Massachusetts Route 213

Massachusetts Route 213 is a short state highway located in the northeastern part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It serves as a connector between the city of Lawrence and the town of Methuen in Essex County. The route provides a vital local link for residential and commercial traffic within the Merrimack Valley region.

Route description

Beginning at an intersection with Route 28 in the southern part of Lawrence, the route heads eastward along Hampshire Street. It passes through a densely populated residential and commercial corridor, crossing the Spicket River shortly after its origin. The highway continues east, entering the town of Methuen and becoming known as Pleasant Valley Street. It traverses a mix of neighborhoods and business districts, providing access to local institutions like the Nevins Memorial Library and Methuen Memorial Music Hall. The route terminates at a junction with Route 113 near the Methuen Rail Trail and the border with Haverhill.

History

The alignment of what is now Route 213 was originally a local county road maintained by the governments of Lawrence and Methuen. It was incorporated into the state highway system in the early 1930s as part of a broader expansion and renumbering plan by the Massachusetts Department of Public Works. The route's designation has remained consistent since that period, with no major realignments of its core path. Improvements over the decades have included bridge replacements over the Spicket River and periodic repaving projects overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Essex County. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Location ! mi ! km ! Destinations ! Notes |- | Lawrence | 0.0 | 0.0 | Route 28 (South Broadway) | Western terminus |- | Methuen | 1.4 | 2.3 | Route 110 (Lowell Street) |- | Methuen | 2.7 | 4.3 | Route 113 (Pleasant Street) | Eastern terminus |- | colspan=5 | 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |} Category:Transportation in Essex County, Massachusetts