Massachusetts Route 16

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Route 16
Length:	59.86[1] mi (96.34 km)
West end:	Route 12 / 193 in Webster
Major junctions:	I-395 in Webster Route 146 in Uxbridge Route 9 in Wellesley I-95 / Route 128 in Newton I-90 in Newton U.S. Route 3 / Route 2 / Fresh Pond Parkway in Cambridge I-93 in Medford Route 28 in Medford US 1 in Chelsea / Revere
East end:	Route 1A/Route 60 in Revere
Massachusetts State Highway Routes < Route 15 Route 17 >

Route 16 is an east-west state highway in Massachusetts. Much of Route 16 is a multi-lane parkway, although it is not limited access for any significant length of road. Segments of Route 16 are also known as the Mystic Valley Parkway, the Alewife Brook Parkway, and the Revere Beach Parkway, among other names.

Contents 1 Route description 1.1 From the shore to the Pike 1.2 From Newton to I-495 1.3 From I-495 to Lake Chaubunagungamaug 2 History 3 References

[edit] Route description

[edit] From the shore to the Pike

Route 16 runs north and west of the City of Boston, beginning at the Atlantic Ocean at Revere Beach, where it intersects with Route 1A and 60 at Timothy J. Mahoney Circle in Revere.

The route proceeds west by a winding path through several mixed-used industrial, commercial, and residential areas in the cities of Everett and Malden until it intersects Interstate 93 in Medford. It then veers north, traveling beside the Mystic River upstream, and passing near Medford Square, the downtown area of that city. This portion of Route 16 is also part of the Mystic Valley Parkway.

The Mystic Valley Parkway continues west as Route 16 turns south in Somerville on Alewife Brook Parkway. This section of Route 16 soon joins U.S. Highway 3 and then Route 2 at the eastern end of the freeway portion of the Concord Turnpike. From there, Route 16 passes the large parking garage at the MBTA Alewife Station, passes by Fresh Pond, eventually leaving Routes 2 and 3 as they continue along Fresh Pond Parkway. It then continues west through Cambridge, passing by Mount Auburn Cemetery before entering Watertown. Route 16 crosses U.S. Highway 20 in Watertown Square, then crosses the Charles River. It enters Newton near the village of Nonantum, and eventually crosses I-90, the Massachusetts Turnpike, in West Newton; Pike Exit 16 here provides access to and from the east only. Still in Newton, Route 16 then crosses Route 30 and Route 128 (Interstate 95).

[edit] From Newton to I-495

This area west of Boston, also called MetroWest, that Route 16 now travels through contains several quintessential New England towns. The route now goes by restored antique, colonial homes and town buildings.^[2]

From the Pike, Route 16 goes southwesterly past Lasell College in Newton, and through Wellesley, where Wellesley College and Babson College are located. The road then passes the Elm Bank Reservation in Sherborn, through Holliston, by Weston Pond, and shortly thereafter passes beneath I-495.

[edit] From I-495 to Lake Chaubunagungamaug

After passing I-495, the route continues to the southwest, going through Milford, Hopedale, Mendon, Uxbridge, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and Douglas with a trip through the Douglas State Forest in the last town.

Route 16 continues to its intersection with I-395 in Webster, along the shore of Lake Chaubunagungamaug,^[3] and not far from the Connecticut border. It ends at Route 12 just to the west.

[edit] History

This section requires expansion.

Parts of Route 16 were historically maintained by the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), and while the MDC no longer exists, the parkway portions of the route are still patrolled by the Massachusetts State Police and maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation as a remnant of the former MDC jurisdiction.^[4]

[edit] References