Street (signed as "To 2 East" and "To 63 South") and along Forest Street (signed as "To 2 East" and "To 63 North"). Route 63 then heads north into Northfield
, passing Northfield Mountain
. It joins Route 10 (just east of Bennett's Meadow Bridge
over the Connecticut River
)for just under 2.5 miles (4 km), before splitting just south of the New Hampshire
state line. It shortly turns northwestward before entering the town of Hinsdale
and becoming New Hampshire Route 63
.
(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 and was built in 1958, and Route 63 was extended slightly west at its south end to the bypass.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, running from Route 116 in Amherst north to the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state line in Northfield, where it continues as New Hampshire Route 63
New Hampshire Route 63
New Hampshire Route 63 is a long north–south state highway in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire. It runs from Winchester to Westmoreland.The northern terminus of NH 63 is in Westmoreland at New Hampshire Route 12...
.
Route description
Route 63 begins at Route 116Massachusetts Route 116
Route 116 is a south–north state highway in Massachusetts. The route runs from Springfield through mill towns, college towns and rural towns, crossing the Connecticut River three times before finally ending in Adams.-Route description:...
at the north end of the UMass Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
campus. It heads eastward for a third of a mile before turning onto Sunderland Road (the old alignment of Route 116) for fifty yards, before turning onto Montague Road. Montague Road passes through the western side of the town of Leverett
Leverett, Massachusetts
Leverett is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,663 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, crossing the New England Central Railroad
New England Central Railroad
The New England Central Railroad is a subsidiary of RailAmerica that began operations in 1995. It runs from New London, Connecticut, to Alburgh, Vermont, a distance of .-History:...
tracks before entering Sunderland
Sunderland, Massachusetts
Sunderland is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, part of the Pioneer Valley. The population was 3,777 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
for a short distance, crossing the tracks again before entering Montague
Montague, Massachusetts
Montague is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area....
. It meets the northern end of Route 47
Massachusetts Route 47
Route 47 is a north–south state highway in the Pioneer Valley region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 47 begins at Route 116 in South Hadley near the northwest corner of the Mount Holyoke College campus. It heads northwestward towards the southwest corner of...
south of Montague Center before passing Lake Pleasant and crossing the tracks twice more before crossing the Millers River
Millers River
The Millers River is a river in northern Massachusetts, originating in Ashburnham and joining the Connecticut River just downstream from Millers Falls, Massachusetts...
at Millers Falls, entering the town of Erving
Erving, Massachusetts
Erving is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,467 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area.-History:...
.
In Erving, Route 63 passes under Route 2 (the Mohawk Trail
Mohawk Trail
- External links :* *...
) without direct access between the two. Signage on both roads directs traffic along Prospect Street (signed as "To 2 East" and "To 63 South") and along Forest Street (signed as "To 2 East" and "To 63 North"). Route 63 then heads north into Northfield
Northfield, Massachusetts
Northfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,951 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, passing Northfield Mountain
Northfield Mountain
Northfield Mountain, , is a mountain ridge located in Erving and Northfield, Massachusetts. long by long, the mountain is composed of several distinct peaks and ledges, most notabily Rattlesnake Mountain , Rose Ledges , and Hermit Mountain...
. It joins Route 10 (just east of Bennett's Meadow Bridge
Route 10 bridge, Northfield, Massachusetts
The Route 10 bridge, also known as Bennett's Meadow Bridge is a steel stringer bridge crossing the Connecticut River in the town of Northfield, Massachusetts. The bridge carries state highway Route 10 and was built in 1969.- History :...
over the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
)for just under 2.5 miles (4 km), before splitting just south of the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state line. It shortly turns northwestward before entering the town of Hinsdale
Hinsdale, New Hampshire
Hinsdale is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,046 at the 2010 census. Hinsdale is home to part of Pisgah State Park in the northeast, and part of Wantastiquet Mountain State Forest in the northwest....
and becoming New Hampshire Route 63
New Hampshire Route 63
New Hampshire Route 63 is a long north–south state highway in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire. It runs from Winchester to Westmoreland.The northern terminus of NH 63 is in Westmoreland at New Hampshire Route 12...
.
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 2Route 2 (Massachusetts)
Route 2 is a major east–west state highway in Massachusetts, parts of which are sometimes known as the Cambridge and Concord Turnpike. Along with Route 9 and U.S. Route 20 to the south, these highways are the main alternatives to the Massachusetts Turnpike/I-90 toll highway...
(later Route 2A
Route 2A (Massachusetts)
Route 2A exists in several sections of Massachusetts, mainly as parts of former Route 2 that have been moved or upgraded. Route 2A runs from Greenfield in the west to Boston in the east...
), 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
New Hampshire Route 10
New Hampshire Route 10 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Its southern terminus is at the Massachusetts state line in the town of Winchester. In Massachusetts the highway becomes Massachusetts Route 10. Total length of the highway is .-Route description:NH 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
New Hampshire Route 63
New Hampshire Route 63 is a long north–south state highway in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire. It runs from Winchester to Westmoreland.The northern terminus of NH 63 is in Westmoreland at New Hampshire Route 12...
, 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 and was built in 1958, and Route 63 was extended slightly west at its south end to the bypass.
Junction list
| County | Location | Mile | Roads intersected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire Hampshire County, Massachusetts -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile... |
Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts... |
0.0 |  Route 116Massachusetts Route 116 Route 116 is a south–north state highway in Massachusetts. The route runs from Springfield through mill towns, college towns and rural towns, crossing the Connecticut River three times before finally ending in Adams.-Route description:... |
Southern end of Route 116. |
| Franklin Franklin County, Massachusetts -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile... |
Montague Montague, Massachusetts Montague is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area.... |
8.4 |  Route 47Massachusetts Route 47 Route 47 is a north–south state highway in the Pioneer Valley region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 47 begins at Route 116 in South Hadley near the northwest corner of the Mount Holyoke College campus. It heads northwestward towards the southwest corner of... |
Northern end of Route 47 |
| Erving Erving, Massachusetts Erving is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,467 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area.-History:... |
13.4 | Prospect Street | To  Route 2 East |
|
| 13.8 | Forest Street | To Route 2 West |
||
| Northfield Northfield, Massachusetts Northfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,951 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
21.0 |  Route 10 South |
Beginning of concurrency with Route 10. | |
| 23.4 | Route 10 North |
End of concurrency with Route 10. | ||
| 24.048 |  NH Route 63New Hampshire Route 63 New Hampshire Route 63 is a long north–south state highway in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire. It runs from Winchester to Westmoreland.The northern terminus of NH 63 is in Westmoreland at New Hampshire Route 12... |
Northern end of Massachusetts Route 63. Southern end of NH Route 63. |