Southern Artery

Southern Artery
Map of Norfolk County in eastern Massachusetts with Southern Artery highlighted in red
Route information
Length:	2.13 mi (3.43 km)
Existed:	1926 – present
Major junctions
South end:	Route 53 in Quincy
North end:	Route 3A in Quincy
Location
Counties:	Norfolk
Highway system
Massachusetts State Highway System Interstate US State

Southern Artery is a street in Quincy, Massachusetts. For much of its length it is a major arterial street which is used by an average of over 30,000 Boston area commuters daily.

Route 3A enters Quincy from the south at Weymouth Fore River onto Washington Street. Northbound on 3A, as Washington Street intersects Southern Artery, Route 3A turns north toward Dorchester and Interstate 93 along Southern Artery. In this section, Southern Artery is a heavily commercialized four lane undivided strip.

Among points of interest in this area is the Souther Tide Mill near the west end of Town River Bay. Built in 1806, the tide mill was partly owned by the Adams family and is the oldest surviving mill of its kind in the nation. The city of Quincy is working with preservationist groups to create a historical and recreational park at the mill. Farther north along the route is the site of the world's first Dunkin' Donuts shop, established in 1950 at 543 Southern Artery. The lot is occupied by a newer Dunkin' Donuts store which includes a small plaque inside commemorating this history.

At the end of the heavily commercialized section, Southern Artery intersects Coddington Street (south side) and Sea Street (north side) at the Quincy Police Department headquarters. Also at corners of this intersection are Quincy High School fields and Mount Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy's largest burial ground.