Interstate 495 Massachusetts

Interstate 495 Massachusetts
Wareham, MA ↔ Salisbury, MA•121.56 miles

Overview

Interstate 495 is the outer beltway serving Boston metropolitan area commuters. Cities directly served by I-495 include Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill. The highway also provides part of a bypass route from the Mass Pike south to Cape Cod and north to the New Hampshire Seacoast.

I-495 was the longest three-digit Interstate highway until 1996, when I-476 in Pennsylvania was extended north from Plymouth Meeting to Clarks Summit.

I-495 north at I-90 / Mass Pike - Westborough, MA
Interstate 495 north at the trumpet interchange and access road to the Mass Pike at Westborough. 10/06/14

Mileage by State

Massachusetts120.80 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2025 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

Major Projects

I-495/I-90 Interchange Improvements

A five year project upgrades the interchange joining I-90/495 at the towns of Hopkinton and Westborough. With the Mass Pike switch to all electronic tolling (AET) on October 28, 2016, the toll plaza between the two trumpet interchanges linking the beltway and toll road was no longer needed. The removal of the toll barrier allows for the addition of flyovers and other high speed ramps to eliminate some of the weaving traffic patterns currently in place. Previously though to begin as early as 2021, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (massDOT) provided an update on the design-build project on November 3, 2022.2

Commencing in May 2022, design work for the new exchange runs through December 2024. Preliminary work got underway in October 2022. Work also expands I-495 northbound by a fourth lane between the Mass Pike and Route 9,2 and replaces the Fruit Street bridge over the beltway.

History

Referred by the Massachusetts Department of Public Works as the outer circumferential highway in a letter sent to the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on April 10, 1958, the number selected for the beltway around Boston was Route 95W. The letter W was selected to indicate that the route lies west of Interstate 95. This eventually changed to Route 495, and on November 13, 1958, AASHO approved it as part of the Interstate Urban Numerology for Massachusetts. I-495 was outlined along a route north from I-95 along the Mansfield/Foxboro town line to I-95 at Salisbury.

Interstate 495 was built in segments between 1958 and 1982.1 The route ended at Interstate 95 in Foxborough from the north until June 17, 1975, when the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved the southeasterly extension to Interstate 195 at Wareham. This extension was previously approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on May 23, 1974.

With mileage gained from the cancellations of both I-95 along the Southwest and Northeast Expressways through Boston, and the Inner Belt Expressway for I-695, the I-495 extension was added to the Interstate Highway System under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 139(a) and 23 U.S.C. 139(e)(2). 14.2 miles of new construction lengthened I-495 southeast from Foxborough to the junction of Route 24/25 at Raynham. I-495 superseded an 18.5 mile long section of Route 25 from Raynham southeast to Middleborough and I-195 in Wareham. Interchanges were renumbered to start at Wareham instead of Foxborough.1

North End Interstate 95 ‐ Salisbury, MA

Interstate 495 North at Interstate 95

I-495 north at Route 110/I-95 - Amesbury, MA

Forthcoming Route 110 (Macy Street) provides a Breezewood style connection to Interstate 95 south from I-495 north. 03/27/23

I-495 north at Route 110/I-95 - Amesbury, MA I-495 north at I-95 - Amesbury, MA I-495 north at I-95 - Salisbury, MA I-495 north at Route 110/I-95 - Amesbury, MA I-495 north at Route 110/I-95 - Amesbury, MA I-495 north at Route 110/I-95 - Amesbury, MA

Interstate 95 South at Interstate 495

I-95 south at Route 286/I-495 - Salisbury, MA

The first sign for Interstate 495 south appears in the town of Seabrook, New Hampshire, two miles ahead of the split from I-95 south. 03/27/23

I-95 south at Route 286/I-495 - Salisbury, MA I-95 south at Route 286/I-495 - Salisbury, MA I-95 south at I-495 - Salisbury, MA I-95 south at I-495 - Salisbury, MA

Interstate 95 North at Interstate 495

I-95 north at Route 110 - Amesbury, MA

I-95 crosses the Merrimack River north ahead of the cloverleaf interchange (Exit 88) with Route 110. Route 110 west links I-95 north with I-495 south. 08/21/21

I-95 north at Route 110 - Amesbury, MA I-95 north at Route 110 - Amesbury, MA I-95 north at I-495 - Salisbury, MA

Interstate 495 South

I-495 south - Amesbury, MA

Leading away from Interstate 95, a begin shield stands along I-495 south by the Amesbury town line. Photo by H.B. Elkins (06/01/13).

North End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 495 North at Interstate 95

I-495 north at Route 110/I-95 - 2007

Replaced overheads at old Exit 55 for Route 110 (Macy Street) to I-95 south. 07/30/07

I-495 north at Route 110/I-95 - 2007 I-495 north at Route 110/I-95 - 2001 I-495 north at Route 110/I-95 - 2001

South End Interstate 195 Massachusetts Route 25 ‐ Wareham, MA

Interstate 495 South at Interstate 195 Massachusetts Route 25

I-495 south at I-195/Route 25 - Wareham, MA

Southeast into the town of Wareham, the final two miles of Interstate 495 traverse an area of wetlands dotted by cranberry bogs. 03/27/23

I-495 south at I-195/Route 25 - Wareham, MA I-495 south at I-195/Route 25 - Wareham, MA I-495 south at I-195/Route 25 - Wareham, MA I-495 south at I-195/Route 25 - Wareham, MA I-495 south at I-195/Route 25 - Wareham, MA

Massachusetts Route 25 West at Interstate 495

Route 25 west at I-195/495 - Wareham, MA

Route 25 bee lines northwest from East Wareham to the trumpet interchange (Exit 1) joining the east end of I-195 with the south end of I-495. Photo by H.B. Elkins (05/31/13).

Route 25 west at I-195/495 - Wareham, MA Route 25 west at I-195/495 - Wareham, MA Route 25 west at I-195/495 - Wareham, MA Route 25 west at I-195/495 - Wareham, MA

References

  1. Anderson, S. (n.d.). Outer Circumferential Highway (I-495). BostonRoads.com. Retrieved from http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/I-495_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 March 31, 2023