Route 138 (Massachusetts)

Route 138 (Massachusetts)
State	MA
Type	MA
Route	138
Length mi	82.40
Direction a	South
Terminus a	Newport Avenue at the Rhode Island state line in Fall River
Direction b	North
Terminus b	Washington Street in Milton
Counties	Bristol, Plymouth, Norfolk

Route 138 (Massachusetts) is a state highway traversing southeastern Massachusetts from the Rhode Island border in Fall River northward through Taunton, Dighton, Plymouth County, and Norfolk County to the Boston suburbs. The route serves as a regional connector linking industrial centers, coastal towns, historic sites, and suburban neighborhoods, intersecting several major corridors used for commuter, freight, and tourist travel.

Route description

Route 138 enters Massachusetts from Tiverton into Fall River on Newport Avenue, proceeding north through urban sections near Brightman Street and crossing close to the Taunton River. The highway continues through downtown Somerset and passes near waterfront areas associated with Mount Hope Bay and the Watuppa Reservoir. Northbound, Route 138 intersects with arterial routes including U.S. Route 6, I-195, and I-495 near Taunton, where it provides access to Raynham and Brockton commuter markets.

Proceeding into Dartmouth and Westport, Route 138 serves rural and coastal communities with proximity to recreational sites like Horseneck Beach State Reservation and historic resources connected to Colonial America and New England. The corridor then advances toward Plymouth, intersecting U.S. Route 44 and providing connections to the Plymouth Rock historic area and the Plimoth Patuxet Museums region. Continuing north, the route crosses the Pocasset River and moves through suburban stretches in Stoughton and Milton, terminating at Washington Street near connections to Route 28 and commuter links to Boston and Logan International Airport. Throughout, Route 138 interfaces with rail corridors used by MBTA Commuter Rail and passes within visual range of preserved sites tied to Pilgrim Fathers and Revolutionary-era landmarks.

History

The alignment that became Route 138 traces origins to colonial-era roads connecting Newport, Fall River, and inland market towns like Taunton and Plymouth. In the early 20th century, the rise of automobile travel and the establishment of numbered highways by state agencies prompted formal designation and paving projects overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Works and later the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Mid-century upgrades paralleled regional growth tied to postwar suburbanization around Boston and industrial shifts in cities such as Fall River and New Bedford.

Major improvements included realignments to bypass congested town centers, grade separations near I-195 and I-495, and bridge replacements spanning the Taunton River and coastal estuaries. The route has played roles in mobilization during wartime logistics for nearby military installations and in postwar manufacturing supply chains serving textile mills and port facilities linked to Atlantic Ocean trade. Preservationists and historical commissions in Plymouth County have documented sections of the corridor for their proximity to sites associated with the Mayflower Compact era.

Major intersections

Route 138 intersects a series of major highways and municipal thoroughfares that serve regional mobility and freight. Notable junctions include: - The Rhode Island–Massachusetts state line connection to Rhode Island Route 138 near Tiverton and access toward Newport. - Intersection and interchange with U.S. Route 6 in Swansea. - Interchange with I-195 providing east–west access to Providence and New Bedford. - Junction with I-495 near Taunton for regional orbital traffic around Greater Boston. - Meeting points with U.S. Route 44 and Route 3 in proximity to Plymouth for access to the South Shore and Cape Cod corridors. - Northern terminus connections near Route 28 and surface streets providing access to Stoughton and Milton commuter routes into Boston and links to Logan International Airport.

Related routes and connections

Route 138 functions as part of a multi-jurisdictional corridor with direct linkage to Rhode Island Route 138 across the state line and coordinated signage for interstate travelers heading toward Newport and the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge. It interfaces with federal and state highways including U.S. Route 6, U.S. Route 44, I-195, and I-495, which together create integrated paths for long-distance freight, commuter services tied to MBTA, and seasonal tourist flows to Cape Cod National Seashore and regional parks. Local municipal connectors tie Route 138 to downtown districts in Fall River, Taunton, and Plymouth, and to preservation areas overseen by organizations such as the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

Future developments and improvements

Planned and proposed projects affecting Route 138 include capacity and safety improvements, intersection modernizations, and bridge rehabilitation driven by state transportation plans and regional metropolitan planning organizations like the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Priorities identified by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and county planning bodies target congestion reduction near interchanges with I-195 and I-495, multimodal accommodations for MBTA bus and commuter services, and coastal resilience measures addressing storm surge risks related to the Atlantic Ocean and rising sea levels. Municipal initiatives in Plymouth County and Norfolk County emphasize coordination with historic preservation groups, economic development agencies, and port authorities to balance mobility improvements with protection of landmarks tied to the Pilgrim Fathers and maritime heritage.

Category:Transportation in Bristol County, Massachusetts Category:Transportation in Plymouth County, Massachusetts Category:Transportation in Norfolk County, Massachusetts