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Route 6A (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Route 6A is the name for parts of former U.S. Route 6
on Cape Cod
. Most of "6A", as the locals call it, is also known as the Old King's Highway. Combining the 2 major sections (and the apparent "silent concurrency" with US-6 through Eastham, Wellfleet, and South Truro), the highway is approximately 62 miles (99.8 km) long.
along Sandwich Road, it actually starts some feet east of the Sagamore Bridge
, according to state signage. From there, it goes thus:
Since 1982, Route 6A has ended at an intersection (signalized until 2010) with US 6
at Herring Cove, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore
. Before 1982, the intersection was a large complicated rotary
-like design, and 6A ran slightly more north than its intersection with US 6, ending at the exit off the rotary for the remainder of Provincelands Road toward Race Point.
It is signed East and West between Bourne and Orleans, and signed North and South in Truro and Provincetown.
Some maps erroneously had the northern Route 6A having its southern terminus at US-6 along Mayflower Avenue in Provincetown. However, since Mayflower Avenue is an extremely narrow private road of questionable maintenance, and there is no access from East US-6 to Mayflower Avenue, the reason for this misunderstanding was unknown. This has since been fixed in most maps which once contained this error.
Some maps also erroneously mark US 6's old routing through downtown Wellfleet
as Route 6A, though MassHighway (and the Massachusetts Department of Public Works before it) has never included the stretch as part of Route 6A.
U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts
Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 in the state of Massachusetts. Route 6 runs in the state connecting Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. In the Fall River and New Bedford areas, Route 6 is a secondary highway paralleling Interstate 195...
on Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
. Most of "6A", as the locals call it, is also known as the Old King's Highway. Combining the 2 major sections (and the apparent "silent concurrency" with US-6 through Eastham, Wellfleet, and South Truro), the highway is approximately 62 miles (99.8 km) long.
Route description
Although some maps have Route 6A starting at the Bourne Bridge RotaryRoundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
along Sandwich Road, it actually starts some feet east of the Sagamore Bridge
Sagamore Bridge
The Sagamore Bridge in Sagamore, Massachusetts carries U.S. Route 6 across the Cape Cod Canal, connecting Cape Cod with the rest of Massachusetts, USA....
, according to state signage. From there, it goes thus:
- BourneBourne, MassachusettsBourne is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,721 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Bourne, please see the articles on Bourne , Buzzards Bay, Monument Beach, Pocasset, Sagamore, and Sagamore...
: Sandwich Road - SandwichSandwich, MassachusettsSandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
: Route 6A - BarnstableBarnstable, MassachusettsBarnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
: Main Street - YarmouthYarmouth, MassachusettsYarmouth is a New England town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 24,807 at the 2000 census....
: Main Street - DennisDennis, MassachusettsDennis is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States; located near the center of Cape Cod. The population was 14,207 at the 2010 census.The town encompasses five distinct villages, each of which has its own post office...
: Kings Highway - BrewsterBrewster, MassachusettsBrewster is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population of Brewster was 9,820 at the 2010 census.Brewster is twinned with the town of Budleigh Salterton in the United Kingdom....
: Main Street - OrleansOrleans, MassachusettsOrleans is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,890 at the 2010 census....
: Cranberry Highway - TruroTruro, MassachusettsTruro is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, comprising two villages: Truro and North Truro. Located two hours outside Boston, it is a summer vacation community just south of the northern tip of Cape Cod, in an area known as the "Outer Cape"...
: Shore Road - ProvincetownProvincetown, MassachusettsProvincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
: Commercial Street (1 mile), Bradford Street (2.5 miles), Provincelands Road (1 mile)
Since 1982, Route 6A has ended at an intersection (signalized until 2010) with US 6
U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts
Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 in the state of Massachusetts. Route 6 runs in the state connecting Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. In the Fall River and New Bedford areas, Route 6 is a secondary highway paralleling Interstate 195...
at Herring Cove, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore
Cape Cod National Seashore
The Cape Cod National Seashore , created on August 7, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, encompasses on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It includes ponds, woods and beachfront of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion...
. Before 1982, the intersection was a large complicated rotary
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
-like design, and 6A ran slightly more north than its intersection with US 6, ending at the exit off the rotary for the remainder of Provincelands Road toward Race Point.
It is signed East and West between Bourne and Orleans, and signed North and South in Truro and Provincetown.
Some maps erroneously had the northern Route 6A having its southern terminus at US-6 along Mayflower Avenue in Provincetown. However, since Mayflower Avenue is an extremely narrow private road of questionable maintenance, and there is no access from East US-6 to Mayflower Avenue, the reason for this misunderstanding was unknown. This has since been fixed in most maps which once contained this error.
Some maps also erroneously mark US 6's old routing through downtown Wellfleet
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Wellfleet is a New England town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Located halfway between the "tip" and "elbow" of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the town had a population of 2,749 at the 2000 census, which swells nearly sixfold during the summer...
as Route 6A, though MassHighway (and the Massachusetts Department of Public Works before it) has never included the stretch as part of Route 6A.
Junction list
| County | Location | Milepost | Roads Intersected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Barnstable County, Massachusetts Barnstable County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, consisting of Cape Cod and associated islands. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,902... |
Bourne Bourne, Massachusetts Bourne is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,721 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Bourne, please see the articles on Bourne , Buzzards Bay, Monument Beach, Pocasset, Sagamore, and Sagamore... |
0.00 |  U.S. Route 6U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 in the state of Massachusetts. Route 6 runs in the state connecting Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. In the Fall River and New Bedford areas, Route 6 is a secondary highway paralleling Interstate 195... (Mid-Cape Highway) |
Western terminus of Route 6A. (continues west as Sandwich Road). US-6 Exit 1C (formerly Exit 1). To  Route 3 (via the Sagamore BridgeSagamore Bridge The Sagamore Bridge in Sagamore, Massachusetts carries U.S. Route 6 across the Cape Cod Canal, connecting Cape Cod with the rest of Massachusetts, USA.... ). |
| Sandwich Sandwich, Massachusetts Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town.... |
0.8 |  Route 130 |
Northern terminus of Route 130. | |
| Barnstable Barnstable, Massachusetts Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries... |
10.1 |  Route 149Massachusetts Route 149 Route 149 is a short south–north highway on Cape Cod in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:The highway is located entirely in the Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts on Cape Cod... |
Northern terminus of Route 149. To U.S. Route 6U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 in the state of Massachusetts. Route 6 runs in the state connecting Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. In the Fall River and New Bedford areas, Route 6 is a secondary highway paralleling Interstate 195... . |
|
| 11.9 |  Route 132 |
Northern terminus of Route 132. To U.S. Route 6U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 in the state of Massachusetts. Route 6 runs in the state connecting Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. In the Fall River and New Bedford areas, Route 6 is a secondary highway paralleling Interstate 195... . |
||
| Dennis Dennis, Massachusetts Dennis is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States; located near the center of Cape Cod. The population was 14,207 at the 2010 census.The town encompasses five distinct villages, each of which has its own post office... |
23.8 |  Route 134 |
Northern terminus of Route 134. | |
| Brewster Brewster, Massachusetts Brewster is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population of Brewster was 9,820 at the 2010 census.Brewster is twinned with the town of Budleigh Salterton in the United Kingdom.... |
27.9 |  Route 137 |
Northern terminus of Route 137. | |
| 28.3 |  Route 124 |
Northern terminus of Route 124. | ||
| Orleans Orleans, Massachusetts Orleans is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,890 at the 2010 census.... |
32.7 | U.S. Route 6 U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 in the state of Massachusetts. Route 6 runs in the state connecting Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. In the Fall River and New Bedford areas, Route 6 is a secondary highway paralleling Interstate 195... (Mid-Cape Highway) |
US-6 Exit 12. | |
| 34.0 |  Route 28 |
Southern terminus of Route 28. | ||
| 34.6 | U.S. Route 6 U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 in the state of Massachusetts. Route 6 runs in the state connecting Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. In the Fall River and New Bedford areas, Route 6 is a secondary highway paralleling Interstate 195... (Mid-Cape Highway) |
Eastern terminus of Mid-Cape Highway (Orleans Rotary). Southern terminus of (unsigned) US-6/Route 6A concurrency. Route 6A is signed E/W west of this intersection. |
||
| Concurrency between Orleans and Truro signed as |
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| Truro Truro, Massachusetts Truro is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, comprising two villages: Truro and North Truro. Located two hours outside Boston, it is a summer vacation community just south of the northern tip of Cape Cod, in an area known as the "Outer Cape"... |
53.00 | U.S. Route 6 U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 in the state of Massachusetts. Route 6 runs in the state connecting Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. In the Fall River and New Bedford areas, Route 6 is a secondary highway paralleling Interstate 195... |
Northern terminus of (unsigned) US-6/Route 6A concurrency. Route 6A is signed N/S north of this intersection. |
|
| Provincetown Provincetown, Massachusetts Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174... |
62.46 | U.S. Route 6 U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 in the state of Massachusetts. Route 6 runs in the state connecting Providence, Rhode Island to Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. In the Fall River and New Bedford areas, Route 6 is a secondary highway paralleling Interstate 195... |
Eastern terminus of U.S. Route 6. Northern terminus of Route 6A. |
|
History
- Route 6A was first signed upon partial completion of the Mid-Cape Highway, which was Cape CodCape CodCape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
's first freeway in 1953, traveling between the Sagamore BridgeSagamore BridgeThe Sagamore Bridge in Sagamore, Massachusetts carries U.S. Route 6 across the Cape Cod Canal, connecting Cape Cod with the rest of Massachusetts, USA....
in BourneBourne, MassachusettsBourne is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,721 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Bourne, please see the articles on Bourne , Buzzards Bay, Monument Beach, Pocasset, Sagamore, and Sagamore...
and Route 132Route 132 (Massachusetts)Route 132 is a highway in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, part of Cape Cod. The entire length of the highway is also locally signed as part of Iyannough Road...
in BarnstableBarnstable, MassachusettsBarnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
. - A second stretch in 1954 was signed when a US 6 bypass was constructed in TruroTruro, MassachusettsTruro is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, comprising two villages: Truro and North Truro. Located two hours outside Boston, it is a summer vacation community just south of the northern tip of Cape Cod, in an area known as the "Outer Cape"...
and ProvincetownProvincetown, MassachusettsProvincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
, although in Provincetown, Route 6A was signed along Bradford Street instead of US 6's former routing on Commercial Street, as the latter road had become one-way westbound. - A third stretch in 1956 was signed between Route 132Route 132 (Massachusetts)Route 132 is a highway in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, part of Cape Cod. The entire length of the highway is also locally signed as part of Iyannough Road...
in BarnstableBarnstable, MassachusettsBarnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
and the OrleansOrleans, MassachusettsOrleans is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,890 at the 2010 census....
/EasthamEastham, MassachusettsEastham is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,453 at the 2000 census....
town line when the US 6 freeway was completed. - Route 6A does not officially exist in EasthamEastham, MassachusettsEastham is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,453 at the 2000 census....
or WellfleetWellfleet, MassachusettsWellfleet is a New England town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Located halfway between the "tip" and "elbow" of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the town had a population of 2,749 at the 2000 census, which swells nearly sixfold during the summer...
, though mile markers on the TruroTruro, MassachusettsTruro is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, comprising two villages: Truro and North Truro. Located two hours outside Boston, it is a summer vacation community just south of the northern tip of Cape Cod, in an area known as the "Outer Cape"...
/ProvincetownProvincetown, MassachusettsProvincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
section (which start at Mile 53.0) suggest a silent concurrency with US 6 through the gap. - The road is generally considered to be Cape CodCape CodCape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
's most historic and scenic highwayHighwayA highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
. - The only portions of the Provincetown section under state (or federal) maintenance are the Commercial Street section (including Bradford between Commercial and Allerton) and the Provincelands Road section (which runs through National Park land). The remainder of the Bradford Street section has always been locally maintained, and though that section carries the occasional mile marker from the last postings in 1979, it has always only sparsely been signed as Route 6A.
- There was once another section of Route 6A running through downtown Truro along Truro Center Road, although it was never signed or mile-markered. When Truro Center Road and North Truro's Shore Road were turned back to local maintenance in 1979, the Route 6A designation was officially removed from the downtown Truro section, though locals still referred to it as "Route 6A" until it was officially named "Truro Center Road" when Truro obtained E-911 service.
- The Shore Road section went at least 40 years without a resurfacing. This was evident by the presence of white paint remnants for the lines in the middle of the road that were visible when then-current paint jobs faded. Truro finally resurfaced the road in 2000.