Route 146 (United States)

Route 146 (United States) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that traverses parts of New England. It runs approximately 40 miles from an interchange with U.S. Route 1 in Providence, Rhode Island, to a junction with U.S. Route 20 in Oxford, Massachusetts. The route serves as a primary corridor connecting Providence with Worcester and the Blackstone Valley, passing through several industrial and suburban communities. Its designation was established in 1926 as part of the original U.S. Highway System.

Route description

Beginning at a complex interchange with U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 95 in the Olneyville section of Providence, Route 146 heads northward, quickly transitioning into a controlled-access freeway. It passes through North Providence and Lincoln, running parallel to the Blackstone River for much of its journey through Rhode Island. The highway crosses into Massachusetts near North Smithfield, continuing north through Uxbridge and Sutton. In Millbury, it intersects with the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) before reaching its northern terminus at a signalized intersection with U.S. Route 20 in Oxford. The roadway provides critical access to commercial and residential areas, including the state capital region and the Worcester Regional Airport.

History

The alignment of Route 146 was originally part of a network of early 20th-century auto trails, including the New England Interstate Route 5A. Upon the creation of the U.S. Highway System in 1926, it received its current numerical designation. Significant modernization began in the 1950s and 1960s, with the Rhode Island section being converted to a freeway to alleviate congestion from Providence to the Massachusetts state line. This project involved constructing new bridges over the Blackstone River and major interchanges, such as with Route 99 in Woonsocket. In Massachusetts, upgrades were more gradual, with the final freeway segment near Millbury completed in the early 2000s. The route's development was closely tied to the economic growth of the Blackstone Valley and its historic textile mill industries.

Major intersections

Route 146 intersects with numerous significant highways along its corridor. In Rhode Island, major junctions include its southern terminus at U.S. Route 1 in Providence, an interchange with Route 6 and Route 10 in Olneyville, and a confluence with Route 99 serving Woonsocket. Crossing into Massachusetts, it meets Route 122 in Uxbridge and has a pivotal interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) in Millbury. Its northern terminus is a direct intersection with U.S. Route 20 in Oxford, providing a connection to Auburn and central Worcester. Other notable crossings include Route 146A in Lincoln and various state roads serving communities like Sutton and Grafton.

Auxiliary routes

The primary auxiliary route associated with Route 146 is Route 146A, a short, former alignment located entirely within Rhode Island. This route begins at an interchange with the mainline Route 146 freeway in Lincoln and travels northeast, passing through Cumberland before terminating at Route 126 near the Blackstone River State Park. Historically, this roadway served as the original path of Route 146 before the freeway was constructed. While no longer a through-route for long-distance travel, it provides local access to residential neighborhoods and parks along the Blackstone River and connects to historic sites like the Slater Mill in Pawtucket.

Category:U.S. Route 146 Category:Transportation in Rhode Island Category:Transportation in Massachusetts