Route 24 is a
freewayA freeway is a type of road designed for safer high-speed operation of motor vehicles through the elimination of at-grade intersections. This is accomplished by preventing access to and from adjacent properties and eliminating all cross traffic through the use of grade separations and...
south of I-93 in southeastern
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most of its population of...
, linking
Fall RiverFall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and 12 miles south of Taunton. The city's population was 91,938 during the 2000 census, making it the eighth largest...
with the Boston
metropolitan areaA metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence, or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central cities and their zone of influence...
. Route 24 is also known as the
Fall River Expressway, and officially as the
Amvets Highway. Route 24 has a total of 21 interchanges (including the split at its northern terminus with
Interstate 93Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91.For most of its length, Interstate 93...
.)
The
highwayA highway is a main road for travel by the public between important destinations, such as cities and states. Highway designs vary widely and can range from a two-lane road without margins to a multi-lane, grade separated motorway. In English and U.S...
starts at the
Rhode IslandRhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
border as a continuation of RI Route 24 and meets Interstate 195 in
Fall RiverFall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and 12 miles south of Taunton. The city's population was 91,938 during the 2000 census, making it the eighth largest...
.
Route 24 is a
freewayA freeway is a type of road designed for safer high-speed operation of motor vehicles through the elimination of at-grade intersections. This is accomplished by preventing access to and from adjacent properties and eliminating all cross traffic through the use of grade separations and...
south of I-93 in southeastern
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most of its population of...
, linking
Fall RiverFall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and 12 miles south of Taunton. The city's population was 91,938 during the 2000 census, making it the eighth largest...
with the Boston
metropolitan areaA metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence, or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central cities and their zone of influence...
. Route 24 is also known as the
Fall River Expressway, and officially as the
Amvets Highway. Route 24 has a total of 21 interchanges (including the split at its northern terminus with
Interstate 93Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91.For most of its length, Interstate 93...
.)
Route description
The
highwayA highway is a main road for travel by the public between important destinations, such as cities and states. Highway designs vary widely and can range from a two-lane road without margins to a multi-lane, grade separated motorway. In English and U.S...
starts at the
Rhode IslandRhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
border as a continuation of RI Route 24 and meets Interstate 195 in
Fall RiverFall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and 12 miles south of Taunton. The city's population was 91,938 during the 2000 census, making it the eighth largest...
. It briefly runs concurrently with I-195 east (for less than a mile), then exits the interstate and travels north, merging with
Route 79Route 79 is a semi-rural highway in southeastern Massachusetts.The highway starts at Interstate 195 in Fall River and travels north, merging with Route 24 at Exit 7. From here it runs concurrently with Route 24 North until Exit 9 in . South of, and including, the Route 24 portion, Route 79 is a...
at Exit 7 in northern
Fall RiverFall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and 12 miles south of Taunton. The city's population was 91,938 during the 2000 census, making it the eighth largest...
. Routes 24 and 79 run concurrently northward until Exit 9 (
AssonetAssonet is one of two villages in the town of Freetown, Massachusetts in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. An original part of the town, Assonet was settled in 1659 along with the city of Fall River, then a part of Freetown. It rests on the banks of the Assonet River...
). At this point, Route 79 exits the freeway and heads northeast. Route 24 continues north, intersecting the northern end of the Taunton-New Bedford Expressway (
Route 140Route 140 is a long state highway which passes through parts of southeastern and central Massachusetts. The highway follows a southeast-northwest trajectory, running from U.S...
) in Taunton, and
Interstate 495Interstate 495 is the designation of an Interstate Highway half-beltway in Massachusetts. It was the longest auxiliary Interstate Highway of its kind—measuring 120.74 miles —until 1996, when the PA Route 9 section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was redesignated as Interstate 476, making it about ...
in
RaynhamRaynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,739 at the 2000 census. It has one village, Raynham Center.-History:The area which would become Raynham was settled in 1639 as a part of Taunton...
. The highway continues north through the city of
BrocktonBrockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population size was recorded as 94,304 in the 2000 census. The city and Plymouth are the county seats of Plymouth County...
and into
RandolphRandolph is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 30,963. The ZIP code of Randolph is 02368.-History:...
, where Route 24 ends at a split junction with
Interstate 93Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91.For most of its length, Interstate 93...
. This section of I-93 from Braintree to its junction with I-95 is frequently referred to by its former designation of Route 128. This designation was removed from I-93, and the roadway now carries the additional designation of U.S. Route 1, although this is not shown on guide signs from Route 24.
The speed limit on Route 24 is 55
MPHThe mile per hour is a unit of speed, measured in Imperial units expressing the number of international miles covered per hour.It is currently the unit used for speed limits, and speeds, on roads in the United Kingdom and United States...
(88 km/h) from the Rhode Island border to the exit from Interstate 195. North of I-195, the speed limit is 65 MPH (105 km/h).
Cities and towns
- Fall River
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and 12 miles south of Taunton. The city's population was 91,938 during the 2000 census, making it the eighth largest...
- Freetown
Freetown is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,472 at the 2000 census.Freetown is one of the oldest communities in the United States, having been settled by the Pilgrims and their descendants in the latter half of the 17th century. The town once included...
(AssonetAssonet is one of two villages in the town of Freetown, Massachusetts in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. An original part of the town, Assonet was settled in 1659 along with the city of Fall River, then a part of Freetown. It rests on the banks of the Assonet River...
section of town}
- Berkley
Berkley is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county.- History :...
- Taunton
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located 40 miles south of Boston, 18 miles east of Providence, 18 miles north of Fall River and 25 miles west of Plymouth...
- Raynham
Raynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,739 at the 2000 census. It has one village, Raynham Center.-History:The area which would become Raynham was settled in 1639 as a part of Taunton...
- Bridgewater
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Bridgewater, please see the article Bridgewater , Massachusetts.Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, 28 miles south of Boston. At the 2000 Census, the population was 25,185...
- West Bridgewater
West Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,634 at the 2000 census.-History:West Bridgewater was first settled in 1651 as a part of Olde Bridgewater...
- Brockton
Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population size was recorded as 94,304 in the 2000 census. The city and Plymouth are the county seats of Plymouth County...
- Avon
Avon is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,443 at the 2000 census.-History:Avon was first settled in 1700. It was originally known as East Stoughton, and was a part of Stoughton on the founding of that town...
- Stoughton
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 27,149 at the 2000 census. The Town of Stoughton is located approximately equidistant from Boston, Providence, and Cape Cod.- History :...
- Canton
Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,775 at the 2000 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.- History :...
- Randolph
Randolph is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 30,963. The ZIP code of Randolph is 02368.-History:...
History
Route 24, along with Route 138, are both built parallel to an old Indian trail that went along the same north/south route from south of the Boston area into Boston. Route 124 on
Cape CodCape Cod, often referred to as simply the Cape, and called Cape of Keel by early Norse explorers, is a peninsula in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States. It is coextensive with Barnstable County...
was originally designated Route 24 before 1951, and its number was changed to 124 upon the completion of the initial stretch of the Route 24 freeway.
The original portion of Route 24 opened in 1951, and brought commuters from Exit 10 in Assonet to
RaynhamRaynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,739 at the 2000 census. It has one village, Raynham Center.-History:The area which would become Raynham was settled in 1639 as a part of Taunton...
. Route 24 is currently 40 miles (65 km) in length and has 21 interchanges from Fall River to Randolph.
Possible upgrades to Interstate standards
There have been calls over the years for Route 24 to be upgraded to an interstate highway. In April 2007 the Old Colony Regional Planning Council included this proposal in its 25-year regional transportation plan draft. The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) endorsed a similar proposal the month before. In 1997, a study was initiated by the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD) and the SRPEDD on what improvements were necessary in order to convert the route to an Interstate highway. The project would require major upgrades to 11 interchanges and minor work on 6 others. The proposal was tabled due to high costs projected for reconstruction of part of the highway south of
Interstate 495Interstate 495 is the designation of an Interstate Highway half-beltway in Massachusetts. It was the longest auxiliary Interstate Highway of its kind—measuring 120.74 miles —until 1996, when the PA Route 9 section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was redesignated as Interstate 476, making it about ...
. The current proposal seeks to have the route improved to interstate standards by 2020, the cost for the Stoughton to Bridgewater portion alone is estimated at $224 million.
According to MassHighway, it will be an extension of I-93. The portion south of I-195 will remain MA-24 and then RI-24. There is no word on the designation of I-93/US-1 between exits 1 and 4.
Exit list
| County |
Location |
Exit # |
Destination(s) |
Notes |
 enters Massachusetts from Rhode Island |
BristolBristol County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, adjacent to the state of Rhode Island. As of 2005, the population was estimated at 546,331. Some governmental functions are performed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, others by the county, and others by local towns and...
|
Fall River Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and 12 miles south of Taunton. The city's population was 91,938 during the 2000 census, making it the eighth largest...
|
1A-B |
 Route 81 |
|
| 2 |
Brayton Ave./Eastern Ave. |
Northbound exit/southbound entrance only. |
| 3 |
 Interstate 195 west |
Northbound exit only. Access to Route 24 North via I-195 Exit 8B. |
| joins |
| 4 |
Interstate 195 east |
Southbound exit only. Access to Route 24 south via I-195 Exit 8A. |
| leaves |
| 5 |
 U.S. Route 6 |
|
| 6 |
Highland Ave. |
Southbound exit/northbound entrance only. |
| 7 |
 Route 79Route 79 is a semi-rural highway in southeastern Massachusetts.The highway starts at Interstate 195 in Fall River and travels north, merging with Route 24 at Exit 7. From here it runs concurrently with Route 24 North until Exit 9 in . South of, and including, the Route 24 portion, Route 79 is a...
south |
Southbound exit/northbound entrance only. Route 79 joins northbound and leaves southbound. |
| joins |
| 8 |
N. Main St. |
|
AssonetAssonet is one of two villages in the town of Freetown, Massachusetts in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. An original part of the town, Assonet was settled in 1659 along with the city of Fall River, then a part of Freetown. It rests on the banks of the Assonet River...
|
9 |
Route 79Route 79 is a semi-rural highway in southeastern Massachusetts.The highway starts at Interstate 195 in Fall River and travels north, merging with Route 24 at Exit 7. From here it runs concurrently with Route 24 North until Exit 9 in . South of, and including, the Route 24 portion, Route 79 is a...
north |
Route 79 leaves northbound and joins southbound. |
| leaves |
| 10 |
N. Main St. |
|
| Berkley Berkley is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county.- History :...
|
11 |
Padelford St. |
|
TauntonTaunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located 40 miles south of Boston, 18 miles east of Providence, 18 miles north of Fall River and 25 miles west of Plymouth...
|
12 |
 Route 140Route 140 is a long state highway which passes through parts of southeastern and central Massachusetts. The highway follows a southeast-northwest trajectory, running from U.S...
|
Split into 12A-B northbound. |
| Raynham Raynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,739 at the 2000 census. It has one village, Raynham Center.-History:The area which would become Raynham was settled in 1639 as a part of Taunton...
|
13A-B |
 U.S. Route 44U.S. Route 44 is an east-west United States highway that runs for 237 miles through four states in the Northeastern region of the United States. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 209 and New York State Route 55 in Kerhonkson, a hamlet in the Hudson Valley region of New York...
|
|
| Plymouth Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2000, the population was 472,822. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton. In 1685 the County was created by the Plymouth General Court.-Geography:According to the U.S...
|
BridgewaterFor geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Bridgewater, please see the article Bridgewater , Massachusetts.Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, 28 miles south of Boston. At the 2000 Census, the population was 25,185...
|
14A-B |
 Interstate 495 |
|
| Service Area - Food and Gas |
| 15 |
 Route 104Route 104 is a west-east highway in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 104 begins at U.S. Route 44 in Taunton. The highway crosses less than a thousand feet later thereafter into Raynham and passes through the CDP of Raynham Center...
|
|
West BridgewaterWest Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,634 at the 2000 census.-History:West Bridgewater was first settled in 1651 as a part of Olde Bridgewater...
|
16A-B |
 Route 106 |
|
BrocktonBrockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population size was recorded as 94,304 in the 2000 census. The city and Plymouth are the county seats of Plymouth County...
|
17A-B |
 Route 123 |
|
| 18A-B |
 Route 27-Route description:Route 27 runs in a sweeping arc from Kingston to Chelmsford. The route serves some of Boston's southern, western, and northwestern suburbs. The highway is directly served by interchanges from state routes 24, 9, and 2...
|
|
NorfolkNorfolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2000, the population was 650,308. Its county seat is Dedham. It is the 48th highest income county in the United States with a per capita income of $32,484...
|
Avon Avon is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,443 at the 2000 census.-History:Avon was first settled in 1700. It was originally known as East Stoughton, and was a part of Stoughton on the founding of that town...
|
19A-B |
Harrison Blvd. |
|
| Stoughton Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 27,149 at the 2000 census. The Town of Stoughton is located approximately equidistant from Boston, Providence, and Cape Cod.- History :...
|
20A-B |
 Route 139 |
|
| Randolph Randolph is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 30,963. The ZIP code of Randolph is 02368.-History:...
|
21A |
  Interstate 93Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91.For most of its length, Interstate 93...
/ U.S. Route 1 north |
Northbound exit only (right-exit at split). |
| 21B |
TO  Interstate 93Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91.For most of its length, Interstate 93...
/ U.S. Route 1 south to Interstate 95Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maine. The Massachusetts portion of the highway enters from the state of Rhode Island in Attleboro and travels in a northeasterly direction to the junction with Route 128 in...
|
Northbound exit only (left-exit at split). |
| ends at |