MA 20A

MA 20A Information: Western terminus is at Main Street in Springfield. Eastern terminus is at US 20 and I-291 in East Springfield.

History/Facts: MA 20A is an alternate route of US 20 through Springfield, it's beeen around since the 1930s. It's not a bypass, just one of those funky "Well, traffic on State Street is way too high, let's sign an alternate on these not-oft used streets" scenarios. :) It's a nice drive, and there's lots to do on the road, but if you want to get from point A to B, you're better off sticking to I-291, as from the point they split and rejoin, they service almost exactly the same area (and in some cases, streets with I-291's interchanges).

Photos:

Eastbound: Springfield

The first 20A shield you'll see, although it started on the overpass of 91.

The first LGS describing 20A. There were some LGSes with the thin MA border accent on them, I've seen a few more on Route 9 in Northampton and Amherst. Haven't really seen it anywhere else, though - these signs must be really old.

The following five pics are courtesy of Arrow. Old 20A shield.

Interstate signs. The 291 looks like it's seen better days.

A general road shot at St. James ave and St. James Blvd.

Directionals at the I-291 interchange.

Damaged overhead directing you to 291.

This is an onramp for I-291 on MA 20A. Note the extremely old shields and the apparent lack of blue Interstate direction signs. Old MassPike hat on that guide sign too. This is the eastern terminus of 20A, as it becomes US 20 after passing this ramp.

Westbound: Springfield

A cutout US 20 shield - how novel. Look at that 291 shield too - both of these signs, dare I say, look relatively new. This is one of the three cutout shields I know of for US routes in this area. Why such large signs are being used, I don't know. This is where US 20W enters I-291, and the main road continues on as 20A, as we'll see in the following photographs.

This is a bit of a whoops, but this is visible from the off-ramp from exit 5 of I-291 west. These signs are old-ish, as there's no route shields.

The first 20A reassurance shield, on the intersection with Roosevelt avenue.

Done? Return home.

All photographs and original info ©2004/2005 Dan Vincent unless otherwise noted.