Interstate 290 Massachusetts

Interstate 290 Massachusetts
Auburn, MA ↔ Connector – Marlborough, MA•20.16 miles

Overview

Interstate 290 forms a loop connecting the city of Worcester south with the Mass Pike (Interstate 90) at Auburn and east to I-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.

$6 million in construction at the east end of I-290 in Marlborough widens the entrance ramp from I-495 northbound to two lanes. Work runs through November 2023 (Sullivan, 2022).

Mileage by State

Massachusetts20.16 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

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 (Anderson, n.d.).

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.
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 (Anderson, n.d.).
1969 map showing I-290 under construction from Worcester east to Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Interstate 290 under construction east from Worcester to Marlborough, Massachusetts in 1969.

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 (Anderson, n.d.).

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.

Mileage by State

Massachusetts20.16 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

East End Interstate 495 Massachusetts Route 85 ‐ Connector – Marlborough, MA

Interstate 290 East at Interstate 495 Massachusetts Route 85 Connector

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

A pair of end signs stand ahead of the Whitney Street overpass, three miles from the exchange with I-495 and Route 85 Connector. 03/23/23

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

Massachusetts Route 85 Connector – West at Interstate 290 Interstate 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. 03/23/23

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

Interstate 495 North at Interstate 290 Massachusetts Route 85 Connector

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

West End Interstate 90 Massachusetts Turnpike Interstate 395 ‐ Auburn, MA

Interstate 290 West at Interstate 90 Massachusetts Turnpike Interstate 395

I-290 west two miles from I-90/Mass Pike in Auburn.

I-290 converges with I-90 (Mass Pike) and I-395 alongside Route 12 in the town of Auburn. 03/23/23

I-290 west two miles from I-90/Mass Pike in Auburn. I-290 east one mile from Exit 12 A to Route 12 and I-90 in Auburn, MA. I-290 west at I-90, a half mile from Route 12 to the Mass Pike. I-290 ends / I-395 begins sign in Auburn, MA.

Interstate 395 North at Interstate 90 Massachusetts Turnpike Interstate 290

I-395 one mile south of I-90 (Mass Pike) and I-290.

Interstate 395 north transitions into I-290 east beyond the cloverleaf interchange (Exit 11) with U.S. 20 (Washington Street) in the town of Auburn. 03/23/23

I-395 one mile south of I-90 (Mass Pike) and I-290. I-395 north a half mile from Route 12 to I-90 (Mass Pike). End signs for I-395 north in Auburn, MA. I-395 north at I-290 in 2005. I-290 east extends north from I-395 and the Mass Pike into Worcester, MA. The access road connecting I-290/395 with I-90 on the Mass Pike.

Interstate 90 Massachusetts Turnpike East at Interstate 290 Interstate 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 90) for I-290 east and I-395 south. 03/27/23

I-90/Mass Pike east at I-290/395 - Oxford, MA I-90/Mass Pike east at I-290/395 - Auburn, MA I-90/Mass Pike east at I-290/395 - Auburn, MA I-90/Mass Pike east at I-290/395 - Auburn, MA I-90/Mass Pike at I-295/390 - Auburn, MA

Interstate 90 Massachusetts Turnpike West at Interstate 290 Interstate 395

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

One mile east of the trumpet interchange (Exit 90) 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 I-90/Mass Pike west at I-290/395 - Auburn, MA

West End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 90 Massachusetts Turnpike East at Interstate 290 Interstate 395

I-90 east at I-290/395/Route 12 - 2011

The exchange with I-290/395 and Route 12 in the town of Auburn was originally Exit 10. Photo by Doug Kerr (11/20/11).

I-90 east at I-290/395/Route 12 - 2011 I-90 east at I-290/395/Route 12 - 2011

References

  1. Anderson, S. (n.d.). Worcester Expressway (I-290). BostonRoads.com. Retrieved from http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/I-290_MA/
  2. Sullivan, M. (2022, November 16). State prepares for $400M interchange replacement. Community Advocate. Retrieved from https://www.communityadvocate.com/2022/11/16/state-prepares-for-400m-interchange-replacement/
Updated April 3, 2023