# U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts

U.S. Route 7 (US 7) in of Massachusetts is a 54-mile (87 km) section of the larger federal route extending from southern Connecticut to the northernmost part of Vermont. The entire route in Massachusetts is within Berkshire County.

## Route description

With a few exceptions, US 7 is mainly a two-lane rural road winding through the Berkshires, largely parallel to the Housatonic River. In Great Barrington, US 7 is briefly concurrent with Route 41 along Main Street, as well as with Route 183 on State Road. Further north, US 7 is concurrent with Route 102 along Main Street through the center of Stockbridge.
In the vicinity of Lenox, the route transitions to two-lane expressway around the historic center of town. While on this bypass route, it meets US 20, which travels southeast to Lee and the Massachusetts Turnpike. The two routes continue north via the bypass as a four-lane expressway, while Route 7A travels along Kemble and Main Streets via the original routing of the road. The three routes meet just north of the Lenox census-designated place boundary, with US 7/US 20 becoming a four-lane surface road until Pittsfield.
US 7 enters Pittsfield along South Street. At a signalized intersection with Housatonic Street, US 20 makes a left turn to continue west toward Albany. At Park Square, the route meets Route 9 near its western terminus, and the two routes share a two-block concurrency along East Street until US 7 makes a left turn to continue north.
US 7 leaves downtown Pittsfield as a two-lane surface road and continues as a rural highway with occasional three-lane stretches for climbing the grades along the Berkshires. It passes west of Mount Greylock before passing through Williamstown, connecting the Taconic Trail with the Mohawk Trail (Route 2). The road passes Williams College and crosses the Hoosic River one last time before entering Vermont.

## History

Like Connecticut, Massachusetts planned an Interstate-grade freeway (proposed Interstate 89) in the US 7 corridor. The only portion of this plan to be completed was the four-lane expressway section south of Lenox, although land takings for additional freeway sections occurred. The highway was ultimately canceled due to environmental and community opposition.

## Major intersections

The entire route is in Berkshire County.
| Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Sheffield | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 7 south – Canaan | Continuation into Connecticut |
| Sheffield | 1.906 | 3.067 | Bridge over Housatonic River | Bridge over Housatonic River |
| Sheffield | 2.958 | 4.760 | Route 7A south – Ashley Falls | Northern terminus of Route 7A; former routing of US 7 |
| Community of Great Barrington | 10.481 | 16.868 | Route 23 west / Route 41 south – South Egremont, Hillsdale, NY | Roundabout; southern end of Route 23/Route 41 concurrency |
| Community of Great Barrington | 11.451 | 18.429 | Route 41 north – West Stockbridge | Northern end of Route 41 concurrency |
| Community of Great Barrington | 11.451 | 18.429 | Housatonic River | Housatonic River |
| Community of Great Barrington | 11.944 | 19.222 | Route 23 east / Route 183 south – Monterey, Springfield | Northern end of Route 23 concurrency; southern end of Route 183 concurrency |
| Town of Great Barrington | 13.328 | 21.449 | Route 183 north – Housatonic, Interlaken | Northern end of Route 183 concurrency |
| Town of Great Barrington | 14.12 | 22.72 | To Route 183 north – Housatonic, Interlaken | Access via Old Stockbridge Road |
| Stockbridge | 17.806 | 28.656 | Housatonic River | Housatonic River |
| Stockbridge | 18.049 | 29.047 | Route 102 west – West Stockbridge | Southern end of Route 102 concurrency |
| Stockbridge | 18.405 | 29.620 | Route 102 east – Lee | Northern end of Route 102 concurrency |
| Town of Lenox | | | Southern end of limited-access section | Southern end of limited-access section |
| Town of Lenox | 22.251 | 35.810 | Route 7A north – Historic Lenox | At-grade intersection; southern terminus of Route 7A; former routing of US 7 |
| Town of Lenox | 23.415 | 37.683 | US 20 east to I-90 Toll / Mass Pike – Lee | At-grade intersection; southern end of US 20 concurrency |
| Community of Lenox | 23.713 | 38.162 | Route 183 south (Walker Street) – Historic Lenox, Tanglewood, October Mountain, Lenox Dale | At-grade intersection; northern terminus of Route 183 |
| Community of Lenox | 24.275 | 39.067 | Housatonic Street – Lenox Center, Lenox Dale | At-grade intersection |
| Community of Lenox | 25.565 | 41.143 | Northern end of limited-access section | Northern end of limited-access section |
| Community of Lenox | 25.565 | 41.143 | Route 7A south to Route 183 – Historic Lenox | Northern terminus of Route 7A; former routing of US 7 |
| Pittsfield | 30.814 | 49.590 | US 20 west – Albany, NY | Northern end of US 20 concurrency |
| Pittsfield | 31.004 | 49.896 | Route 9 west to US 20 west | Southern end of Route 9 concurrency |
| Pittsfield | 31.157 | 50.142 | Route 9 east – Dalton, Northampton | Northern end of Route 9 concurrency |
| Lanesborough | 34.77 | 55.96 | To Route 8 | Access via US 7–Route 8 Connector Road |
| Town of Williamstown | 47.205 | 75.969 | Route 43 – Williamstown, Hancock, Stephentown, NY | |
| Town of Williamstown | 49.084 | 78.993 | Route 2 west – Troy, NY | Southern end of Route 2 concurrency |
| Community of Williamstown | 51.405 | 82.728 | Route 2 east – North Adams | Northern end of Route 2 concurrency |
| Town of Williamstown | 52.572 | 84.606 | Hoosic River | Hoosic River |
| Town of Williamstown | 53.85 | 86.66 | US 7 north – Pownal | Continuation into Vermont |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus |||||