Cambridge and Concord Turnpike

The turnpike began at the western end of the West Boston Bridge in Cambridgeport (now Kendall Square).

From there it proceeded along today's Broadway to Mechanics Square,[1] where it intersected with the Middlesex Turnpike (now Hampshire Street), then continued to the Cambridge Common, skirting Harvard College by 90 feet (27 m) 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 earlier route still exists as Centre Ave.) The turnpike continued through Lincoln in a direct line to Concord Center.

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.

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.