Route 38 (Massachusetts)

Route 38 (Massachusetts). Route 38 is a 15.0-mile-long (24.1 km) north–south state highway in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It connects the dense urban neighborhoods of Somerville and Medford with the suburban and commercial corridors of Wilmington and Tewksbury before reaching the state line at Dracut. The route serves as a vital local artery, providing access to numerous residential areas, shopping districts, and institutions along its course.

Route description

Beginning at a signalized intersection with Route 28 (Fellsway) in the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Route 38 proceeds north as Broadway. It passes through a densely populated commercial and residential area, intersecting with local streets like Medford Street and Temple Street. In Medford, the road continues as Main Street, running past Tufts University and the historic Medford Square district. The route then enters Stoneham, briefly sharing a concurrency with Route 28 near Spot Pond and the Middlesex Fells Reservation.

North of Stoneham, Route 38 assumes a more suburban character as it passes through Wilmington, primarily aligned along Lowell Street. It serves the Wilmington town center and crosses Interstate 93 without a direct interchange. The highway continues into Tewksbury, where it is known as Main Street, passing the Tewksbury State Hospital and numerous retail plazas. Its final segment runs through Dracut as Lakeview Avenue, traversing residential neighborhoods before terminating at the New Hampshire state line, where it continues as New Hampshire Route 38.

History

The alignment of modern Route 38 follows colonial-era roads that connected settlements north of Boston. In the early 20th century, these local roads were gradually improved and incorporated into the state highway system. Route 38 was officially designated and signed as part of the 1922 New England road marking system. Significant changes occurred with mid-20th century urban development and the construction of Interstate 93, which altered traffic patterns in communities like Wilmington and Tewksbury.

Throughout its history, the route has been realigned in spots, particularly in Somerville and Medford, to accommodate traffic flow and urban renewal projects. The concurrency with Route 28 in Stoneham was established to streamline travel around the Middlesex Fells Reservation. While plans for major upgrades have been discussed, especially at the crossing of Interstate 93, Route 38 remains largely a surface road reflecting the growth patterns of the Greater Boston metropolitan area.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Middlesex County. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Location ! mi ! km ! Destinations ! Notes |- | Somerville | 0.0 | 0.0 | Route 28 (Fellsway) | Southern terminus |- | Medford | – | – | Route 16 (Mystic Valley Parkway) |- | Stoneham | – | – | Route 28 south (Main Street) | South end of concurrency with Route 28 |- | Stoneham | – | – | Route 28 north (Main Street) | North end of concurrency with Route 28 |- | Wilmington | – | – | Interstate 93 | No direct interchange |- | Tewksbury | – | – | Route 133 (East Street) |- | Dracut | 15.0 | 24.1 | New Hampshire state line | Northern terminus; continues as New Hampshire Route 38 |}

See also

* Massachusetts Route 38 * List of state highways in Massachusetts * New Hampshire Route 38 * Transportation in Greater Boston

References

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