Interstate 290 (abbreviated I-290) runs for 20.16 miles (32.44 km) from Auburn, Massachusetts to Marlborough, Massachusetts. It is a continuation of I-395 north of I-90 (the Mass Pike) and runs through downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, I-190 splits off, and I-290 runs across Lake Quinsigamond and east to I-495 in Marlboro. There are buildings very close to the highway, including a grand church which faces the road (referred to locally as "Our Lady of the Highway"). Massachusetts has built a freeway connector (Route 146) from I-290 in Worcester to the Mass Pike and then south to Providence, Rhode Island.
Route description [edit]
 |
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (August 2012) |
History [edit]
Orson the bear, the mascot of
Polar Beverages, is a prominent landmark visible from I-290 in Worcester.
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 495-northbound.
Exit list [edit]
| Location |
Exit # |
Mile[2] |
Destinations |
Notes |
| Auburn |
7 |
0 |
Mass Pike    I-90 / I-395 / Route 12 |
No exit to Route 12 SB |
| 8 |
0.1 |
Route 12 – Auburn, Webster |
Westbound exit only |
| 9 |
1.4 |
Swanson Road (EB), Auburn Street (WB) – Auburn |
|
| Worcester |
10 |
3.2 |
Route 12 north (Hope Avenue) |
Westbound exit / Eastbound entrance only |
| 11 |
3.8 |
College Square, Federal Square, Southbridge Street |
|
| 12 |
4.7 |
 Route 146 south – Brosnihan Square, Millbury |
Westbound exit / Eastbound entrance only. |
| 13 |
5.3 |
 Route 122A (Vernon Street) – Kelley Square |
|
| 14 |
5.6 |
 Route 122 – Barre, Uxbridge |
No westbound entrance. |
| 15 |
5.9 |
Shrewsbury Street |
Eastbound exit / Westbound entrance only. |
| 16 |
6.1 |
MLK Jr. Boulevard – Downtown Worcester |
Amtrak/Commuter Rail station |
| 17 |
6.6 |
 Route 9 – Ware, Framingham |
Worcester Regional Airport. Eastbound exit / Westbound entrance only. |
| 18 |
6.8 |
 Route 70 To Route 9 – Ware, Framingham |
Worcester Regional Airport. Westbound exit / Eastbound entrance only. |
| 19 |
7.7 |
 I-190 – Holden, Fitchburg |
Eastbound exit is combined with exit 20 |
| 20 |
8.4 |
Route 70 (Lincoln Street), Burncoat Street |
Eastbound exit is combined with exit 19 |
| 21 |
9.6 |
Plantation Street – Worcester |
Eastbound exit / Westbound entrance only. |
| Shrewsbury |
22 |
10.2 |
Main Street – Shrewsbury, Worcester |
|
| 23A-B |
12.7 |
 Route 140 – Shrewsbury, Boylston |
|
| Northboro |
24 |
14.9 |
Church Street – Northboro, Boylston |
| 25A-B |
17.9 |
Hudson Street/Solomon Pond Mall Road – Northboro, Berlin |
| Marlboro |
26A-B |
20.0 |
 I-495 – Cape Cod, Lowell
Route 85 Connector – To  Route 85 – Hudson |
References [edit]
External links [edit]
Route map: Google / Bing
I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) / I-395 / Route 12 in Auburn
Route 146 / I-190 in Worcester
Route 9 in Worcester
Route 140 in Boylston
I-495/Route 85 Connector in Marlboro
→
Route 122A (Vernon Street) – Kelley Square
Route 122 – Barre, Uxbridge
Route 70 To Route 9 – Ware, Framingham
I-495 – Cape Cod, Lowell
Route 85 – Hudson
