Cambridge and Concord Turnpike


The Cambridge and Concord Turnpike was an early turnpike between Cambridge and Concord, Massachusetts. Portions have been incorporated into today's Massachusetts Route 2; the remainder forms other major local roads.

Route description

The turnpike began at the western end of the West Boston Bridge in Cambridgeport. From there it proceeded along today's Broadway to Mechanics Square, where it intersected with the Middlesex Turnpike, then continued to the Cambridge Common, skirting Harvard College by as required by law, and from there proceeded northwest past Fresh Pond to Belmont Center, and then onwards to Lincoln by the route now known as Concord Avenue. The turnpike continued through Lincoln in a direct line to Concord Center. Today one section forms part of Route 2 ; the other continues into Concord as Cambridge Turnpike.

History

The Cambridge and Concord Turnpike Corporation was established on March 7-8, 1803, by act of the Massachusetts legislature. In 1805-06 most of the turnpike was constructed in very nearly a straight line from Cambridge to Concord Center, despite the needless difficulties this entailed with steep hills along the selected path. Much of the road opened for business in February 1807, though the eastern segment within Cambridge was not completed until circa 1812.
Two tollgates were erected on the turnpike: one about west of Fresh Pond, and the other in Lincoln. No gates were erected within Cambridge, as a result of a lawsuit. The road's width varied from over much of its route to as much as at today's Broadway.
The turnpike was not an economic success, and in May 1829 it was converted to a public highway. Its poor profits were probably due to the uncompromising "straight line" route, which both impeded traffic by needless steep hills and bypassed the important town of Lexington.