Roads and Highways of the Pioneer Valley

MA 2

MA 2 Information: Western terminus is at the NY State Line in Williamstown, MA. The eastern terminus is at the Public Garden in Boston.

History/Facts: Route 2 used to be NE 7 from Boston to Albany, but was renumbered when US routes came along (as they wanted to use US 7 for the NE 4 corridor). Wherever there is a 2A, it used to be MA 2 before it was bypassed in some way. The one in our area is in Greenfield.

Photos: Eastbound / Westbound

Eastbound: The Berkshires/Franklin County

One of many obnoxious Series F MA 2 shields. I'm not sure why a ton of signs around here use Series F instead of the MA mainstay of series D; it seems to be a MA 2/MA 8 problem.

They should be like this. :)

Williamstown, right near Williams college.

The terminus of MA 43 at MA 2 in Williamstown.

A shot of a residential area of North Adams.

Looking at the top of the MA 2 bridge in North Adams.

This is on Route 2, but it's another appearance of the Series F shields.

This looks more like a Series E.

Downtown N. Adams.

MA 8 and MA 2 are multiplexed here. The North Adams MA 8A ends at this intersection.

Directionals.

The stoplight gets in the way of another set of directionals.

Oldish signs.

Guidesigns for the MA 2/8 split.

And they just keep coming!

A newer Mohawk trail trailblazer. There was an older one a bit earlier that I couldn't get.

The straightaway rural road before the hairpin turn.

The one and only. This is also right past the old Mohawk trail, which was bypassed by this hairpin turn. You can hike it now, but I wouldn't drive on it. My 1933 Berkshire County map describes two hairpins. I couldn't get any snaps of it, but I will eventually.

This sign is right in the middle of the hairpin turn. The actual curve of the hairpin is in Clarksburg, which is listed on the other side of the sign.

View north of the hairpin. It used to be tighter, but was realigned slightly after this new turn was built.

A view of teh rock cut this turn is cut into.

Looking uphill.

Looking south from the restaurant.

That's right, Florida MA.

The following are Super 2 pics in Orange and Athol, courtesy of Arrow. At this point, US 202 is cosigned with MA 2.

More Athol.

Oldie North marker, white border 3DUS shield.

More Athol. Shoulder work going on... According to MassHighway, it's thus: "This project consists of the reconstruction of a 6.95 mile portion of Route 2 in the Towns of Athol and Phillipston and will address existing safety and operational deficiencies within this corridor. The project also includes a new climbing lane, improvements to acceleration and deceleration lanes, a new truck weigh station, installation of a median barrier, police pullouts, and significant drainage system improvements." So there will most likely be three-lane segments here and there. Huzzah. Maybe some of the old signage will be replaced. Fortunately for us we're recording most of it for posterity.

Cleaning up rock cuts.

Old, old button copy.

More Athol.

Exit 32 coming up ahead. Note the odd 32.

And here it is. Love that junk pile in the grass.

Done? Head Westbound or Return home.