Massachusetts Route 24

Massachusetts Route 24 is a 40.30-mile (64.86 km) south–north highway in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, providing a primary expressway link between the Greater Boston area and the coastal cities of Fall River and New Bedford. It runs from an interchange with Interstate 195 in Fall River north to a junction with Interstate 93 and U.S. Route 1 in Randolph, where it continues north as I-93. The highway serves as a vital commuter and commercial corridor, traversing the counties of Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk.

Route description

Beginning at a large directional interchange with I-195 in the northern part of Fall River, Route 24 heads north through wooded and suburban areas. It passes west of the Freetown-Fall River State Forest and the Copicut Reservoir, entering the town of Freetown. The route continues north, crossing the Taunton River and providing access to the city of Taunton via its interchange with Route 140. North of Taunton, the highway passes through Raynham and Bridgewater, skirting the western edge of Bridgewater State University. It then enters more densely populated suburban areas, serving communities like West Bridgewater and Brockton, before its northern terminus at the Braintree Split interchange complex in Randolph, where it merges with Interstate 93 and U.S. Route 1.

History

The corridor for Route 24 was originally planned in the 1940s as part of a broader expressway network for Southeastern Massachusetts. Construction began in the early 1950s, with the first segment opening between Fall River and Assonet in 1951. The highway was built incrementally northward, reaching Taunton by 1956 and its full length to the Braintree Split in Randolph by 1959. It was designed as a limited-access divided expressway to relieve congestion on older routes like U.S. Route 44 and improve access to the South Coast region. In the 1970s, a major project reconstructed and widened the northern section near the interchange with Interstate 495. The highway has been the site of significant infrastructure projects, including the replacement of the Broadway overpass in Fall River and ongoing bridge maintenance overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Major intersections

Route 24 intersects several major state and federal highways along its course. From south to north, key junctions include its southern terminus at I-195 in Fall River. It meets Route 79 in Fall River, providing access to downtown and the Braga Bridge. Farther north, it intersects Route 140, a critical link to Taunton and New Bedford. The highway has a major system interchange with Interstate 495 in Raynham, a pivotal node in the regional highway network. In West Bridgewater, it intersects Route 106. Its northern terminus is the complex multi-level interchange known as the Braintree Split in Randolph, where it merges with Interstate 93 and U.S. Route 1, providing direct connections toward Boston and Cape Cod.

Exit list

The exit list for Route 24 follows a standard south-to-north numbering sequence, beginning just north of the I-195 interchange. Key exits include Exit 1 for Route 79/Brayton Avenue in Fall River. Exit 4 serves University of Massachusetts Dartmouth via Route 140. Exit 8 provides access to Route 104 and Assonet. Exit 10 is the junction with Route 79 northbound. The major interchange with Interstate 495 occurs at Exits 12A-B. Exit 13 serves Route 44 in Raynham. Exits 16A-B provide connections to Route 106 and Route 28 in Brockton. Exit 19 serves Route 123 in West Bridgewater. Exit 20 is for Route 139 in Randolph. The highway concludes at Exit 21, the northern terminus at the Braintree Split interchange with Interstate 93 and U.S. Route 1.

Category:Transportation in Massachusetts Category:State highways in Massachusetts