Massachusetts Route 31
Route description
Route description
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[thumb\|250px\|left\|Route 31 entering Spencer from Charlton.](/wiki/Image:MA_Route_31_northbound_entering_Spencer%2C_MA.jpg "MA Route 31 northbound entering Spencer, MA.jpg")
Route 31 begins in [Dudley](/wiki/Dudley%2C_Massachusetts "Dudley, Massachusetts") at the [Connecticut](/wiki/Connecticut "Connecticut") border, where it is known as Dresser Hill Road. Dresser Hill Road begins in [Quinebaug, Connecticut](/wiki/Quinebaug%2C_Connecticut "Quinebaug, Connecticut"), at [Route 197](/wiki/Route_197_%28Connecticut%E2%80%93Massachusetts%29 "Route 197 (Connecticut–Massachusetts)") where it is a short (approximately ) local road erroneously signed as [Connecticut Route 31](/wiki/Connecticut_Route_31 "Connecticut Route 31")
 changing to Route 31 at the Massachusetts state line, then proceeding through Dudley and into [Charlton](/wiki/Charlton%2C_Massachusetts "Charlton, Massachusetts"), winding over Dresser Hill with several moderately steep grades and some tight corners.

In Charlton, it intersects [U.S. Route 20](/wiki/U.S._Route_20_in_Massachusetts "U.S. Route 20 in Massachusetts") a few miles east of the [I\-90](/wiki/Massachusetts_Turnpike "Massachusetts Turnpike") and [I\-84](/wiki/Interstate_84_%28Pennsylvania-Massachusetts%29 "Interstate 84 (Pennsylvania-Massachusetts)") interchange. This provides its only connection with an interstate highway. In Charlton, it is known as Masonic Home Road and Brookfield Road. It then passes Lambs Pond. 

[thumb\|250px\|left\|Route 31 entering Paxton from Holden.](/wiki/Image:MA_Route_31_westbound_entering_Paxton%2C_MA.jpg "MA Route 31 westbound entering Paxton, MA.jpg")
Route 31 then enters [Spencer](/wiki/Spencer%2C_Massachusetts "Spencer, Massachusetts"), where it parallels the Podunk Pike ([Route 49](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_49 "Massachusetts Route 49")) for several miles. As Charlton Road, it passes the Spencer State Forest. In the center of Spencer, it crosses [Route 9](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_9 "Massachusetts Route 9"). It then turns north towards [Paxton](/wiki/Paxton%2C_Massachusetts "Paxton, Massachusetts"); this stretch is scenic and hilly. Several warning signs are seen here for sharp corners, warning of a maximum safe speed of .

After a couple long, sweeping corners through a forest of pine trees, Route 31 enters Paxton. Paxton Center School comes after a treed\-in section. The intersections of Route 31, [Route 122](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_122 "Massachusetts Route 122"), and [Route 56](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_56 "Massachusetts Route 56") comprise Paxton Center. Route 31 is variously known as West Street and Holden Street in Paxton; it runs east–west in this section. It passes over a hill past Richards Memorial Library, then uses Grove Street for approximately . 

In [Holden](/wiki/Holden%2C_Massachusetts "Holden, Massachusetts"), Route 31 passes Asnebumskit Pond and is bridged over Kendall Reservoir. After the intersection with [Route 122A](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_122A "Massachusetts Route 122A") it passes Gale Free Public Library and heads north once again. The road heads into an increasingly rural area as the hills get steeper and longer. 

Route 31 then enters [Princeton](/wiki/Princeton%2C_Massachusetts "Princeton, Massachusetts") and begins climbing very steeply; it gains about  in approximately . Entering the center of Princeton, it joins Route 62 and turns east to avoid going over [Mount Wachusett](/wiki/Mount_Wachusett "Mount Wachusett"). The mountain is instead connected by Mountain Road. After separating from [Route 62](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_62 "Massachusetts Route 62"), Route 31 joins [Route 140](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_140 "Massachusetts Route 140") and becomes Fitchburg Road near Paradise Pond.

It passes through a portion of [Leominster State Forest](/wiki/Leominster_State_Forest "Leominster State Forest") in [Westminster](/wiki/Westminster%2C_Massachusetts "Westminster, Massachusetts") before an interchange with a freeway segment of [Route 2](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_2 "Massachusetts Route 2"). After this interchange, Route 31 becomes a city street, having shared roadway with [Route 2A](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_2A "Massachusetts Route 2A") and a [wrong\-way concurrency](/wiki/Wrong-way_concurrency "Wrong-way concurrency") with [Route 12](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_12 "Massachusetts Route 12"). It then passes through downtown [Fitchburg](/wiki/Fitchburg%2C_Massachusetts "Fitchburg, Massachusetts"). As it leaves Fitchburg it is called Ashby State Road. In [Ashby](/wiki/Ashby%2C_Massachusetts "Ashby, Massachusetts"), it connects with [Route 119](/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_119 "Massachusetts Route 119") before reaching the [New Hampshire](/wiki/New_Hampshire "New Hampshire") state border, where it becomes [New Hampshire Route 31](/wiki/New_Hampshire_Route_31 "New Hampshire Route 31").

The stretch of Route 31 from Paxton Center to Holden Center is named the Chief Robert J. Mortell Memorial Highway, after Paxton [chief of police](/wiki/Chief_of_police "Chief of police") Robert Mortell, who was killed in the line of duty on February 1, 1994, in the deeply wooded area bordering Route 31\.


Is there a memorial for Route 32's intersection with Fitchburg Road?