Interstate 291 (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Interstate 291 is a 5.44 miles (8.8 km) connector highway in Massachusetts
that links Interstate 91
in downtown Springfield
with Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike
) in Chicopee
. I-291 is roughly a northeast/southwest highway. It merges with I-91 at its southwestern terminus, via a flyover. The road meets the Mass Pike at its northeastern terminus. Getting onto the Pike from I-291 is straightforward, but getting from the Pike to I-291 requires a left turn at a stop light. I-291 travels directly through highly-populated areas of Springfield, and passes under several overpasses. From its southwestern terminus to exit 5A, Interstate 291 is also U.S. Route 20
.
I-291 is only 22.4 miles (36 km) from Interstate 291
in Connecticut
, and there are no intervening Interstate Highway interchanges between them. It can be easy for travelers to become confused between the two highways.
(Interstate 90
). This is an odd intersection; the mainline of I-291 ends at a stoplight, but I-291 east traffic can exit uninterrupted by way of a ramp to the Mass Pike. However, drivers coming from the Mass Pike must deal with this traffic light, as a left turn across the intersection is required to get on I-291 west.
The westbound interchange with I-91 is also a bit strange; the ramps for Exit 1A-B split before the ramps for Exits 2A-B do. Traffic bound for Exit 2A (Chestnut Street) must first take the ramp for Exit 1A (I-91 South), and traffic bound for Exit 2B (Dwight St.) must first take the ramp for Exit 1B (I-91 North).
Traffic bound for U.S. 20 West from I-291 takes Exit 1B. U.S. 20 does not actually join with I-91, but rather this exit splits, left for the on-ramp to I-91 North, the right to continue on the U.S. 20 access ramp.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
that links Interstate 91
Interstate 91
Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
in downtown Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
with Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike
Massachusetts Turnpike
The Massachusetts Turnpike is the easternmost stretch of Interstate 90. The Turnpike begins at the western border of Massachusetts in West Stockbridge connecting with the Berkshire Connector portion of the New York State Thruway...
) in Chicopee
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,298, making it the second largest city in...
. I-291 is roughly a northeast/southwest highway. It merges with I-91 at its southwestern terminus, via a flyover. The road meets the Mass Pike at its northeastern terminus. Getting onto the Pike from I-291 is straightforward, but getting from the Pike to I-291 requires a left turn at a stop light. I-291 travels directly through highly-populated areas of Springfield, and passes under several overpasses. From its southwestern terminus to exit 5A, Interstate 291 is also U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
.
I-291 is only 22.4 miles (36 km) from Interstate 291
Interstate 291 (Connecticut)
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...
in Connecticut
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...
, and there are no intervening Interstate Highway interchanges between them. It can be easy for travelers to become confused between the two highways.
Route description
Interstate 291 begins as a spur of Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in Springfield, concurrent with U.S. 20, which merges from the north. The two entry ramps from I-91 merge with each other after Exits 2A and 2B, where a sign for the beginning of I-291 east is posted. I-291 and U.S. 20 run eastbound concurrently until Exit 5A (U.S. 20 joins westbound at Exit 5), where U.S. 20 east leaves the highway for a junction with Route 20A. I-291 continues east into Chicopee, where it meets its eastern end at Exit 7, the interchange with the Massachusetts TurnpikeMassachusetts Turnpike
The Massachusetts Turnpike is the easternmost stretch of Interstate 90. The Turnpike begins at the western border of Massachusetts in West Stockbridge connecting with the Berkshire Connector portion of the New York State Thruway...
(Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
). This is an odd intersection; the mainline of I-291 ends at a stoplight, but I-291 east traffic can exit uninterrupted by way of a ramp to the Mass Pike. However, drivers coming from the Mass Pike must deal with this traffic light, as a left turn across the intersection is required to get on I-291 west.
The westbound interchange with I-91 is also a bit strange; the ramps for Exit 1A-B split before the ramps for Exits 2A-B do. Traffic bound for Exit 2A (Chestnut Street) must first take the ramp for Exit 1A (I-91 South), and traffic bound for Exit 2B (Dwight St.) must first take the ramp for Exit 1B (I-91 North).
Traffic bound for U.S. 20 West from I-291 takes Exit 1B. U.S. 20 does not actually join with I-91, but rather this exit splits, left for the on-ramp to I-91 North, the right to continue on the U.S. 20 access ramp.
Exit list
| Location | Exit # Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Mile | Roads/Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern... |
1A | 0.19 | Westbound junction only. | |
| 1B | 0.19 | Westbound junction only. | ||
| 2A | 0.58 | Chestnut St. | Exit 2A shares ramp with exit 1A westbound. Eastbound access to Exit 2A from I-91 South only. |
|
| 2B | 0.58 | Dwight St. | Exit 2B shares ramp with Exit 1B westbound. Eastbound access to Exit 2B from I-91 North only. |
|
| 3 | 1.34 | Armory St. | ||
| 4 | 2.41 | St. James Avenue - Chicopee Falls Chicopee, Massachusetts Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,298, making it the second largest city in... |
||
| 5 | 4.05 | Split into 5A-B eastbound. | ||
| Chicopee Chicopee, Massachusetts Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,298, making it the second largest city in... |
6 | 5.14 | Fuller Road - Westover Air Reserve Base, Ludlow Ludlow, Massachusetts Ludlow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,103 as of the 2010 census. It is located in western Massachusetts, north of Springfield, east of Chicopee, southeast of Granby, southwest of Belchertown, west of Wilbraham and is considered part of the... , Chicopee Falls Chicopee, Massachusetts Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,298, making it the second largest city in... |
|
| 7 | 5.22 | , Albany NY Burnett Road |
Eastbound junction only. Burnett Road continues straight past stoplight at the end of I-291. |
External links
- I-291 Historical Overview from bostonroads.com
- I-291 - kurumi.com
- I-291 - Roads and Highways of the Pioneer Valley and Western Massachusetts