U.S. Route 7

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U.S. Route 7

Length:

309 mi^[1] (497 km)

Formed:

1926^[1]

South end:

I-95 in Norwalk, CT

Major
junctions:

I-84 in Danbury, CT

US 20 in Pittsfield, MA

US 2 in Burlington, VT †

North end:

I-89 near Highgate Springs, VT

United States Numbered Highways

U.S. Route 7 is a north-south United States highway that runs for 309 miles (497 km) from northern Vermont to Norwalk, Connecticut.

1 Termini
2 Highway
3 States traversed
4 Major towns on the route
5 Notes
6 See also
7 References

[edit] Termini

As of 2006, the highway's northern terminus is at Interstate 89 in the village of Highgate Springs, Vermont near the Canadian border. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut.

[edit] Highway

For most of its distance, US 7 (also known as the Ethan Allen Highway) is an undivided two-lane road. It begins in Norwalk, CT with a four mile expressway to nearly the Wilton, CT town line. There are three exits on this short section, signed as "The Forty Third Infantry Division Memorial Highway". Exit 1, just past Interstate 95 (the southern terminus) leads to the Central Norwalk Business District and US 1. Exit 2 leads to Route 123 which extends from US 1 in Norwalk to the New York State line, passing through the town of New Canaan. After Exit 2, the expressway reduces to four lanes from six. Exit 3 leads to Route 15 South. (known as the Merritt Parkway). This interchange was half built and only allows southbound access from the expressway—northbound access is gained via CT Route 123 at Exit 2. The expressway section ends at Grist Mill Road in Norwalk, about a half mile past Exit 3.

Near Danbury, another expressway section was built beginning 1 mile south of Interstate 84 near the Danbury Airport. This section is also signed as "The Forty Third Infantry Division Memorial Highway". Through Danbury proper, Route 7 is multiplexed with I-84 for about 4 miles. Through this section of Expressway Routes I-84, U.S. 7, U.S 6 and U.S. 202 are co-signed. Route 7 and 202 than leave I-84 and travel on their own expressway for another 5 miles or so to just south of the New Milford, Connecticut Line. On this section there is just one exit, Exit 11 -- Federal Road and where U.S. 202 exits the expressway. The expressway's terminus Exit 12 is for U.S. 202. Route 7 is than cosigned with U.S. 202 until New Milford proper. Recent construction has made large parts of Route 7 between the terminus of the expressway and New Milford a 4-lane divided road. The widening project ends at the Intersection and split of Route 67 and U.S. 202 and U.S 7. North of this point, Route 7 remains a 2 lane road through the rest of Connecticut and Massachusetts until Lenox, MA. There, a four-lane bypass of Lenox was built in two pieces, and the old US 7 is now MA 7A. US 7 continues on as a four lane road to Pittsfield, where it is then a three lane road, narrowing to two lanes for a short time, then widening to four lanes in downtown Pittsfield. US 7 leaves downtown Pittsfield as a two-lane surface arterial, and continues as a rural highway with occasional three lane stretches for climbing the grades along the Berkshires.

Like Connecticut, Massachusetts planned a US 7 expressway from the existing bypass in Lenox all the way to Lanesborough. This plan was never initiated, although land takings occurred. The highway was ultimately cancelled due to environmental and community opposition, much like in Connecticut.

The road remains a rural 2-lane highway all the way to Bennington, Vermont. North of town, the highway then again returns to expressway status. For 3 miles it is a true expressway with divided carriageways and multiple lanes. Route 7 then narrows down to an undivided two-lane freeway. There are, however, many stretches with passing lanes. Just north of Manchester, Vermont the expressway ends and the road is either two lane or 4 lane undivided uncontrolled road all the way to the Canadian Border.

[edit] States traversed

Original-style Vermont US 7 shield with embossed features

The highway passes through the following states:

[edit] Major towns on the route

[edit] Notes

† US 7 also crosses Interstate 90 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, but there is no interchange.

[edit] See also

List of U.S. Routes

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b US Highways From US 1 to US 830 Robert V. Droz

US 7 Expressway @ NYC Roads.com

		edit Main U.S. Routes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38
40	41	42	43	44	45	46		48	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59
60	61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70	71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79
80	81	82	83	84	85		87		89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99
101		163						400				412				425
Lists		U.S. Routes - Bannered - Divided - Replaced