Massachusetts Route 22

Massachusetts Route 22 Massachusetts Route 22 is a north–south state highway in the northeastern part of Massachusetts, running from Revere through Lynn and terminating near Essex. The route connects coastal communities with inland arterials and interfaces with Interstate 95, U.S. Route 1, and several state routes, serving commuter, commercial, and seasonal tourist traffic. Route 22 passes near landmarks such as the Revere Beach, Saugus Iron Works, and portions of the Essex National Heritage Area.

Route description

Route 22 begins in Revere near Beachmont station and proceeds north as a mix of urban arterial and suburban connector, intersecting U.S. Route 1 and skirting neighborhoods associated with Suffolk County. Moving into Lynn, Route 22 passes commercial corridors adjacent to Lynn Woods Reservation and crosses the Saugus River corridor before meeting Route 1A and Interstate 95 access points that link to Route 128 and the Logan International Airport region. North of Lynn, the highway continues through Swampscott-bordering areas into Essex, terminating near coastal connectors that provide access to the Essex Shipbuilding Museum and marshlands preserved within the Great Marsh conservation area.

History

The alignment that became Route 22 follows older 19th- and early 20th-century local roads used for access between Revere and the North Shore shipbuilding and fishing communities such as Lynn, Gloucester, and Essex. Designated in the 1930s during statewide route numbering reforms that also affected Route 128 and U.S. Route 1, Route 22 was intended to formalize a link between coastal villages and emerging suburban neighborhoods. Over decades, segments were realigned to accommodate expansions tied to Interstate 95 construction, urban renewal projects in Lynn, and flood-control measures influenced by events like the Nor'easter of 1978 and Hurricane Bob that affected the North Shore. Preservation efforts associated with Essex National Heritage Area and restoration projects at Saugus Iron Works influenced corridor planning and sidewalk, signage, and streetscape improvements during late 20th-century municipal programs.

Major intersections

Route 22 intersects a series of federal, state, and local highways that link regional destinations: - Southern terminus at local streets in Revere near Beachmont station and access routes to Revere Beach and Logan International Airport. - Junction with U.S. Route 1 providing north–south regional connectivity toward Cambridge and Newburyport. - Connections with Route 1A near Lynn for coastal routing toward Nahant and Saugus. - Access ramps and intersections serving Interstate 95/Route 128 corridors, linking to destinations such as Woburn, Burlington, and Peabody. - Northern terminus approaches local connectors to Essex maritime sites, including access to the Essex Shipbuilding Museum and marshland preserves within the Great Marsh.

Traffic and usage

Traffic volumes on Route 22 vary seasonally and by segment. Urban sections near Revere and Lynn experience commuter peaks tied to access to U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 95, with congestion during morning and evening rush hours affecting trips to employment centers like Boston and industrial sites in Peabody and Beverly. Northern segments see increased weekend and summer traffic related to tourism for destinations such as Gloucester, Rockport, and the Essex National Heritage Area. Freight movements use Route 22 as a secondary connector for local deliveries to shipyards and commercial districts tied to Lynn manufacturing heritage and the fishing industry centered on Essex. Safety analyses by municipal planners reference crash data models used in MassDOT studies and corridor evaluations similar to those applied to Route 1A improvements.

Future developments and improvements

Planned and proposed projects affecting Route 22 focus on multimodal improvements and resilience against coastal flooding. Municipal plans coordinated with MassDOT include roadway resurfacing, intersection redesigns modeled on Complete Streets principles advocated by organizations like AARP and Smart Growth America, and pedestrian-bicycle enhancements to link parks such as Lynn Woods Reservation with waterfront trails that connect to the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway. Climate-adaptation initiatives driven by state-level programs following recommendations from EOEEA and regional planning entities like the Metropolitan Area Planning Council prioritize stormwater upgrades and marshland restoration near the Great Marsh. Discussions continue about transit service coordination with agencies such as MBTA to improve feeder connections at commuter nodes and reduce single-occupant vehicle trips along the corridor.

Category:State highways in Massachusetts