Growth Follows New England Highway

Along Interstate 495, once rural areas have given way to suburban sprawl and the new edge cities of New England.

1 minute read

April 10, 2001, 12:00 PM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera

"They were once the far-flung outposts of Boston: Franklin, Hopkinton, Stow. There, old farmhouses rose out of vast swaths of lush greenery and townsfolk moved to a slower beat. Grocery shopping was a social event, where people saw a familiar face in every aisle. Main Street knew no stoplights. Then came Interstate 495: 121 miles of concrete and asphalt, stretching from Salisbury to Wareham. Suddenly, these sleepy towns boomed at a frenetic pace. With research and high-tech companies sprouting at every turn, it drew tens of thousands of people from the city and beyond." Now officials are trying to preserve the charm of old rural areas of New England, while coping with the continued suburbanization.

Thanks to Christian Peralta

FULL STORY: Along I-495, a concrete ribbon of growth

Monday, April 9, 2001 in The Boston Globe

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