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Route 8A (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Route 8A refers to two separate north–south state highway
s in western Massachusetts
. Both sections are marked as "Route 8A" on guide signs and reassurance marker
s. In official documentation, MassHighway denotes one highway as 8A-U, and the other as 8A-L.
Unlike Route 2A and other suffixed Massachusetts state highways with multiple sections, both 8A-U and 8A-L bypass the same portion of Route 8, possibly causing confusion for travelers unfamiliar with the area.
. For its first 6.2 miles (10 km), Routes 8A & 9 are concurrent, leading into the town of Windsor
. There, Route 8A turns northward, passing through part of the Windsor State Forest, before entering the town of Savoy
. There, the route turns eastward, becoming concurrent with Route 116
. It passes through the town center before crossing into Hampshire County
and the town of Plainfield
.
In Plainfield, Route 8A turns northward again, leaving Route 116 and entering the Dubuque State Forest and crossing into Franklin County
and the town of Hawley
. It passes through Hawley along winding roads before entering the town of Charlemont
. The road turns eastward, running along the south banks of the Deerfield River
for a mile before crossing the river to begin is third and final concurrency, this time with Route 2 along the Mohawk Trail
. After just 0.6 mile (0.965604 km), the route turns northward again, winding into the town of Heath
. It passes through the villages of the Dell and North Hawley before finally ending at the Vermont
state line, entering the town of Whitingham
as Vermont Route 8A
, which shortly links to Vermont Route 112
.
. It begins at a jughandle
intersection with Route 8 south of town, briefly heading east before traveling north for 3.17 miles (5.1 km) It closely parallels its parent along this stretch, before entering the downtown area and ending at the Route 2/Route 8 concurrency.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
s in western Massachusetts
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...
. Both sections are marked as "Route 8A" on guide signs and reassurance marker
Reassurance marker
A reassurance marker or road identification sign is a road sign that repeats the name or number of the current route. Typically posted at intervals alongside a numbered highway, the signs are intended to reassure drivers that they are traveling on the desired road .- North America :In the United...
s. In official documentation, MassHighway denotes one highway as 8A-U, and the other as 8A-L.
Unlike Route 2A and other suffixed Massachusetts state highways with multiple sections, both 8A-U and 8A-L bypass the same portion of Route 8, possibly causing confusion for travelers unfamiliar with the area.
Route 8A-L
8A-L begins at the junction of Route 8 and Route 9 in DaltonDalton, Massachusetts
Dalton is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Dalton is the transition town between the urban and rural pieces of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,892 at the 2000 census.- History...
. For its first 6.2 miles (10 km), Routes 8A & 9 are concurrent, leading into the town of Windsor
Windsor, Massachusetts
Windsor is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 875 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. There, Route 8A turns northward, passing through part of the Windsor State Forest, before entering the town of Savoy
Savoy, Massachusetts
Savoy is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 705 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. There, the route turns eastward, becoming concurrent with Route 116
Massachusetts 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:...
. It passes through the town center before crossing into Hampshire County
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...
and the town of Plainfield
Plainfield, Massachusetts
Plainfield is a town on the northwestern edge of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, about 25 miles east of Pittsfield and 30 miles northwest of Northampton. The population was 589 at the 2000 census...
.
In Plainfield, Route 8A turns northward again, leaving Route 116 and entering the Dubuque State Forest and crossing into Franklin County
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...
and the town of Hawley
Hawley, Massachusetts
Hawley is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 337 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. It passes through Hawley along winding roads before entering the town of Charlemont
Charlemont, Massachusetts
Charlemont is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,358 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. The road turns eastward, running along the south banks of the Deerfield River
Deerfield River
Deerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Deerfield was historically influential in the settlement of western Franklin County, Massachusetts, and its namesake town...
for a mile before crossing the river to begin is third and final concurrency, this time with Route 2 along the Mohawk Trail
Mohawk Trail
- External links :* *...
. After just 0.6 mile (0.965604 km), the route turns northward again, winding into the town of Heath
Heath, Massachusetts
Heath is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 805 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. It passes through the villages of the Dell and North Hawley before finally ending at the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
state line, entering the town of Whitingham
Whitingham, Vermont
Whitingham is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Nathan Whiting, a landholder. The population was 1,298 at the 2000 census. Whitingham is the birthplace of Brigham Young, the second President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and founder of...
as Vermont Route 8A
Vermont Route 8A
Vermont Route 8A is a state highway in Windham County, Vermont, United States. It is the northward continuation of Massachusetts' Route 8A, running entirely in the town of Whitingham. The road is numbered as a state route but is maintained by the town of Whitingham as a class-2 town highway...
, which shortly links to Vermont Route 112
Vermont Route 112
Vermont Route 112 is a short state highway in southern Vermont, United States. It is a continuation of Massachusetts Route 112, running from the state line in Halifax north to an intersection with Vermont Route 100 in the village of Jacksonville...
.
Route 8A-U
8A-U runs along former Route 8, entirely within the city of North AdamsNorth Adams, Massachusetts
North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,708 as of the 2010 census, making it the least populous city in the state...
. It begins at a jughandle
Jughandle
A jughandle is a type of ramp or slip road that changes the way traffic turns left at at-grade intersections. Instead of a standard left turn being made from the left lane, left-turning traffic uses a ramp on the right side of the road...
intersection with Route 8 south of town, briefly heading east before traveling north for 3.17 miles (5.1 km) It closely parallels its parent along this stretch, before entering the downtown area and ending at the Route 2/Route 8 concurrency.