Route 79 (Massachusetts)

Route 79
Map of Southeastern Massachusetts with Route 79 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MassDOT
Length:	18.47 mi (29.72 km)
Major junctions
South end:	I‑195 / Route 138 in Fall River
	US 6 in Fall River Route 24 from Fall River to Assonet Route 140 in Taunton
North end:	Route 105 in Middleborough
Location
Counties:	Bristol, Plymouth
Highway system
Massachusetts State Highway System Interstate US State ← Route 78 Route 80 →

Massachusetts Route 79 is a state highway in southeastern Massachusetts. The route begins as a highway in Fall River also known as the Fall River Viaduct and Western Fall River Expressway before becoming a more rural route.

Route 79 began as the Fall River Viaduct, a double-decked elevated highway that began just south of the Braga Bridge, at the point where the road split between ramps to Route 138 and I-195. The road continued northward under the Braga Bridge for a third of a mile before splitting into a single four-lane highway surface, elevated on embankments. It had two exits northbound and southbound to Davol Street, the road which traveled in two one-way routes on either side of the highway, and also provides access to Route 6 between President Avenue and the Brightman Street Bridge, where that route and Route 138 formerly crossed the Taunton River. The Veterans Memorial Bridge, completed in 2011, now connects to Route 79 just north of the old Brightman Street Bridge, with both northbound and southbound ramps. As of early summer 2015, the viaduct has been torn down. The nine ramps connecting Route 79 to I-195 will be rebuilt. A new roadway will be built that will combine Route 79 and Davol St. and two new connector roads will be constructed also. The project is part of many others across the state to rebuild or fix bridges that are currently in disrepair.

The route continues northward, passing under North Main Street with exit access to that street. It then connects to Route 24 at that route's Exit 7. There is no access between Route 79 north and Route 24 south, or vice versa. The route continues concurrently along Route 24 into the Assonet section of the town of Freetown, where it leaves its concurrency at Exit 9, turning on to South Main Street. (South Main Street southbound in Assonet connects to North Main Street in Fall River.) The route passes through the village before turning eastward along Elm Street, intertwining with the Assonet River as both make their way into Berkley.