Interstate 290 Massachusetts

Interstate 290 Massachusetts
History
East End
West End
I-190/290 Massachusetts Map

Overview

Interstate 290 forms a loop connecting the city of Worcester with the Mass Pike (Interstate 90) to the south and Interstate 495, the outer beltway for Boston, to the east at Hudson. The western end of I-290 shares a terminal point with Interstate 395 north from Connecticut. Interstate 190 stems north from the turn of I-290 from the leg through Worcester and the east-west portion to Shrewsbury, Northborough and I-495.

History

Interstate 290 opened initially by Washington Square in September, 1960. Completion of the route occurred in 1970 with the extension to Marlborough.1

Initial proposals for Interstate 290 looped the route southeast from Worcester to an end point at the confluence of Interstate 90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) and Interstate 495 in Hopkinton. This alignment shifted northward to the present course of I-290 by 1965.1

Construction of I-290 at the eastern terminus included a stub beyond the full cloverleaf interchange linking the freeway with Interstate 495. This changed by the mid-1970s with construction of the Route 85 Connector. The connector leads east from the end of I-290 to Massachusetts 85 at Technology Drive. As part of the work to build the expressway spur, the loop ramp from I-290 east to I-495 north was replaced with a sharp left side ramp.

Route Information

  • East End – Marlborough, MA

  • West End – Auburn, MA

  • Mileage – 20.16

  • Cities – Worcester, Marlborough

  • Junctions – I-90 I-395 I-190 I-495

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

I-290 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2019 AADT MassDOT Transportation Data Management System

Worcester, MA - 1963
Worcester, Massachusetts – 1963

Interstate 290 doubled as Route 122A (Worcester Expressway) between Quinsigamond Avenue and Route 9 (Belmont Street) when it was completed by late 1961.1

I-290 Worcester, MA - 1962
Worcester, Massachusetts area – excerpt from the 1962 Rand McNally North American Road Atlas

The early proposal for Interstate 290 looped the freeway southeast from Worcester to an end at the cross roads of I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) and I-495.

East End I-495 Route 85 Connector – Marlborough

I-290 East at I-495 Route 85 Connector

I-290 east at I-495/Route 85 - Marlborough, MA

Advancing east to Interstate 495, Donald Lynch Boulevard runs along the north side of I-290 to Solomon Pond Mall and other big box retail. Photo by Ian Ligget (01/16/16).

I-290 east at I-495/Route 85 - Marlborough, MA

A left exit joins Interstate 495 north to Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill in one mile. This ramp replaced a previous loop ramp to the right. Photo by Ian Ligget (01/16/16).

I-290 east at I-495/Route 85 - Marlborough, MA

A lane drop occurs at Exit 26A for Interstate 495 southbound toward Milford, Franklin and Mansfield. Photo by Ian Ligget (01/16/16).

I-290 east at I-495/Route 85 - Marlborough, MA

Interstate 495 travels seven miles to I-90 (Mass Pike) and 65 miles southeast to I-195 / Route 25 at Wareham. Photo by Ian Ligget (01/16/16).

I-290 east at I-495/Route 85 - Marlborough, MA

Exit 26B leaves Interstate 290 eastbound as the freeway transitions into the Route 85 Connector. I-495 converges with I-95, 55 miles to the northeast at Amesbury. Photo by Ian Ligget (01/16/16).

Route 85 Connector – West at I-290 I-495

Route 85 Conn west at I-290/495 - Marlborough, MA

The Route 85 Connector advances 0.9 miles west from Fitchburg Street to the directional cloverleaf interchange with I-290/495. 06/28/05

I-290 west at I-495 - Marlborough, MA

Interstate 290 westbound begins at Exit 26B. I-495 loops northeast 26 miles to the Lowell Connector and U.S. 3, and 36 miles to Interstate 93 near Lawrence. 06/28/05

I-290 west at I-495 - Marlborough, MA

The succeeding ramp (Exit 26A) joins Interstate 495 south to Franklin, Taunton and Cape Cod. Worcester lies 14 miles ahead, while I-495 meets I-95 in 33 miles. 06/28/05

I-290 west at I-495 - Marlborough, MA

Interstate 290 begin shield posted by the Bigelow Street underpass. Photo by Ian Ligget (06/28/09).

I-495 North at I-290 Route 85 Connector

I-290 west at I-495 - Marlborough, MA

Two miles south of Interstate 290 west and the Route 85 Connector east on I-495 north at the cloverleaf interchange (Exits 24A/B) with U.S. 20. U.S. 20 parallels I-290 west through the town of Northborough. 10/06/14

I-290 west at I-495 - Marlborough, MA

Interstate 495 turns northwestward ahead of Exit 25A for Route 85 Connector east to Hudson and Exit 25B for I-290 west to Solomon Pond Mall and south Berlin. 10/06/14

I-290 west at I-495 - Marlborough, MA

The Route 85 Connector constitutes a controlled access expressway extending east from I-290 to Fitchburg Street, Route 85 (Washington Street) and Technology Drive. The connector opened in the mid 1970s. 10/06/14

I-290 west at I-495 - Marlborough, MA

A loop ramp joins Route 85 Connector west as it transitions to Interstate 290. I-290 reaches Downtown Worcester in 14 miles. 10/06/14

West End I-90 I-395 – Auburn, Massachusetts

I-290 West at I-90 Mass Pike I-395

I-290 west at I-90/395 - Auburn, MA

Interstate 290 westbound at the Swanson Road overpass near Stoneville. Succeeding exit ramps depart in 1.25 miles for Oxford Street to Route 12 (Southbridge Street) and the Mass Pike access road to I-90. 06/28/05

I-290 west at I-90/395 - Auburn, MA

A pair of signs notify motorists of the designation change from I-290 westbound to I-395 southbound ahead of the Mass Pike over crossing. 06/28/05

I-290 west at I-90/395 - Auburn, MA

A lane drop occurs along I-290 westbound at Exit 7 for the Mass Pike access road. 06/28/05

I-290 west at I-90/Route 12 - Auburn, MA

Following the Mass Pike access road from I-290/395, traffic partitions with a loop ramp to Route 12 (Southbridge Street). 06/28/05

I-290 west at I-90/Mass Pike - Auburn, MA

Continuing beyond the former toll plaza for Exit 10, the entrance ramps for Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) split for Springfield and Boston. 06/28/05

I-290 West at I-90 Mass Pike I-395

I-395 north at I-90/290 - Auburn, MA

Interstate 395 north transitions into I-290 east beyond the cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 20 (Washington Street) in the town of Auburn. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/28/11).

I-395 north at I-90/290 - 2008

A pair of I-395 end signs stand ahead of the left side entrance ramp from the access road linking with I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) and Route 12 (Southbridge Street). 06/28/05

I-395 north at I-90/290 - 2008

Inerstate 290 advances north from the Mass Pike 11 miles to I-190. Adjacent Route 12 merges with U.S. 20 through West Auburn. 06/28/05

I-90 Mass Pike East at I-290 I-395

I-90/Mass Pike east at I-290/395 - Oxford, MA

The Mass Pike enters the town of Auburn from Oxford ahead of Tinker Hill and the trumpet interchange (Exit 10) for I-290 east and I-395 south. Photo by Doug Kerr (11/20/11).

I-90/Mass Pike east at I-290/395 - Auburn, MA

Two lanes depart I-90 (Mass Pike) eastbound for I-290 east to Worcester, Route 12 at Auburn and I-395 south to Webster. Photo by Doug Kerr (11/20/11).

I-90/Mass Pike at I-295/390 - Auburn, MA

Curving east along side Route 12, the Mass Pike access road from Exit 10 splits into direct ramps for I-290 east to Worcester and I-395 south to Norwich, Connecticut. Photo by Ian Ligget (08/16/11).

I-90 Mass Pike West at I-290 I-395

I-90/Mass Pike west at I-290/395 - Auburn, MA

One mile east of the trumpet interchange (Exit 10) with the access road linking I-90 with Route 12 (Southbridge Street) and I-290/395 in the town of Auburn. 06/28/05

I-90/Mass Pike west at I-290/395 - Auburn, MA

Exit 10 leaves Interstate 90 (Mass Pike) westbound for I-290 east, I-395 south, and Route 12 to U.S. 20. I-395 heads 53 miles southwest to Norwich, Connecticut, and 67 miles to I-95 near New London. Photo by Doug Kerr (06/30/13).

  1. Worcester Expressway (I-290) (Boston Roads).

Page updated November 1, 2020.