U.S. Highway 7

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

Contents 1 Termini 2 Highway 3 States traversed 4 Major towns on the route 5 See also 6 Sources and external links

Termini

As of 2004, the highway's northern terminus is just north of Highgate Springs, Vermont at the Canadian border, where it continues as Quebec Provincial Highway 133. Its southern terminus is in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Highway

For most of its distance, US 7 is an undivided 2 lane road. In Norwalk, CT, it begins as an expressway to nearly the Wilton, CT border. There are 3 exits on this short expressway section. Exit 1, just past Interstate 95 (the southern terminus)leads to the Central Norwalk Buisness District and US 1. Exit 2 leads to Connecticut Route 123 which extends from U.S. 1 in Norwalk to the New York State line. It passes through the town of New Canaan. After Exit 2, the expressway reduces to 4 lanes from 6. Exit 3 leads to Connecticut Route 15 South. (known as the Merritt Parkway). This interchange was only half built and only allows to Southbound Route 15 access from the Expressway. To connect to northbound access, one must take local roads from Exit 2. A half mile later, the southern Expressway section ends at Grist Mill Road in Wilton. This section of expressway is only about 4 miles long.

Near Danbury, another expressway section was built beginning 1 mile south of Interstate 84 near the Danbury Airport. 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. 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 contruction has made large parts of Route 7 between the terminus of the expressway and New Milford a 4-lane undivided road. The widening project ends at the Intersection and split of CT 67 and U.S. 202. 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 occured. 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 than again returns to expressway status. For 3 miles it is a true expressway with divided carrigeways and multiple lanes. Route 7 than narrows down to what is called a Super 2, a controlled access highway with interchanges, but only 1 travel lane in each direction and it is undivided. There are, however, many strateches with passing lanes. Just north of Manchester, Vermont the expressway ends and the road is either two lane or 4 land undivided uncontrolled road all the way to the Canadian Border.

States traversed

The highway passes through the following states:

• Vermont
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut

Major towns on the route

• Burlington, Vermont
• Rutland, Vermont
• Bennington, Vermont
• Pittsfield, Massachusetts
• Danbury, Connecticut
• Norwalk, Connecticut

See also

• List of U.S. Highways

Sources and external links

• U.S. Highways: from US 1 to (US 830) (Robert V. Droz)

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