Route History for US 1 in Massachusetts

• In 1926, US 1 was called NE 1. The road was paved from the New Hampshire state line to the Rhode Island state line. The route followed by NE 1 is now marked as US 1 from the New Hampshire state line to near Saugus, then MA 99, MA 16, MA 28, and then MA 3 along the Charles River in Cambridge. NE 1 then followed what is now MA 2, crossing the Charles River via the Boston University Bridge. NE 1 then continued down Park Drive, Riverway, Jamaica Way, Arbor Way, and Washington Street to Dedham. From Dedham, NE 1 followed what is now marked as MA 1A to North Attleboro. In North Attleboro, NE 1 followed North Washington Street and South Washington Street.
• By 1928, NE 1 had been renumbered as US 1.
• By 1950, US 1 had been rerouted in Boston so it followed Jamaica Way to the VFW Parkway. In addition, US 1 was realigned to its current path between Dedham and North Attleboro.
• By 1963, I 95 had been completed between the New Hampshire state line and Danvers, replacing US 1 as a major through route.
• By 1969, US 1 had been widened to 4 lanes between Danvers and Saugus. In addition, I 95 had been completed between Dedham and the Rhode Island state line, replacing US 1 as a major through route in this area.
• Between 1970 and 1976, US 1 was realigned to its present route to the north of Boston, becoming a limited access highway from Saugus to Boston, once in Boston, US 1 followed Charles Street, Starrow Drive, Jamaica Way, and the VFW Parkway.
• By 1980, the last section of I 95 near Danvers had been completed, replacing US 1 as a major through route in Massachusetts.
• By 1992, US 1 was rerouted through the Boston area again, this time following I 93 through downtown and around the southern edge of the city.

Key to Abbreviations for Route Numbers:

• US - US Highway
• I - Interstate Highway (Eisenhower Interstate System)
• NE - New England Interstate Highway (Pre-dates US highway system)
• MA - Massachusetts State Highway

External websites of interest:

• Former alignments of US 1 in Boston are discussed in this US Highways Yahoo Groups post.

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