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Interstate 290 Massachusetts

Photo taken by Shawn De Cesari

Interstate 190 & 290 Massachusetts Map - Interstate-Guide.com

Routing

Interstate 290 in Massachusetts connects Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike with the city of Worcester and to points northeast via Interstate 495. The western terminus of Interstate 290 is also the northern terminus of Interstate 395. Interstate 395 travels south from this point into Connecticut, and it connects with Interstate 95 in Eastern Connecticut. Interstates 395, 290, and 190 form a major north-south freeway corridor in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Mileage

State Mileage Cities Junctions
Massachusetts 20.16 Worcester Interstate 90/395, Interstate 190, Interstate 495
Source: October 31, 2002 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-290 Massachusetts Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

County From: To: AADT Composite Year
Worcester Exit 7/8 Interstate 90/Mass Pike & MA 12 Auburn Exit 9 Auburn Street Auburn 87,559 2002
Worcester Exit 9 Auburn Street Auburn Exit 10 Hope Avenue 85,891 2002
Worcester Exit 10 Hope Avenue Exit 11 College & Southbridge Sts. Federal Square 105,014 2002
Worcester Exit 11 College & Southbridge Sts. Federal Square Exit 12 MA 146 south Brosnihan Square Millbury 97,486 2000
Worcester Exit 12 MA 146 south Brosnihan Square Millbury Exit 13 MA 122A Vernon Street College Square n/a n/a
Worcester Exit 13 MA 122A Vernon Street College Square Exit 14 MA 122 Barre Uxbridge n/a n/a
Worcester Exit 14 MA 122 Barre Uxbridge Exit 15 Shrewsbury Street n/a n/a
Worcester Exit 15 Shrewsbury Street Exit 17 MA 9 Ware Framingham 123,088 2002
Worcester Exit 17 MA 9 Ware Framingham Exit 18 MA 70 Lincoln & Concord Sts. 113,300 1998
Worcester Exit 18 MA 70 Lincoln & Concord Sts. Exit 19 Interstate 190 117,014 2002
Worcester Exit 19 Interstate 190 Exit 20 nb Burncoat Street 73,100 1996
Worcester Exit 20 nb Burncoat Street Exit 20 sb MA 70 Lincoln St. 90,380 2002
Worcester Exit 20 sb MA 70 Lincoln St. Exit 21 Plantation Street 99,842 2000
Worcester Exit 21 Plantation Street Exit 22 Main St. Shrewsbury 71,900 2001
Worcester Exit 22 Main St. Shrewsbury Exit 23 MA 140 Shrewsbury Boylston 83,400 2001
Worcester Exit 23 MA 140 Shrewsbury Boylston Exit 24 Church St. Northboro Boylston 76,700 2001
Worcester Exit 24 Church St. Northboro Boylston Exit 25 Hudson St. & Solomon Pond Mall Rd. 73,200 2001
Worcester/ Middlesex Exit 25 Hudson St. & Solomon Pond Mall Rd. Exit 26 Interstate 495 & MA 85 71,200 2002
Source: Mass Highway Traffic Volume Counts (2002)
Exit information provided by I-290 @ ShadyJay.com
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Western Terminus - Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike and Interstate 395 - south of Worcester, Massachusetts
Perspective from Interstate 290 west
Interstate 290 westbound at the Swanson Road overpass near Stoneville. Posted here is a diagrammatical overhead displaying the ramp configuration to Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street) and Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) and transition into Interstate 395 south. Massachusetts 12 parallels Interstate 290 southward from downtown Worcester to Auburn and junction U.S. 20. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Advisory signage for the switch from Interstate 290 west to Interstate 395 south is in place before the freeway reaches the Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike interchange. A similar sign can be found on Interstate 395 northbound. Other instances in the Interstate system where two routes terminate at the same location include Interstate 195 and 495 at Wareham, Massachusetts and Interstates 64, 264, and 664 at Suffolk, Virginia. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
One-half mile north of the conclusion of Interstate 290 west and the beginning of Interstate 395 south. The Exit 7 connection between Interstates 290 & 395 and Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) features ramps to Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street). Massachusetts 12 travels between the Mass Pike and U.S. 20 (Washington Street) in an west-west fashion through Auburn. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
The last Interstate 290 westbound exit - Exit 7 for Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike & Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street). The exit numbering convention of Interstate 395 continues the Interstate 290 numbers to avoid motorist confusion. Exit 6B for U.S. 20 (Washington Street) westward is 700 feet to the south and is the second of three ramps to serve the town of Auburn. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
A directional ramp departs Interstate 290 westbound for Interstate 90 & Massachusetts 12. Pictured here is the ramp split for Southbridge Street north from the roadway bound for the Mass Pike. The exit is the last before the toll plaza. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
After passing through the Mass Pike toll plaza (Exit 10), drivers partition into the respective ramps for Interstate 90 east and west. Interstate 90 next meets U.S. 20 & Massachusetts 146 to the east and Interstate 84 to the west. Travelers merging onto Interstate 90 from Interstate 395 northbound use the same ramps to the Mass Pike. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Perspective from Interstate 395 north
Interstate 395 northbound nears the full-cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 20 (Washington Street) at Exits 6A/B. Through traffic bound for the transition to Interstate 290 east is advised to move to the left lane to avoid the weaving traffic from the Washington Street ramps. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Exit 6B onto U.S. 20 (Washington Street) westbound departs Interstate 395 northbound three quarters of a mile south of the transition to Interstate 290 east. Exit 7 constitutes the connection to Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) from Interstate 395 northbound by way of Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street) south. Massachusetts 12 sees an on-ramp to Interstate 90 after its intersection with Oxford Street west of Interstates 290 & 395. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
A left-hand on-ramp merges onto Interstate 395 northbound from the Massachusetts Turnpike toll plaza (Exit 10). A pair of end signs reside at the merge that usher the transition from Interstate 395 north to Interstate 290 east. Interstate 290 splits from Interstate 190 11 miles to the north. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Exit 7 departs Interstate 290 eastbound for the connection to Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) by way of Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street) south. Massachusetts 12 merges with U.S. 20 through West Auburn. Interstate 290 meanwhile continues north alongside Massachusetts 12 seven miles into downtown Worcester. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Perspective from Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike east
Salt residue coats the roadway of Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike eastbound as it draws within two miles of Exit 10 for Interstate 290 east/Interstate 395 south. The control points are local in that Auburn is where Exit 10 is located and Worcester is only three miles to the north. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (2/00).
Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike eastbound at Exit 10 for the joint termini of Interstate 290/395. Massachusetts 12 is included on this signage as the state highway straddles the two Interstates from Auburn northward into Worcester. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (4/19/02).
Drivers pass through the Exit 10 toll plaza and quickly encounter a partial-cloverleaf interchange with Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street). Massachusetts 12 provides a direct connection to U.S. 20 (Southbridge Road) through West Auburn, Charlton, and Sturrbridge. Remaining traffic continues to the northbound ramp to Massachusetts 12 and Interstates 290 & 395. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Next to depart is the loop ramp onto Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street) northbound to downtown Auburn and Worcester. Drivers bound for U.S. 20 should continue to the Interstate 395 southbound off-ramp ahead. Interstate 395 meets U.S. 20 (Washington Street) at Exits 6A/B south of Interstates 90 and 290. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Continuing past the Massachusetts 12 northbound ramp is the split for Interstate 290 east to Worcester and Interstate 395 south to Norwich, Connecticut. Interstate 395 reaches Oxford (via Sutton Avenue) in five miles and Webster (junction Massachusetts 16) in nine miles. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Perspective from Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike west
The first guide sign posted along Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) westbound for Interstate 290 east, Interstate 395 south, and Massachusetts 12 (Exit 10). Six miles separates Exit 10 from the Exit 10A junction with U.S. 20 & Massachusetts 146 near Millbury. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
One mile east of the Exit 6 trumpet interchange with Interstates 290 & 395 and Massachusetts 12 (Southbridge Street) at Auburn. Interstate 290 connects the Mass Pike with Worcester to the north and Interstate 395 with Oxford to the south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) crosses over Massachusetts 12 and Interstate 290 ahead of the Exit 10 ramp departure. Downtown Auburn resides just east of the Interstate 290 & 395 junction with Massachusetts 12. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Exit 10 leaves Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) westbound for Interstate 290 east, Interstate 395 south, and Massachusetts 12 to U.S. 20. Interstate 395 heads 53 miles southwest to Norwich, Connecticut, and 67 miles to junction Interstate 95 near New London. Traffic from Interstate 90 west and east merge at the Exit 10 toll plaza (see photos from the eastbound I-90 perspective for the ramps to I-290 & 395). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Eastern Terminus - Interstate 495 - east of South Berlin, Massachusetts
Perspectives from Interstate 290
The first sign of the impending end of Interstate 290 lies ahead of the Exit 25A/B six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with Solomons Pond and Mall Roads. The watched for stopped traffic ahead relates to the sharp ramp onto Interstate 495 northbound and the two-lane Hudson Street connector to Marlborough and Hudson. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Exit 25B loops onto Solomons Pond Road north to Mall Road for the nearby Solomon Pond Mall, two miles west of the junction with Interstate 495. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
The right-hand lane defaults onto Interstate 495 southbound toward its terminus at Cape Cod. Interstate 495 travels seven miles south to junction Interstate 90, and 65 miles to junction Interstate 195 & Massachusetts 25 at Wareham. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
A sign bridge carries a diagrammatical overhead for the Exit 26B left-hand off-ramp to Interstate 495 north and Hudson Street connector east to Fitchburg Street and Massachusetts 85 (Washington Street). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Exit 26B leaves Interstate 290 eastbound at the freeway transition into the two-lane Hudson Street connector. Interstate 495 curves northeast 55 miles to its merge with Interstate 95 at Amesbury. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Traveling the Hudson Street connector eastbound en route to Fitchburg Street and junction Massachusetts 85 (Washington Street). Fitchburg Street travels south to Marlborough while Washington and Broad Streets head north from Hudson Street to downtown Hudson. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Perspectives from Interstate 290 west
Hudson Street westbound at the jughandled intersection with Fitchburg Street. Fitchburg Street heads southwest to Pleasant Street and Marlborough. Hudson Street meanwhile continues west to the Interstate 290 & 495 junction. The two-lane connector between Fitchburg Street and Interstate 290 is controlled access. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Junction Interstate 290 & 495 overhead posted one mile east of the Hudson Street connector interchange with the two freeways. Pleasant Street passes underneath the freeway ahead. There is no direct access between the two roadways. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Exit 26B departs the Hudson Street connector for Interstate 495 northbound in one half mile. Interstate 495 loops northeast 26 miles to the Lowell Connector and U.S. 3, and 36 miles to junction Interstate 93 near Lawrence. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Hudson Street westbound at the ramp departure to Interstate 495 north. Interstate 495 meets Massachusetts 62 at Berlin in two miles. Exit 26A joins Interstate 495 southbound for Franklin, Taunton, and Cape Cod in one quarter mile. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
View of the westbound beginning of Interstate 290 at the cloverleaf ramp (Exit 26A) for Interstate 495 southbound. Standard on Massachusetts guide signage, the numbers within the Interstate shields retain button copy lettering. Continuing westward on Interstate 290 takes one to Worcester in 14 miles. Traffic departing on Interstate 495 south will intersect Interstate 95 in 33 miles. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Interstate 290 begin shield posted after the directional-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 495. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Perspective from Interstate 495 north
The effects of the harsh New England winters take their toll on the Interstate 290 overpasses in the form of rust as Interstate 495 passes underneath at the westbound Interstate 290 cloverleaf ramp/Exit 25B. The Blue Star Memorial Highway/Interstate 495 arcs to the northeast to the industrial city of Lowell 28 miles away. Photo taken by Jim Teresco (3/01).

Page Updated December 5, 2005.