Roads and Highways of the Pioneer Valley

US 202

US 202 Information: South terminus is at the CT state border in Southwick MA/Granby CT. North terminus is at the NH State line in Winchendon, MA. 79 miles of the 627 miles of US 202 are in MA.

History/Facts: US 202 was mapped in the 1930s, and has remained on the same route since (barring minor realignments).

Photos: Northbound / Southbound

Northbound: Pioneer Valley

This, along with the "Entering Pioneer Valley" sign, is all the hint that you get that you've entered Massachusetts. There are "Welcome to Massachusetts" signs similar to the CT one you saw earlier, but for some reason you don't really see them in this area (unlike the Welcome to MA signs and "Welcome to the Empire State" signs you see over in the MA/NY border in the Berkshires.

Signage that's obscured by trees doesn't help. Had this not been fall, you would never know the sign exists.

This is the first reassurance signs that you see in Massachusetts. Takes them about two miles to post them. This is right after the 168 junction, so it's rather important that you know which way you're going. :)

This is where Route 57 turns off from its short co-signage with 10/202. Once again, note the mysterious MA 202.

This is close to where 57 actually turns off. Note the New Jersey style route shield. This isn't a one-time occurance, either, as you'll see further on.

This is near a church in Southwick. This is the real 57 turn-off. The reason the 10/202 guide sign is pointing that way is because there's an off-centered 4-way intersection, and it's for the fourth road coming in that is not part of MA/US routes.

Here it is again! Where's the rest of our reassurance signs?

Up the road, apparently. Note the old-style US 202 (we'll see more of that later). So much disparity between north/south signage. In MA, the municipality is supposed to be in charge of signage, and in the valley, signage generally sucks.

Guide sign just before the turnoff of 57 towards Agawam way. Once again, MA 202 reoccurs.

This is the actual intersection.

This is just before the downtown rotary. Notice the Mass DPW advertising. This one is in relatively good condition for being so ancient.

If you came into the rotary from Western Ave, you'd see this signage. This is old laminate signage (note lack of route shields, dating from the 80s), but it provides mileage, which is sporadically applied in signage. More signs in the Springfield area tend to have mileage.

If you were coming on 10/202 south and stayed in the rotary instead of exiting directly south or west, this is what you'd see.

This is where US 20E exits the rotary, and 20W begins its cosignage (which ends later in downtown). This is a bad place for weaving, as the westbound US 20 traffic intermingles with northbound 10/202 traffic, and thankfully there's good stoplights here instead of relying on other drivers to yield. Other cities could learn from this rotary.

There is no such thing as MA 20. MA 20A, yes, but that's over in Springfield. These signs are from 1997 or so, which is what puzzles me, considering we're a few blocks away from proper signage.

I'm not sure what the middle label means, but the other two seem fairly self explanatory.

It's actually a $100 fine, someone was being a joker and painted a 0 into the decimal. This is referring to being stuck inside the "box" of the intersection where US 20 leaves 10/202, as this place is a huge source of traffic jams (literally, people walking go faster than you on a Friday night at 5 oclock).

This is just past the 10/202 Westfield River Bridge. At this point, Trucks split from 10/202 to go to an area where they can cross this underpass without hitting the train bridge. Several accidents occur here when tall trucks go under and hit the bridge. Hilarity ensues.

I just thought this was funny. Oh, this is also the point where large trucks rejoin 10/202.

A traditional "bear left" sign for MassHighway.

This is just before where one would turn right (Yes, right) to go in a circle to get to the Masspike.

Massachusett's very own jughandle, for turning on to the Masspike from 10/202 north.

All of the following pics are from Arrow. Just past where US 202 leaves MA 10 in Westfield, heading up to Holyoke.

To Western Mass. Hospital. This road also cuts over to US 20.

Near Holyoke Community College.

Cherry St. in Holyoke.

Near exit 16 from I-91.

More Holyoke around said exit.

To Northbound I-91.

More general Holyoke.

More Holyoke, nearing downtown.

More Series F.

Junction at US 5 coming ahead.

Beech St. In Holyoke.

Resnic Blvd. Intersection, Holyoke.

Kinda misshapen shield there.

US 5 and US 202 multiplex for a short time on one way streets in Holyoke.

These lights are all synchronized for a 25 MPH traffic speed.

More Holyoke.

Bridge approach.

Holyoke.

Crossing the CT River on the US 202 bridge. Brown railings.

View of the river heading towards S. Hadley.

Welcome to South Hadley.

Yur hur.

I wonder what's whited out on this sign.

Welcome to a rotary.

In the rotary.

Check out that 6. Looks funky.

Look, the border is peeling off! And more funky sixes! It kinda looks like an upside down nine.

Exit.

Short divided highway in S. Hadley.

More silly 6.

Exit!

Junction with MA 33.

More signs.

US 202 goes through both Granby CT and Granby MA.

The curse of MA 202 strikes again.

Granby.

Yep, to 116. Actual rounded corners too.

Welcome to Belchertown.

Onwards in Belchertown.

And there it is again!

Co-signage.

And it strikes again.

The terminus of MA 181.

More Belchertown.

Belchertown road.

Pelham gate to the Quabbin reservoir.

More Pelham.

Welcome to Shutesbury. Where they invented the Berry Chute. I kid.

Welcome to New Salem, MA.

No, wait, not quite.

Uh... New Salem? Have you made up your mind yet, road? Gotta love town boundaries.

To an old Prescott town marker.

The text loks new, but the marker looks old. Eh.

Downtown New Salem.

More New Salem.

Sign missing alert.

More New Salem.

Entering Orange.

More Orange.

Intersection directionals.

Nearing the Route 2 Super 2.

Route 2 is the bridge ahead. The onramps are ahead.

The onramp to the Super 2. To check out the cosigning, head to the MA 2 page.

Done? Head Southbound or Return home.