Massachusetts Route 126

Massachusetts Route 126 is a 12.87-mile (20.71 km) north–south state highway in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It connects the city of Waltham with the towns of Weston, Wayland, and Sudbury, before terminating in Concord. The route traverses a mix of suburban residential areas, commercial districts, and significant historical and natural landscapes, including portions near the Sudbury River and several conservation lands.

Route description

Beginning at a junction with U.S. Route 20 (Main Street) in central Waltham, the route heads north as Lexington Street, passing near Brandeis University and the Charles River. It crosses into Weston, where it is known as North Avenue, skirting the northern edge of the Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course and providing access to the Weston Town Center. Entering Wayland, the roadway becomes Concord Road and passes by the Wayland Depot and the Wayland Town Center. It continues north into Sudbury as Concord Road, running parallel to the Sudbury River and offering access to the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The route finally enters Concord, where it terminates at an intersection with Route 2 (Cambridge Turnpike) near the historic Minute Man National Historical Park.

History

The alignment of Route 126 follows colonial-era roads that connected inland farming communities with market centers along the Charles River. In the early 20th century, these local roads were incorporated into the state highway system. The route was designated as part of the New England road marking system in the 1920s, initially receiving the designation of Route 26 before being renumbered to its current designation. Its path through Sudbury and Concord traverses areas significant during the American Revolutionary War, including the routes of the Minutemen following the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Modern improvements have focused on traffic management and safety, particularly at its junctions with major arteries like US 20 and Route 2.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Middlesex County. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Location ! mi ! km ! Destinations ! Notes |- | Waltham | 0.00 | 0.00 | US 20 (Main Street) | Southern terminus |- | Weston | 2.5 | 4.0 | Route 30 (South Avenue) |- | Wayland | 5.3 | 8.5 | Route 20 (Boston Post Road) |- | Sudbury | 9.1 | 14.6 | Route 27 (Old Lancaster Road) |- | Concord | 12.87 | 20.71 | Route 2 (Cambridge Turnpike) | Northern terminus |}

See also

* Massachusetts Department of Transportation * List of state highways in Massachusetts * New England road marking system

References

Category:State highways in Massachusetts Category:Transportation in Middlesex County, Massachusetts