Massachusetts Route 63 - History

History

Route 63 was defined by 1929, running from Route 116 in Sunderland north along current Route 47 into Montague, and then along Sunderland Road, Turners Falls Road and Montague Road towards Turners Falls. South of Turners Falls, it turned east and merged with Route 2 (later Route 2A), which it took to Millers Falls. There it turned north onto its present alignment, ending at Route 10 in Northfield.

Ca. 1939, Route 63 was extended south from Sunderland along present Route 47, ending at Route 116 in South Hadley. Around the same time, it was shifted to its current alignment from south of Montague center (where Route 47 now cuts over to Route 63) north to Millers Falls. Finally, also around 1939, New Hampshire Route 10 was shifted onto a shorter route near the state line, resulting in a different crossing of the state line. The former Route 10 became New Hampshire Route 63, and Route 63 was extended north concurrent with Route 10, splitting near the state line along old Route 10.

In the late 1940s, Route 63 was shifted east from south of Montague center south to a new terminus at Route 116 in Amherst; the old route became Route 47. Finally, a new alignment of Route 116 west of Amherst center and was built in 1958, and Route 63 was extended slightly west at its south end to the bypass.