Massachusetts Route 12
Encyclopedia
Massachusetts Route 12 is a north-south state highway
that runs through central Massachusetts
from the Connecticut
state line at Dudley
to the New Hampshire
state line at Winchendon
.
, Webster
, Oxford
, Auburn
, Worcester
, West Boylston
, Sterling
, Leominster
, Fitchburg
, Westminster
, Ashburnham
, and Winchendon
.
Route 12 has a junction with Interstate 90
(the Massachusetts Turnpike
) at an interchange in Auburn that also includes Interstates 290
and 395 and US 20. Route 12 has an interchange with I-290 in Worcester, and three interchanges with I-190
, in Worcester, West Boylston, and Sterling. Route 12 is a minor road in Massachusetts, having been replaced by I-395 from the Connecticut state line to Auburn, I-290 from Auburn to Worcester, and I-190 from Worcester to Leominster.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
that runs through central Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts is the geographically central region of Massachusetts. Though definitions vary, most include all of Worcester County and the northwest corner of Middlesex County. Worcester, the largest city in the area and the seat of Worcester County, is often considered the cultural capital...
from the Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
state line at Dudley
Dudley, Massachusetts
Dudley is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,390 at the 2010 census.-History:Dudley was first settled in 1714 and was officially incorporated in 1732...
to the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state line at Winchendon
Winchendon, Massachusetts
Winchendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 10,300 at the 2010 census. Home to Winchendon State Forest, the town includes the villages of Waterville and Winchendon Springs....
.
Route description
Route 12, starting at the Connecticut state line, runs north through the towns and cities of DudleyDudley, Massachusetts
Dudley is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,390 at the 2010 census.-History:Dudley was first settled in 1714 and was officially incorporated in 1732...
, Webster
Webster, Massachusetts
-Media:* Worcester Telegram & Gazette * Webster Times, published every Friday* The Patriot, published every Wednesday* WGFP-AM 940, a country music station* Boston Globe* Boston Herald-Library:...
, Oxford
Oxford, Massachusetts
Oxford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,709 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Oxford, please see the article Oxford , Massachusetts.-History:...
, Auburn
Auburn, Massachusetts
Auburn is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,188 at the 2010 census.- History :Auburn was first settled in 1789 and was officially incorporated in 1808 as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward...
, Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, West Boylston
West Boylston, Massachusetts
-Library:The West Boylston public library was established in 1878. In fiscal year 2008, the town of West Boylston spent 1.6% of its budget on its public library—some $37 per person.-External links:******...
, Sterling
Sterling, Massachusetts
Sterling is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 7,808 at the 2010 census.- History :Sterling was first settled by Europeans in 1720 and was officially incorporated in 1781....
, Leominster
Leominster, Massachusetts
Leominster is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 40,759 at the 2010 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and west of Boston. Both Route 2 and Route 12 pass through Leominster. Interstate 190,...
, Fitchburg
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
, Westminster
Westminster, Massachusetts
Westminster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 7,277.- History :Westminster was first settled in 1737, and was officially incorporated in 1759....
, Ashburnham
Ashburnham, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,546 people, 1,929 households, and 1,541 families residing in the town. The population density was 143.4 people per square mile . There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 57.0 per square mile...
, and Winchendon
Winchendon, Massachusetts
Winchendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 10,300 at the 2010 census. Home to Winchendon State Forest, the town includes the villages of Waterville and Winchendon Springs....
.
Route 12 has a junction with Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
(the Massachusetts Turnpike
Massachusetts Turnpike
The Massachusetts Turnpike is the easternmost stretch of Interstate 90. The Turnpike begins at the western border of Massachusetts in West Stockbridge connecting with the Berkshire Connector portion of the New York State Thruway...
) at an interchange in Auburn that also includes Interstates 290
Interstate 290 (Massachusetts)
Interstate 290 runs for from Auburn, Massachusetts to Marlborough, Massachusetts. It is a continuation of I-395 north of I-90 and runs through downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, I-190 splits off, and I-290 runs across Lake Quinsigamond and east to I-495 in Marlborough...
and 395 and US 20. Route 12 has an interchange with I-290 in Worcester, and three interchanges with I-190
Interstate 190 (Massachusetts)
Interstate 190 runs for north from I-290 in Worcester, Massachusetts to Route 2 in Leominster, Massachusetts. A portion of the highway was built with extra-wide shoulders, which are painted green, to prevent runoff from contaminating the nearby Wachusett Reservoir...
, in Worcester, West Boylston, and Sterling. Route 12 is a minor road in Massachusetts, having been replaced by I-395 from the Connecticut state line to Auburn, I-290 from Auburn to Worcester, and I-190 from Worcester to Leominster.
| Town | Milepost | Junction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dudley Dudley, Massachusetts Dudley is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,390 at the 2010 census.-History:Dudley was first settled in 1714 and was officially incorporated in 1732... |
0.0 | Northern end of Connecticut Route 12. Southern end of Massachusetts Route 12 |
|
| 1.7 | Eastern terminus of Route 197 | ||
| Webster Webster, Massachusetts -Media:* Worcester Telegram & Gazette * Webster Times, published every Friday* The Patriot, published every Wednesday* WGFP-AM 940, a country music station* Boston Globe* Boston Herald-Library:... |
3.4 | Western terminus of Route 16; northern terminus of Route 193 | |
| Oxford Oxford, Massachusetts Oxford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,709 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Oxford, please see the article Oxford , Massachusetts.-History:... |
11.2 | Southern terminus of Route 56 | |
| 12.0 | Beginning of concurrency with US 20 | ||
| Auburn Auburn, Massachusetts Auburn is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,188 at the 2010 census.- History :Auburn was first settled in 1789 and was officially incorporated in 1808 as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward... |
12.6 | End of concurrency with US 20 | |
| 13.6 | I-395 / I-290 exit 7; I-90 exit 10 | ||
| Worcester Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston.... |
17.6 | Exit 10 – southbound exit/northbound entrance only | |
| 19.1 | Beginning of concurrency with Route 9 | ||
| 20.5 | Junction of Route 122; beginning of concurrency with Route 122A | ||
| 21.2 | End of concurrency with Route 9 | ||
| 22.5 | End of concurrency with Route 122A | ||
| 23.1 | I-190 Exit 1 | ||
| West Boylston West Boylston, Massachusetts -Library:The West Boylston public library was established in 1878. In fiscal year 2008, the town of West Boylston spent 1.6% of its budget on its public library—some $37 per person.-External links:******... |
26.1 | I-190 exit 4 | |
| 27.9 | Beginning of concurrency with Route 140 | ||
| 28.8 | End of concurrency with Route 140 | ||
| 29.0 | Western terminus of Route 110 | ||
| Sterling Sterling, Massachusetts Sterling is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 7,808 at the 2010 census.- History :Sterling was first settled by Europeans in 1720 and was officially incorporated in 1781.... |
33.4 | Beginning of concurrency with Route 62 | |
| 33.7 | End of concurrency with Route 62 | ||
| 35.2 | I-190 exit 6 | ||
| Leominster Leominster, Massachusetts Leominster is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 40,759 at the 2010 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and west of Boston. Both Route 2 and Route 12 pass through Leominster. Interstate 190,... |
40.1 | Western terminus of Route 117 | |
| 40.7 | Southern terminus of Route 13 | ||
| 41.6 | MA Route 2 exit 31A-B | ||
| Fitchburg Fitchburg, Massachusetts Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :... |
46.1 | Beginning of concurrency with Routes 2A and 31 | |
| 47.0 | End of concurrency with Routes 2A and 31 | ||
| Ashburnham Ashburnham, Massachusetts As of the census of 2000, there were 5,546 people, 1,929 households, and 1,541 families residing in the town. The population density was 143.4 people per square mile . There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 57.0 per square mile... |
53.1 | 0.1-mile concurrency | |
| Winchendon Winchendon, Massachusetts Winchendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 10,300 at the 2010 census. Home to Winchendon State Forest, the town includes the villages of Waterville and Winchendon Springs.... |
59.0 | Northern terminus of Route 140 | |
| 61.4 | 0.2 mile concurrency | ||
| 64.41 | Northern end of Massachusetts Route 12 Southern end of New Hampshire Route 12. |