Interstate 290 (Massachusetts)

I-290 begins as the continuation of I-395 in Auburn with exits to I-90, Route 12, and the Auburn Mall. I-290 continues north through Worcester into downtown, where Route 146 splits off to the southeast toward Providence, Rhode Island, and I-190 to the north toward the Leominster–Fitchburg area. After Route 146, I-290 has exits for Route 122A, Route 122, downtown, and Route 9. After I-190, I-290 presumes east to a junction with Route 70, then continues over Quinsigamond Lake into Shrewsbury, where it goes northeast. Here, the scenery changes drastically from the Worcester urban area to more wooded areas in Shrewsbury and Northborough. I-290 has a junction with Route 140 and starts east into Boylston and Northborough, where it travels northeast again. I-290 enters Marlborough with an exit for the Solomon Pond Mall and has its final junction with I-495, where it becomes the Route 85 Connector, which continues into Hudson.

Originally, I-290 was to rejoin I-90 in Westborough, roughly where I-495 sits now. However, this route would have run through the town centers of Shrewsbury and Northborough. Additionally, I-290 was intended to be extended past I-495 to I-95/Route 128 in Waltham, but this was canceled under pressure from towns along the planned route. A brief two-lane connector heads to Route 85 as a result of this aborted plan. The interchange with I-495 was originally supposed to be a cloverleaf, but, after the plan was canceled, it was modified with a flyover ramp onto I-495 northbound. In 2004, the former exit 12 (current exit 16) was temporarily closed when the Route 146 highway was under construction between the Massachusetts Turnpike and I-290. It was completed in 2007.

While Massachusetts has used sequential exit numbers since 1964,{{cite web |url = https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2016/04/08/massachusetts-highway-exit-numbers-massdot/ |title = Many Massachusetts Highway Exit Numbers Could Soon Change |last = Clauss |first = Kyle Scott |work = Boston Magazine |date = April 8, 2016 |access-date = June 28, 2018 }} the 2009 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices required that all US states submit plans to transition to milepost-based exit numbering by 2012.{{cite news |url = http://www.telegram.com/article/20160319/NEWS/160329942 |title = Watchdog Report: No signs yet from state on exit-conversion launch |last = Thompson |first = Elaine |newspaper = Telegram & Gazette |location = Worcester, MA |date = March 19, 2016 |access-date = June 28, 2018 }} All interchanges were to be renumbered to milepost-based numbers under a project scheduled to start in 2016.{{cite web|author=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|year=2015|title=COMMBUYS - Bid Solicitation FAP# HSIP-002S(874) Exit Signage Conversion to Milepost-Based Numbering System along Various Interstates, Routes and the Lowell Connector |url=https://www.commbuys.com/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?docId=BD-16-1030-0H100-0H002-00000005477&external=true&parentUrl=bid|access-date=January 5, 2016}} However, this project was indefinitely postponed until November 18, 2019, when MassDOT confirmed that the exit renumbering project will begin, and "dual" milemarkers with I-395 mileage will be installed, in late mid-2020. On July 29, 2021, MassDOT announced that the exit renumbering on I-395 and I-290 will start on August 8, and it lasted for two weeks.{{cite web|author=Robert H. Malme|year=2017|title=Massachusetts Interstate Highways Exit Lists|url=http://www.malmeroads.net/mass21c/intexits.html|access-date=January 18, 2017}} The department had stated that it would consider redesignating I-290 as an extension of I-395 if both the exit numbering project and dual mile markers are well-received by motorists.{{cite web|url=http://www.malmeroads.net/mass21c/i290exits.html|title=I-290 MA Exit List|last=Malme|first=Robert H.|publisher=Malme Roads|date=December 14, 2019|access-date=May 13, 2020}}

By 2022, the dual mile markers were removed. Today, the mile markers along I-290 are marked with I-290 shields but represent the I-395/I-290 route as one.

Exit numbers on I-290 are a continuation of I-395 exit numbers.

{{jcttop

| old| state = MA

| location_ref = {{cite web |url = https://gis.massdot.state.ma.us/mrla/ |title = MassDOT Route Log Application |publisher = Massachusetts Department of Transportation |access-date = November 21, 2019 }}

| length_ref =

| old_ref = {{cite web |url = https://www.mass.gov/service-details/major-highway-routes-and-exits |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191015140309/https://www.mass.gov/service-details/major-highway-routes-and-exits |title = Major highway routes and exits |publisher = Massachusetts Department of Transportation |archive-date = October 15, 2019 |access-date = November 21, 2019 }}

| exit_ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.newmassexits.com/MassDOT_Documents/Project_Documents/I-395_and_I-290.pdf|title=I-395 & I-290 Renumbering|publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation|date=December 5, 2019|access-date=December 5, 2019}}

}}

{{MAint|old

| county = Worcester

| cspan = 23

| location = Auburn

| lspan = 5

| mile = 0.000

| old = —

| exit = —

| type =

| road = {{jct|state=MA|I|395|dir1=south|US|20|to3=To|Route|146|name3=Route 122A|location1=Norwich, CT|location2=New London, CT}}

| notes = Continuation south

}}

{{MAint|old

| type =

| mile = 0.347

| old = 7

| exit = 12A

| road = {{jct|state=MA|I|90|MATP||Route|12|dir3=north|city1=Boston|city2=Springfield|city3=Auburn}}

| notes = Eastbound exit signed as exit 12 to Route 12 south; westbound exit to Route 12 north; exit 90 on I-90 / Mass Pike

}}

{{MAint|old

| type = incomplete

| mile = 0.070

| old = 8

| exit = 12B

| road = {{jct|state=MA|Route|12|dir1=south|city1=Auburn|city2=Webster}}

| notes = Westbound exit only

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 0.930

| old = 9

| ospan = 2

| exit = 13

| espan = 2

| road = {{jct|state=MA|road|Swanson Road|city1=Auburn|to2=yes|MA|12}}

| notes = Eastbound signage

}}

{{MAint

| mile = 1.700

| road = {{jct|state=MA|road|Auburn Street|city1=Auburn|to2=yes|MA|12}}

| notes = Westbound signage

}}

{{MAint|old

| location = Worcester

| lspan = 13

| type = incomplete

| mile = 3.358

| old = 10

| exit = 14

| road = {{jct|state=MA|Route|12|dir1=north|name1=Hope Avenue}}

| notes = Westbound exit and eastbound entrance

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 3.565

| old = 11

| exit = 15

| road = College Square / Federal Square / Southbridge Street

| notes = Signed for Route 146, Millbury eastbound, and Route 12 South westbound.

}}

{{MAint|old

| type = incomplete

| mile = 4.611

| old = 12

| exit = 16

| road = {{jct|Route|146|dir1=south|to2=2|state=MA|I|90|MATP|city1=Millbury|location2=Providence, RI}}

| notes = Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; former configuration had complete access via a rotary

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 5.265

| old = 13

| exit = 17

| road = {{jct|state=MA|Route|122A|name1=Vernon Street|location1=Kelley Square}}

| notes = Serves Polar Park

}}

{{MAint|old

| type = incomplete

| mile = 5.638

| old = 14

| exit = 18

| road = {{jct|state=MA|Route|122|name1=Grafton Street|city1=Grafton|city2=Paxton}}

| notes = No westbound entrance

}}

{{MAint|old

| type = incomplete

| mile = 5.810

| old = 15

| exit = 19

| road = Shrewsbury Street

| notes = Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 6.137

| old = 16

| exit = 20

| road = MLK Jr. Boulevard – Downtown Worcester

| notes = Serves Union Station, Saint Vincent Hospital, DCU Center, and Polar Park

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 6.572

| ospan = 2

| old = 17

| espan = 2

| exit = 21

| road = {{jct|state=MA|Route|9|to2=2|Route|70|dir2=north|name1=Belmont Street|location1=Lincoln Square|extra=Airport|location2=Worcester Regional Airport}}

| notes = Eastbound signage

}}

{{MAint|

| mile = 6.980

| road = {{jct|state=MA|Route|70|dir1=north|to2=2|Route|9|location1=Lincoln Square|extra=Airport|location2=Worcester Regional Airport}}

| notes = Westbound signage

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 7.377

| old = 19

| exit = 22

| road = {{jct|state=MA|I|190|dir1=north|to2=2|Route|12|city1=Sterling|city2=Leominster|city3=Fitchburg}}

| notes = Southern terminus of I-190; eastbound exit is combined with exit 23

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 7.377

| old = 20

| ospan = 2

| exit = 23

| espan = 2

| road = File:MA Route 70.svg Burncoat Street to Route 70 (Lincoln Street)

| notes = Eastbound signage; combined exit ramp with exit 22

}}

{{MAint|

| mile = 8.421

| road = {{jct|state=MA|Route|70|name1=Lincoln Street}}, Burncoat St

| notes = Westbound signage

}}

{{MAint|old

| type = incomplete

| mile = 9.641

| old = 21

| exit = 24

| road = {{jct|state=MA|road|Plantation Street|city1=Worcester}}

| notes = Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

}}

{{MAint|old

| location = Shrewsbury

| lspan = 2

| mile = 10.173

| old = 22

| exit = 25

| road = {{jct|state=MA|road|Main Street|city1=Shrewsbury|city2=Worcester}}

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 12.685

| old = 23

| exit = 26

| road = {{jct|state=MA|Route|140|city1=Shrewsbury|city2=Boylston}}

| notes = Signed as exits 26A (south) and 26B (north)

}}

{{MAint|old

| location = Northborough

| lspan = 3

| mile = 14.855

| old = 24

| exit = 27

| road = {{jct|state=MA|road|Church Street|city1=Northborough|areadab1=CDP|city2=Boylston}}

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 17.913

| old = 25A

| exit = 30A

| road = {{jct|state=MA|road|Hudson Street|city1=Northborough|areadab1=CDP}}

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = 17.925

| old = 25B

| exit = 30B

| road = {{jct|state=MA|road|Solomon Pond Mall Road|city1=Berlin}}

| notes = To Solomon Pond Mall; exit partially located in Marlborough

}}

{{MAint|old

| county = Middlesex

| cspan = 2

| location = Marlborough

| lspan = 2

| old = 26

| exit = 32

| mile = 20.16

| mspan = 2

| road = {{jct|state=MA|I|495|city1=Cape Cod|city2=Lowell}}

| notes = Signed as exits 32A (south) and 32B (north); exit 65B on I-495

}}

{{MAint|old

| mile = none

| old = —

| exit = —

| road = {{jct|state=MA|to1=to|Route|85|city1=Hudson|areadab1=CDP}}

| notes = Eastern terminus; access via Route 85 Connector{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/42.3637771,-71.5837487/42.3712321,-71.5691026/@42.3691474,-71.5811337,14.75z|title=Route 85 Connector|access-date=August 10, 2015|date=August 10, 2015}}

}}

{{Jctbtm|old|keys=incomplete,etc}}

File:Worcester station platforms, May 1976.jpg|The I-290 viaduct at Union Station in 1976

File:Worcester Massachusetts.jpg|The I-290/Route 146 junction seen under construction as well as downtown Worcester from above looking north

File:Orson the Bear Polar.JPG|Orson the bear, the mascot of Polar Beverages, is a prominent landmark visible from I-290 in Worcester

{{Reflist}}

{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}

{{Commons cat|Interstate 290 (Massachusetts)}}

• [https://www.mass.gov/orgs/highway-division MassDOT Highway Division website]
• [http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/I-290_MA/ The Roads of Metro Boston: Worcester Expressway (I-290)]

{{3di|90}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Interstate 90-2 (Massachusetts))}}

90-2 Massachusetts

90-2

Category:Transportation in Worcester County, Massachusetts

Category:Transportation in Middlesex County, Massachusetts

2 (Massachusetts)

Category:Transportation in Worcester, Massachusetts