Interstate 295 Massachusetts / Rhode Island

Interstate 295 Rhode Island
Interstate 295 Massachusetts
Warwick, RI ↔ Attleboro, MA•26.58 miles

Overview

Interstate 295 serves as a western bypass of Providence and Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The freeway loop had also been proposed to extend east and southward from the north end at Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Rhode Island DOT renumbered all interchanges along Interstate 295 from I-95 at Warwick north to the Massachusetts border at Cumberland. Costing $340,000, the resigning ran from north to south over a two week period starting on November 27, 2017.1 The freeway along Route 146 was scheduled to be resigned in 2018, adding mileage based exit numbers to its previously unnumbered interchange array. The Route 146 project started in Summer 2019 and was completed by the end of the year. All remaining freeways using the sequential system were to be converted by 2020.2 See the Rhode Island Highway Exit Renumbering Program web page for more details.

Mileage by State

Rhode Island22.35 mi
Massachusetts4.23 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

High Priority Corridor

Interstate 295 is part of High Priority Corridor 60: Providence Beltline Corridor.

History

Providence – 1969 Rhode Island Official Highway Map
Completed sections of Interstate 295 in 1969 extended north from I-95 to Route 37 at Cranston and west from Attleboro, Massachusetts to Route 146 at Lincoln.

Interstate 295 was approved as part of the Interstate Urban Numerology by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on November 13, 1958. I-295 was planned in 1960, with construction commencing in 1965. Work on the freeway finished in June 1975.3

Dan Moraseski writes that current Interstate 295 was always planned as I-295. The beltway east of I-95 was later changed to Interstate 895 though, perhaps when transportation officials realized it would not extend straight across I-95 at the south intersection.

The original plan for the beltway in Rhode Island originated along Route 37, likely at Interstate 295, and took the route east across the Providence River. From there the loop turned north along the East Shore Expressway to Route 114 and further to the north end of I-295. The Narragansett Bay Crossing was eventually approved in December 1968.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) requested a substitution from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for the route of I-895 in a letter dated August 23, 1973. Withdrawn was the 12 mile long route of I-895 east from I-295 in Cranston across Narragansett Bay to Warren. Substituted in its place was a 40 mile long route further south, from Interstate 95 in Richmond easterly to Newport and northerly to Warren, roughly along Route 138 and Multi State Route 136 to I-195. This was approved by the FHWA on January 17, 1974 under authorization of section 103(e)(2) of title 23, U.S. Code (Hower-Cramer Act). RIDOT requested the substitution to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on March 6, 1974.

A $6 million project realigned the ramp from Interstate 95 south to I-295 south in Attleboro to both improve geometric deficiencies and reduce truck roll overs. The project replaced the original ramp designed to accommodate a loop ramp from unconstructed I-895 north to I-95 south. Work commenced in July 2015 and was completed in Spring 2017.4,5

North End Interstate 95 ‐ Attleboro, MA

Interstate 295 North at Interstate 95

I-295 north at I-95 - Attleboro, MA

Interstate 295 concludes two miles east of U.S. 1 in North Attleborough within the city of Attleboro. 08/20/21

I-295 north at I-95 - Attleboro, MA I-295 north at I-95 - Attleboro, MA I-295 north at I-95 - Attleboro, MA I-295 north at I-95 - Attleboro, MA I-295 north at I-95 - Attleboro, MA I-295 north at I-95 - Attleboro, MA I-295 north at I-95 - Attleboro, MA

Interstate 95 South at Interstate 295

I-95 south at I-295 - Attleboro, MA

Curving southwest from I-495 and the Norfolk County line, I-95 enters North Attleborough on the two mile approach to Interstate 295 at Exit 4. 10/06/14

I-95 south at I-295 - Attleboro, MA I-95 south at I-295 - Attleboro, MA I-95 south at I-295 - Attleboro, MA I-95 south at I-295 - 2013

Interstate 95 North at Interstate 295

I-95 north at I-295 - Attleboro, MA

Advancing north from Route 123 (South Avenue), I-95 travels along side Manchester Pond to Interstate 295 south at Exit 6. 03/27/23

I-95 north at I-295 - Attleboro, MA I-95 north at I-295 - Attleboro, MA

Interstate 295 South

I-295 south at Attleboro, MA

A begin shield for Interstate 295 appears just west of the exchange with I-95 in Attleboro. The Providence Beltway is six lanes wide southwest to the overlap with U.S. 6 at Johnston, Rhode Island. 03/27/23

North End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 295 North at Interstate 95

I-295 north at I-95 - 2007

Previous overheads at the north end of I-295 with sequential based exit numbers. 07/28/07

I-295 north at I-95 - 2007 I-295 north at I-95 - 2007

South End Interstate 95 ‐ Warwick, RI

Interstate 295 South at Interstate 95

I-295 south at Route 2/113 - Cranston, RI

Two miles north of I-95 on Interstate 295 south in Cranston. 03/27/23

I-295 south at Route 2/113 - Cranston, RI I-295 south at I-95 - Warwick, RI I-295 south at I-95/Route 113 - 2005 I-295 south at I-95 - Warwick, RI

Interstate 95 North at Interstate 295

I-95 north at I-295 - Warwick, RI

Two miles south of the split with I-295 at Left Exit 28 A (old Exit 11) on Interstate 95 north in Warwick. 08/20/21

I-95 north at I-295 - Warwick, RI I-95 north at I-295 - Warwick, RI I-95 north at I-295 - Attleboro, MA I-95 north at I-295 - Warwick, RI I-95 north at I-295 - Attleboro, MA I-95 north at I-295 - Warwick, RI

Interstate 95 South at Interstate 295

I-95 south at RI 113/I-295 - Warwick

Paralleling the Pawtuxet River, Interstate 95 heads southwest from the T.F. Green Airport Connector one mile to Exits 28 C/A for Route 113 and I-295 north. 03/27/23

I-95 south at RI 113/I-295 - Warwick I-95 south at RI 113/I-295 - Warwick I-95 south at RI 113/I-295 - Warwick

South End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 95 North at Interstate 295

I-95 north at I-295 - 2001

The two mile guide sign for Interstate 295 north was replaced with a full sign bridge by 2005. Photo by Dan Moraseski (Winter 2001).

I-95 north at I-295 - 2001 I-95 north at I-295 - 2001 I-95 north at I-295 - 2001

References

  1. New exit numbers begin to appear on I-295. (2017, November 28). WJAR TV-10. Retrieved from https://turnto10.com/news/local/new-exit-numbers-begin-to-appear-on-i-295
  2. "Rhode Island set to renumber all highway exits." Providence Journal (RI), October 4, 2017
  3. Anderson, S. (n.d.). Interstate 295-Rhode Island. Boston Roads.com. Retrieved from http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/I-295_RI/
  4. "Rebuilding roads: Major area highway projects set to begin within a year." Sun Chronicle, The (North Attleboro, MA), June 15, 2015.
  5. Massachusetts Department of Transportation (massDOT). Project 606733: Attleboro - Ramp Reconstruction & Realignment, from Route I-95 (SB) to Route I-295 (SB). Retrieved from https://hwy.massdot.state.ma.us/ ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION= ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=606733.
Updated April 3, 2023