Interstate 291 (Massachusetts)

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Interstate 291
Auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System

Length:

5.44 mi^[1] (8.75 km)

Formed:

1972

West end:

I-91 in Springfield

East end:

I-90 in Chicopee

Massachusetts State Highway Routes
< I-290		I-295 >

Interstate 291 (abbreviated I-291, formerly known as the Springfield Expressway^[2]) is a 5.44-mile connector highway in Massachusetts which 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 Masspike at its northeastern terminus. Getting onto the Pike from I-291 is simple, 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. Highway 20.

I-291 is only 22.4 miles 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.

1 Route description
2 Exit list
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Route description

Interstate 291 begins as a spur of Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in Springfield. It begins concurrent with U.S. Route 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 US-20 run eastbound concurrently until Exit 5A (US-20 joins westbound at Exit 5), where US-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 Turnpike (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 St.) 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 US-20 West from I-291 takes Exit 1B. US-20 does not actually join with I-91, but rather this exit splits, left for the onramp to I-91 North, the right to continue on the US-20 access ramp.

[edit] Exit list

Location	Exit #	Mile #	Roads/Destinations	Notes
begins at . It begins multiplexed with
Springfield	1A	0	Interstate 91 SOUTH - Hartford, CT	Westbound junction only.
	1B	0	Interstate 91 NORTH/U.S. Route 20 WEST - West Springfield	Westbound junction only.
	2A	0	Chestnut St.	Exit 2A shares ramp with exit 1A westbound. Eastbound access to Exit 2A from I-91 South only.
	2B	0	Dwight St.	Exit 2B shares ramp with Exit 1B westbound. Eastbound access to Exit 2B from I-91 North only.
	3	1	Armory St.
	4	2	St. James Avenue - Chicopee Falls
	5	4	U.S. Route 20 EAST/Route 20A WEST - Indian Orchard/East Springfield	Split into 5A-B eastbound.
	leaves
Chicopee	6	5	Fuller Road - Westover Air Reserve Base/Ludlow/Chicopee Falls
Chicopee	7	5.4	Interstate 90(Massachusetts Turnpike) - Boston/Albany, NY Burnett Road	Eastbound junction only. Burnett Road continues straight past stoplight at the end of I-291.
ends at and Burnett Road.