Roads and Highways of the Pioneer Valley

MA 57

MA 57 Information: Western terminus is at MA 23 in Monterey, MA. The eastern terminus is at a rotary with US 5 in Agawam.

History/Facts: MA 57 wears many hats, from freeway in Agawam to a winding road in Southwick and beyond. The first freeway segment was built in the late 50s and finished in 1961, bringing the road to what was then US 5A and is now MA 159. A few years later in 1966 the road was completed to Mill Street. The second major segment (extending it to its current terminus at 187) was completed in 1995. Inbetween those 30 years, nothing was done to the road, it simply transformed from freeway into Mill street. The freeway has always been planned to be finished into Southwick since the 70s when the expansion plans started, but it's been held up by wetlands issues - there's a small pond directly in the way as well as some miscellaneous land people don't use for farms but is just there. Nobody knows when it will be extended it into Southwick, but considering this highway's construction troubles, I'm not counting on it. "Phase 2" of 57 would basically follow the relocated 57's trajectory until crossing into Southwick and ending at the existing 57 just after the Agawam/Southwick town line.

Photos: Eastbound / Westbound

Westboundbound: Agawam/Southwick/Granville

The start of Route 57 at the US 5/MA 57 rotary.

A nice three lane highway, but in no way up to Interstate standards.

A nice truck route to Windsor Locks, 159.

There's actually two exits crammed right next to each other. Also, Six Flags should get a bigger sign than that.

Room to grow, I can see.

Talk about no deceleration room. That should say Main Street NORTH, too.

Wow, they actually painted Exit Only on that ramp. Whoda thunk. This part of the highway is actually quite old, it was built in the 1960s, and was supposed to be completed through its new alignment into Southwick then, but various reasons kept that from happening. Plans for an extension phase were on the drawing board in the 70s, until construction resumed again in the mid 90s, and completed the part we'll be looking at

Isn't it funny how MA 75 intersects with MA 57. MA 75 is an extension of CT 75, and if you follow CT 75 south, you will eventually find Bradley Airport.

The exit sign for 75.

Showing that this is on an old, old section, the MA 57 shield is teensy tiny, like the Route 5 "limited access" segments in W. Springfield.

This is signage leading to Mill Street, where the first segment of 57 expressway terminated.

This used to be the old terminus of 57. Some of the embankments for the old road are still there, if you park nearby and look around.

The first reassurance shield on the extension completed in 1995.

When can we get exit numbering here?

We're nearing the terminus of the freeway. I'm sure the bottom part of this sign will be unbolted and replaced with a standard bottom piece when the phase 2 construction (which hasn't started yet) is finished.

How depressing.

The All Traffic Must Exit will most likely be patched over when the road is finished. Note the concrete barrier in front of us, had there not been snow, you would be able to see the freeway extend beyond until it dissolves into nothingness.

A better look of the forced exit.

Here's the half-interchange where current 57 is forced on to 187 for a short time before it resumes its old alignment on Springfield street.

See, we get signage right here, but right down the street, it'll be wrong.

Cursed Connecticut style shields!

This is where 57 meets 10/202 in Southwick - the road itself ends, so you must choose your path - continue on 57 west or go north to Westfield.

Take that right and you'll be exiting 57's cosigning.

Done? Head Eastbound or Return home.