Interstate 190 Massachusetts

History
North End
South End

Routing

I-190/290 Massachusetts Map

Route Information

  • North End – Leominster, MA

  • South End – Worcester, MA

  • Mileage – 19.26

  • Cities – Worcester, Leominster

  • Junctions – I-290

Source: December 31, 2018 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-190 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

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

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.

History

FHWA officials approved the designation of Interstate 190 in 1973 for the 1970-designed Massachusetts 52 freeway north of I-290 in Worcester. Construction followed in 1975, but environmental concerns delayed completion of the route until 1983.1

North End Massachusetts 2 / Leominster Connector – Leominster, Massachusetts

Perspective from Interstate 190 north
Interstate 190 ends sign posted 1.50 miles south of the merge with Massachusetts 2 westbound in Leominster. Photo taken 06/28/05.
A directional cloverleaf interchange (Exit 8) joins the Interstate 190 north with both the Route 2 freeway and the Leominster Connector west to Downtown. The Leominster Connector branches west from Route 2 at the exchange. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Interstate 190 passes underneath Johnny Appleseed Lane a half mile south of Exit 8B for Massachusetts 2 east toward Boston and the Leominster Connector to Mechanic Street. Photo taken 06/28/05.
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. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Exit 8B separates with the connection to Mechanic Street west. Downtown Leominster lies 2.2 miles away along Route 12. Photo taken by Dan Moraseski (10/00).
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. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Perspective from Massachusetts 2 east
Massachusetts 2 spans the Nashua River a half mile west of the split with Interstate 190 south at Exit 33. Photo taken 06/28/05.
A third lane opens ahead of the separation with I-190 at Exit 33. I-190 runs along the east side of Leominster. Sterling lies 5.5 miles to the south, followed by Worcester in 19 miles. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Nashua Street passes underneath Route 2 at the ramp departure (Exit 33) for Interstate 190 south. Exit 33 connects with the adjacent street just ahead. Photo taken 06/28/05.
A begin Interstate 190 assembly stands just beyond the gore point at Exit 33. Photo taken 06/28/05.
The succeding ramp (Exit 8) departs for Nashua Street. Nashua Street parallels Route 2 south from Route 13 (Main Street) to the Leominster Connector. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Perspective from Massachusetts 2 west
Just beyond the entrance ramp from Harvard Street, Route 2 advances 0.75 miles to Interstate 190 south at Exit 33. Wachusett Mountain appears on the western horizon. Photo taken by Gary S. Peterson (02/03).
Exit 33 leaves Route 2 west at the first of three interchanges for the city of Leominster. The Route 2 freeway extends 37 miles west to the town of Erving. Photo taken by Gary S. Peterson (02/03).
The connection from Route 2 west at Exit 33 to I-190 south utilizes the Leominster Connector initially to a loop ramp for the freeway south to Worcester. Photo taken by Dan Moraseski (10/00).
Perspective from the Mechanic Street connector
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 on-ramp to Worcester. Photo taken by Dan Moraseski (10/00).
A loop ramp follows from the Leominster Connector east to the northern end of Interstate 190 at Route 2 west. Photo taken by Dan Moraseski (10/00).

South End I-290 – Worcester, Massachusetts

Perspective from Interstate 190 south
Interstate 190 straddles eastern reaches of Indian Lake ahead of Exit 1 to Massachusetts 12 (Boylston Street / Gold Star Boulevard). I-290 lies 1.5 miles further. Photo taken 06/28/05.
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. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Entering the three wye interchange with Interstate 290, a left exit departs for Route 70 (Lincoln Street), Shrewsbury and Marlboro. The I-190 mainline continues south directly onto I-290 ahead of Downtown Worcester. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Perspective from Interstate 290 west
An interchange sequence sign precedes the split diamond interchange (Exit 20) with Route 70 (Lincoln Street) and the south end of Interstate 190 at Exit 19. Photo taken 06/28/05.
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. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Interstate 290 westbound reaches Exit 19 for I-190 north to Leominster and Fitchburg. I-290 turns south from this exchange toward Auburn. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Perspective from Interstate 290 north
Heading north from Downtown Worcester, Interstate 290 approaches ramps for both I-190 north to Leominster and Melrose Street east to Route 70 (Lincoln Street). Photo taken 06/28/05.
One quarter mile south of the split with I-190 north on I-290 east. Route 70 (Lincoln Street) parallels Interstate 290 east from Downtown to Great Brook Valley. Route 12 ventures northward from the central business district alongside Interstate 190 to Leominster. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Three lanes continue along Interstate 290 east toward Shrewsbury at the exchange (Exit 19) with I-190 north. The town of Holden lies northwest of I-190 along Route 122A. Photo taken 06/28/05.
The flyover for I-190 (Exit 19) separates from Exit 20 to Burncoat Street and Route 70 (Lincoln Street) just beyond the gore point on Interstate 290 east. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Perspective from Interstate 190 north
Begin Interstate 190 marker posted ahead of the wye interchange (Exit 1) for Route 12 (Gold Star Boulevard) north. Fitchburg lies 24 miles to the north via I-190 and Route 2 west. Photo taken 06/28/05.

Sources:

Page updated February 15, 2019.