Debate over Route 128

BOSTON — The roads around the Bay State are known to take some time to master for out-of-towners. But for fellow locals, there has always been one highway topic up for debate: Route 128.

What was known as the “Yankee Division Highway” is a state highway that used to be a loop from Gloucester to Braintree. It was all Route 128 and used in a famous car jingle.

At some point, someone somewhere decided, “You know what? We’re going to stop calling it 128. From the junction of I-95 in Canton. We’ll call this I-93, and the rest of it can stay Route 128.”

It is believed they wanted to get rid of 128 altogether, but since there is a Commuter Rail stop with the name 128, they kept it.

But those six miles of I-93? It runs north of Boston to New Hampshire, and the other is the expressway, known by many as 93. Most people wouldn’t be wrong, but they wouldn’t be right.

Change, it happens. Change for change’s sake? No. The state has already lost Bradlees, Lechmere, Jordan Marsh, Filene’s, and the old Garden.

Can Massachusetts have one thing carry on?

Cox Media Group