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Interstate 291 (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Interstate 291 is a short Interstate Highway in the state of Connecticut
that starts at I-91
at its junction with Route 218
in Windsor
and ends at I-84
in Manchester
. It serves as a northeastern bypass of Hartford
. The official length of I-291 is 6.4 miles (10.3 km), including 0.38 mile (0.6115492 km) of the exit ramp to the merge with eastbound I-84
.
I-291 is also known as the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Highway for its entire length.
on the Bissell Bridge
. Originally constructed in 1957, the Bissell Bridge charged a toll until 1988 when the bridge was reconstructed. It has an interchange with US 5
in S. Windsor
and ends at I-84
in a complex interchange that also includes ramps for US 6
, US 44
, and I-384
.
again in Farmington
, and end at I-91
in Rocky Hill
. While the remainder of I-291 was cancelled amidst environmental concerns, those two interchanges were built as part of I-84
and I-91
construction, and stood unused for over 20 years as ramp stubs. Half of the stack interchange
at I-84
was eventually placed in service when Route 9 was extended to run along a portion of the I-291 right of way south of I-84
in 1992. The I-91
ramp was demolished in 1999 during expansion of I-91
. The northernmost two miles (3 km) of the Route 9 expressway follows the original path of the southwest segment of I-291 from I-84
. Route 9 currently serves as the southwest quadrant around Hartford leaving only the northwest section of I-291 unbuilt.
Route 218
is a 4-lane divided arterial route serving what would have been the northwest quadrant of the I-291 beltway. Over the years there have been discussions of constructing a multi-lane surface road from the I-84
/Route 9 Stack interchange
to Route 218
to complete the northwest bypass of Hartford
, but funding and potential impacts to the reservoirs that supply Hartford
with much of its drinking water have prevented anything from being built north of I-84
. With the cancellation of the northwest quadrant of I-291, all travel between locations north and west of Hartford
must pass through the I-84
/I-91
interchange
in Downtown Hartford
. The Connecticut Department of Transportation
headquarters was built on land originally acquired for I-291 where it intersects U.S. Route 5
in Newington.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
that starts at I-91
Interstate 91 in Connecticut
Interstate 91 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the state of Connecticut. The interstate's southern end is in New Haven, Connecticut at Interstate 95.-Route description:...
at its junction with Route 218
Connecticut Route 218
Route 218 is a Connecticut state highway in the northwestern suburbs of Hartford, running in an "L" pattern from West Hartford to Windsor.-Route description:...
in Windsor
Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
and ends at I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
in Manchester
Manchester, Connecticut
Manchester is a township and city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 58,241.- History :...
. It serves as a northeastern bypass of Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. The official length of I-291 is 6.4 miles (10.3 km), including 0.38 mile (0.6115492 km) of the exit ramp to the merge with eastbound I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
.
I-291 is also known as the Vietnam Veterans
Vietnam veteran
Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War.The term has been used to describe veterans who were in the armed forces of South Vietnam, the United States armed forces, and countries allied to them, whether or...
Memorial Highway for its entire length.
Route description
Heading east from I-91, I-291 has a partial interchange with Route 159, then goes across the Connecticut RiverConnecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
on the Bissell Bridge
Bissell Bridge (Connecticut)
The Captain John Bissell Memorial Bridge carries I-291 over the Connecticut River, connecting the towns of Windsor, Connecticut and South Windsor, Connecticut. There is a pedestrian crossing on the bridge on the westbound side.-External links:...
. Originally constructed in 1957, the Bissell Bridge charged a toll until 1988 when the bridge was reconstructed. It has an interchange with US 5
U.S. Route 5 in Connecticut
U.S. Route 5 , a north–south U.S. Highway that is generally paralleled by Interstate 91, begins at the city of New Haven in Connecticut and heads north through western Massachusetts and eastern Vermont to the international border with Canada...
in S. Windsor
South Windsor, Connecticut
-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...
and ends at I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
in a complex interchange that also includes ramps for US 6
U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut
U.S. Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 within the state of Connecticut. West of Hartford, the route either closely parallels or runs along Interstate 84. Interstate 84 has largely supplanted Route 6 as a through route in western Connecticut. East of Hartford, the route serves...
, US 44
U.S. Route 44 in Connecticut
U.S. Route 44 is an east–west U.S. Highway running from Salisbury to Putnam.-Route description:From the New York state line at Salisbury to the Rhode Island state line at Putnam, US 44 runs for a total of in Connecticut. Most of US 44 is known in the state as the Jonathan Trumbull Highway...
, and I-384
Interstate 384
Interstate 384 is an Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Connecticut. It runs east to west, going from Interstate 84 in East Hartford to U.S. Route 6/U.S...
.
History
The current I-291 is only the northeastern arc of what was originally planned as a three-quarter beltway around Hartford. From Windsor, I-291 would have continued to cross I-84Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
again in Farmington
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
, and end at I-91
Interstate 91 in Connecticut
Interstate 91 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the state of Connecticut. The interstate's southern end is in New Haven, Connecticut at Interstate 95.-Route description:...
in Rocky Hill
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Rocky Hill is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 17,966 at the 2000 census. Rocky Hill was part of Wethersfield, the neighboring town to the north, until it was independently incorporated in 1849....
. While the remainder of I-291 was cancelled amidst environmental concerns, those two interchanges were built as part of I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
and I-91
Interstate 91 in Connecticut
Interstate 91 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the state of Connecticut. The interstate's southern end is in New Haven, Connecticut at Interstate 95.-Route description:...
construction, and stood unused for over 20 years as ramp stubs. Half of the stack interchange
Stack interchange
A stack interchange is a free-flowing grade separated junction between two roads.In countries where one drives on the right, left turns are handled by semi-directional flyover/under ramps...
at I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
was eventually placed in service when Route 9 was extended to run along a portion of the I-291 right of way south of I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
in 1992. The I-91
Interstate 91 in Connecticut
Interstate 91 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the state of Connecticut. The interstate's southern end is in New Haven, Connecticut at Interstate 95.-Route description:...
ramp was demolished in 1999 during expansion of I-91
Interstate 91 in Connecticut
Interstate 91 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the state of Connecticut. The interstate's southern end is in New Haven, Connecticut at Interstate 95.-Route description:...
. The northernmost two miles (3 km) of the Route 9 expressway follows the original path of the southwest segment of I-291 from I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
. Route 9 currently serves as the southwest quadrant around Hartford leaving only the northwest section of I-291 unbuilt.
Route 218
Connecticut Route 218
Route 218 is a Connecticut state highway in the northwestern suburbs of Hartford, running in an "L" pattern from West Hartford to Windsor.-Route description:...
is a 4-lane divided arterial route serving what would have been the northwest quadrant of the I-291 beltway. Over the years there have been discussions of constructing a multi-lane surface road from the I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
/Route 9 Stack interchange
Stack interchange
A stack interchange is a free-flowing grade separated junction between two roads.In countries where one drives on the right, left turns are handled by semi-directional flyover/under ramps...
to Route 218
Connecticut Route 218
Route 218 is a Connecticut state highway in the northwestern suburbs of Hartford, running in an "L" pattern from West Hartford to Windsor.-Route description:...
to complete the northwest bypass of Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, but funding and potential impacts to the reservoirs that supply Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
with much of its drinking water have prevented anything from being built north of I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
. With the cancellation of the northwest quadrant of I-291, all travel between locations north and west of Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
must pass through the I-84
Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
/I-91
Interstate 91 in Connecticut
Interstate 91 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the state of Connecticut. The interstate's southern end is in New Haven, Connecticut at Interstate 95.-Route description:...
interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
in Downtown Hartford
Downtown Hartford
The Downtown area of Hartford, Connecticut, is that city's primary business district and the center of Connecticut's state government.Downtown is home to such corporations as Travelers Insurance, The Hartford Steam Boiler, Phoenix Insurance, Prudential Retirement and United Technologies...
. The Connecticut Department of Transportation
Connecticut Department of Transportation
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The current Commissioner of ConnDOT is Jeffrey Parker...
headquarters was built on land originally acquired for I-291 where it intersects U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5 in Connecticut
U.S. Route 5 , a north–south U.S. Highway that is generally paralleled by Interstate 91, begins at the city of New Haven in Connecticut and heads north through western Massachusetts and eastern Vermont to the international border with Canada...
in Newington.