Interstate 290 Massachusetts
Overview
Interstate 290 forms a loop connecting the city of Worcester south with the Mass Pike (Interstate 90) at Auburn and east to Interstate 495, the outer beltway for Boston, at Hudson. The western end of I-290 shares a terminal point with Interstate 395 north from Connecticut. Interstate 190 stems north from I-290 at the eastern turn from Worcester to Shrewsbury and Northborough.
History
A freeway loop north from I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) into Worcester was part of the original Interstate Highway System plans for the state of Massachusetts conveyed to the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on April 10, 1958. The Massachusetts Department of Public Works selected Route 90N for the loop because it lied north of I-90. This was revised to Interstate 290 by August 18, 1958 and included in the Interstate Urban Numerology for the state approved by AASHO on November 13, 1958.
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 east end 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 extends east from the exchange to Massachusetts Route 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 –
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
I-290 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
Source: 2019 AADT MassDOT Transportation Data Management System
Interstate 290 doubled as Route 122A (Worcester Expressway) between Quinsigamond Avenue and Route 9 (Belmont Street) when it was completed by late 1961.1
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 
Connector – Marlborough
East at Connector
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).
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).
A lane drop occurs at Exit 26A for Interstate 495 southbound toward Milford, Franklin and Mansfield. Photo by Ian Ligget (01/16/16).
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).
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).
Connector – West at
The Route 85 Connector advances 0.9 miles west from Fitchburg Street to the directional cloverleaf interchange with I-290/495. 06/28/05
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
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
Interstate 290 begin shield posted by the Bigelow Street underpass. Photo by Ian Ligget (06/28/09).
North at Connector
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
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
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
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 – Auburn, Massachusetts
West at
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
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
A lane drop occurs along I-290 westbound at Exit 7 for the Mass Pike access road. 06/28/05
Following the Mass Pike access road from I-290/395, traffic partitions with a loop ramp to Route 12 (Southbridge Street). 06/28/05
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
West at
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).
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
Inerstate 290 advances north from the Mass Pike 11 miles to I-190. Adjacent Route 12 combines with U.S. 20 through West Auburn. 06/28/05
East at
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).
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).
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).
West at
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
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).
Page updated May 30, 2022.
