Interstate 190 Massachusetts

Interstate 190 Massachusetts

Routing

I-190/290 Massachusetts Map

Interstate 190 spurs north from I-290 in Worcester through the towns of Holden, West Bolyston and Sterling to Route 2 in the city of Leominster. Route 2 comprises an expressway west from I-190 to Fitchburg and Westminster and east to I-495 in Littleton.

I-190 was constructed to alleviate local traffic congestion along Route 12 and other area roads between north Worcester County and the city of Worcester.4 Area business leaders and politicians advocated for a north-south connector between the two areas going back to 1956. Early proposals included reconstructing Route 12 from Fitchburg through Worcester and a turnpike possibly connecting with the Mass Pike.3

Route Information

  • North End – Leominster, MA

  • South End – Worcester, MA

  • Mileage – 19.26

  • Cities – Worcester, Leominster

  • Junctions – I-290

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-190 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2010, 2016-17 MassDOT Transportation Data Management System

I-190 Worcester, MA - 1977

Interstate 190 proposed north from the Route 122A freeway spur in Worcester to Route 2 outside Leominster. Route 52 south from I-290 in Auburn was also under construction in 1977.

History

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the designation of Interstate 190 in April 1973 for Massachusetts Route 52, the proposed freeway leading north from I-290 in Worcester.1 Final approval of environmental impact statements was ongoing at the time and optimistically expected to be completed in June 1973. The federal funds for the construction of I-190 were the result of an agreement with the FHWA to transfer money previously appropriated for I-895 from the Massachusetts / Rhode Island State line south to I-195.

Route 52 along I-290 (Worcester Expressway) was proposed to provide a seamless route from Connecticut Route 2, with the Connecticut Turnpike linking it with points south and west. State officials were also expecting future Interstate construction of I-190 northward from Leominster to a point beyond Nashua, New Hampshire to connect with the F.E. Everett Turnpike to Manchester.1

Plans for Interstate 190 (Route 52) were established in 1972 for both from I-290 into Worcester and from Route 2 east of Seartown south to Sterling with construction scheduled to begin late 1974. Work was to progress north and south while the alignment in between was finalized. Governor Francis W. Sargent indicated on June 15, 1973 that the westerly alternative was selected for the freeway between Worcester and Sterling. That route avoided crossing Wachusett Reservoir in West Boylston, including a projected 3,000 foot long span, but did traverse the reservoir watershed both there and in the town of Holden.2

Early indications were that sections of I-190 could open by late 1975 or 1976. The overall route was projected for an opening date in 1977 and estimated to cost $100 million to build.2

I-190 Worcester - 1975/76 Massachusetts Official Highway Map

The proposed route of Interstate 190 extending north from Worcester on the 1975/76 Massachusetts Official Highway Map.

Preliminary construction for Interstate 190 got underway in August 1975 with the relocation of nearly two miles of Route 2 to accommodate the eventual interchange with I-190. Scheduled for completion in Fall 1977, the $7 million contract was for nearly three miles of new roadway and five bridges.3 With a bid of nearly $9.6 million, the contract for construction of the first section of Interstate 190 was awarded to Henley-Lundgren Co. of Shrewsbury on January 9, 1976. The contract was for 1.14 miles of the freeway from Ararat Street in Worcester to Route 12 just south of the West Boylston town line. Cost estimates for construction of the entire route of I-190 were $125 million.4

Environmental concerns delayed completion of Interstate 190, and the final section of the route was not finished until 1983.5

North End Massachusetts Route 2 / Leominster Connector – Leominster, Massachusetts

I-190 North at Massachusetts Route 2

I-190 north at Route 2 - Leominster, MA

Route 117 crosses I-195 at Exit 17 and the Lancaster town line, two miles south of the directional cloverleaf interchange (Exit 19) with both the freeway along Route 2 and the Leominster Connector west to Downtown Leominster. 08/21/21

I-190 north at Route 2 - Leominster, MA

An end sign for Interstate 190 precedes the exchange with Massachusetts Route 2 in Leominster. 08/21/21

I-190 north at Route 2 - Leominster, MA

The Leominster Connector branches west from Route 2 at Exit 19 en route to Mechanic Street. 08/21/21

I-190 north at Route 2 - Leominster, MA

Interstate 190 passes underneath Johnny Appleseed Lane a half mile south of Exit 12 B for Route 2 east toward Boston and the Leominster Connector west. 08/21/21

I-190 north at Route 2 - Leominster, MA

Route 2 travels 11.5 miles east from I-190 to Interstate 495 in the town of Littleton. The freeway continues 4.5 miles further to Route 111 at Acton. 08/21/21

I-190 north at Route 2 - Leominster, MA

Exit 19 B separates with the connection to Mechanic Street west. Downtown Leominster lies 2.2 miles away along Route 12. 08/21/21

I-190 north at Route 2 - Leominster, MA

An end shield for Interstate 190 stands ahead of the left side merge with Route 2 westbound ahead of Fitchburg. Route 2 travels 15 miles west to the city of Gardner. 06/28/05

Massachusetts Route 2 East at I-190

Route 2 east at I-190 - Leominster, MA

Forthcoming I-190 runs along the east side of Leominster. Sterling lies 5.5 miles to the south, followed by Worcester in 19 miles. 03/23/23

Route 2 east at I-190 - Leominster, MA

Massachusetts Route 2 spans the Nashua River a half mile west of Exit 101 for Interstate 190 south. 03/23/23

Route 2 east at I-190 - Leominster, MA

A third lane opens along Route 2 (George Stanton Highway) eastbound for Exit 101 to I-190 south. 03/23/23

Route 2 east at I-190 - Leominster, MA

Nashua Street passes underneath Route 2 at the separation of Exit 101 for Interstate 190 south. Exit 101 (formerly Exit 33) connects with the adjacent street just ahead. 03/23/23

I-190 south at Leominster Connector

A begin Interstate 190 assembly stands just beyond the gore point at Exit 101. 03/23/23

I-190 south at Leominster Connector

The first exit from I-190 departs for Nashua Street. Nashua Street parallels Route 2 south from Route 13 (Main Street) to the Leominster Connector. 03/23/23

Massachusetts Route 2 / Leominster Connector – West at I-190

Route 2 west at I-190 - Lancaster, MA

Route 2 advances west from Route 70 (Lunenburg Road) in the town of Lancaster to the Leominster Connector linking with Interstate 190. 03/23/23

Route 2 west at I-190 - Lancaster, MA

Beyond the Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center, Route 2 passes north of Pond Hill leading into the exchange with Interstate 190. 03/23/23

Route 2 east at I-190 - Leominster, MA

Exit 102 departs for Harvard Street north of Old Turnpike Road / Mechanic Street a half mile ahead of Exit 101 for Interstate 190 south. Wachusett Mountain appears on the western horizon. 03/23/23

Route 2 east at I-190 - Leominster, MA

Exit 101 leaves Route 2 west at the first of three interchanges for the city of Leominster. The freeway along Route 2 extends 37 miles west to the town of Erving. 03/23/23

Leominster Connector west at I-190

The connection from Route 2 west at Exit 101 to I-190 south utilizes the Leominster Connector. 08/21/21

Leominster Connector west at I-190

A loop ramp links the Leominster Connector and Route 2 west with Interstate 190 south to Worcester. 08/21/21

Leominster Connector – East at I-190 Massachusetts Route 2

Leominster Connector east at I-190

The Leominster Connector enters the exchange with I-190 and Route 2 east of Nashua Street and the Nashua River. Departing first is the southbound entrance ramp to Worcester. 08/21/21

Leominster Connector east at I-190

A loop ramp follows from the Leominster Connector east to the northern end of Interstate 190 at Route 2 west. 08/21/21

South End I-290 – Worcester, Massachusetts

I-190 South at I-290

I-190 south at I-290 - Worcester, MA

An end sign for Interstate 190 south stands within the diamond interchange (Exit 2) for Ararat Street, east of Indian Hill. This is the oldest section of I-190. 03/23/23

I-190 south at I-290 - Worcester, MA

Interstate 190 straddles eastern reaches of Indian Lake ahead of Exit 1 to Route 12 (Boylston Street / Gold Star Boulevard). I-290 lies 1.5 miles further. 03/23/23

I-190 south at I-290 - Worcester, MA

A wye interchange brings traffic from Bolyson Street south onto Interstate 190 from the Greendale Mall area in north Worcester. The freeway proceeds one half mile south to Interstate 290. 03/23/23

I-190 south at I-290 - Worcester, MA

Entering the three wye interchange with Interstate 290, a left exit departs for Route 70 (Lincoln Street), Shrewsbury and Marlboro. 03/23/23

I-190 south at I-290 - Worcester, MA

The I-190 mainline continues south directly onto I-290 (Worcester Expressway) ahead of Downtown Worcester. 03/23/23

I-290 North at I-190

I-290 north at I-190 - Worcester, MA

Heading north from Downtown Worcester, Interstate 290 advances to ramps for both I-190 north to Leominster and Melrose Street east to Route 70 (Lincoln Street). This overhead assembly was removed by 2022. 08/21/21

I-290 north at I-190 - Worcester, MA

One mile south of the split with I-190 north on I-290 east at Route 9 (Belmont Street). Route 70 (Lincoln Street) parallels Interstate 290 east from Downtown to Great Brook Valley. 03/23/23

I-290 north at I-190 - Worcester, MA

Route 12 runs northward from the central business district alongside Interstate 190 to Leominster. The town of Holden lies northwest of I-190 along Route 122A. 03/23/23

I-290 north at I-190 - Worcester, MA

Three lanes continue along Interstate 290 east toward Shrewsbury at the exchange (Exit 22) with I-190 north. 03/23/23

I-290 north at I-190 - Worcester, MA

The flyover for I-190 (Left Exit 22) separates from Exit 23 to Burncoat Street and Route 70 (Lincoln Street) just beyond the gore point on Interstate 290 east. 08/21/21

I-290 West at I-190

I-290 west at I-190 - Worcester, MA

A split diamond interchange (Exit 23) with Route 70 (Lincoln Street) precedes the south end of Interstate 190 at Exit 22. 08/21/21

I-290 west at I-190 - Worcester, MA

Crossing over Route 70 (Lincoln Street), one half mile ahead of the three-wye interchange (Exit 19) with Interstate 190 north. I-190 links I-290 with nearby Route 12, a parallel state route running north from Worcester to West Boylston and Leominster. 08/21/21

I-290 west at I-190 - Worcester, MA

Previous guide signs for I-190 referenced Fitchburg instead of Sterling and Leominster. I-290 turns south from this exchange (Exit 22) toward Auburn. 08/21/21

I-190 North

I-190 north at I-290 - Worcester, MA

Begin Interstate 190 marker posted ahead of the wye interchange (Exit 1) for Route 12 (Gold Star Boulevard) north. Fitchburg is 24 miles to the north via I-190 and Route 2 west. 08/21/21

Sources:

  • “Route 52 Now Called ‘Interstate’.” Fitchburg Sentinel (MA), May 1, 1973.
  • “Early Area Start Predicted for North-South Freeway.” Fitchburg Sentinel (MA), June 15, 1973.
  • “I-190 Starts.” Fitchburg Sentinel (MA), August 15, 1975.
  • “Pact Awarded for Worcester Leg of I-190.” Fitchburg Sentinel (MA), January 10, 1976.
  • Interstate 190 (Massachusetts). BostonRoads.com.

Page updated April 3, 2023.