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Ive always found it curious that in Massachusetts I-90 connects directly to Boston (biggest city) and Springfield (3rd biggest city) but bypasses Worcester (2nd

Ive always found it curious that in Massachusetts I-90 connects directly to Boston (biggest city) and Springfield (3rd biggest city) but bypasses Worcester (2nd biggest city) on its way to Springfield. The legend is the powerful Worcester industrialists at the time lobbied to have the road run south of the city so workers wouldn't be able to leave for the suburbs as easily. Not sure if that's true, but that's the best reason I've ever been given.

sib 7y ago
If I remember correctly (grew up in Connecticut, drove through MA a lot), I-90 does not go directly through Springfield, but, rather, passes by a couple miles to the north.
- meddlepal 7y ago
  Yea you're right actually. I always forget I-91 is the road that runs between downtown and the river. Still I-90 is better connected to Springfield that Worcester... it's only been in the last 15 years or so that Worcester has gotten good connectivity to I-90 via the 290-146 connector.
  - ghaff 7y ago
    I had forgotten about the change in connecting 290 to 90. I was thinking that it was the same as when I moved into my current house north of Worcester over 20 years ago but I was have forgotten. I probably never took that route enough for the old connection to register as much of an inconvenience.
Spooky23 7y ago
I-90 in Mass is a big compromise. It balances distance Boston-NYC and Boston-Albany (and points west). If you look at the straight line distances to NYC and Albany as compared to the I-90 route, both are ~30 miles from ideal.
acomjean 7y ago
95 was supposed to go to Boston too, it kind loops around, but doesn't have the three number name. Its hard to build highways through land thats already been developed, its very political: Also of note, each highway seems to have its own wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_95_in_Massachusetts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_95_in_Massachusetts "The original plans called for I-95 to run through downtown Boston. The highway would have progressed from Route 128 and Readville, followed the Southwest Corridor, joined the Inner Belt in Roxbury, heading east, and joining the Southeast Expressway at South Bay, then north to the Central Artery at the South Station interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike/Interstate 90, and connecting with the Northeast Expressway at the Charlestown banks of the Charles River. However, due to pressure from local residents, all proposed Interstate Highways within Route 128 were canceled in 1972 by Governor Francis Sargent with the exception of Interstate 93 to Boston."

sib 7y ago

If I remember correctly (grew up in Connecticut, drove through MA a lot), I-90 does not go directly through Springfield, but, rather, passes by a couple miles to the north.

meddlepal 7y ago
Yea you're right actually. I always forget I-91 is the road that runs between downtown and the river. Still I-90 is better connected to Springfield that Worcester... it's only been in the last 15 years or so that Worcester has gotten good connectivity to I-90 via the 290-146 connector.
- ghaff 7y ago
  I had forgotten about the change in connecting 290 to 90. I was thinking that it was the same as when I moved into my current house north of Worcester over 20 years ago but I was have forgotten. I probably never took that route enough for the old connection to register as much of an inconvenience.

Spooky23 7y ago

I-90 in Mass is a big compromise. It balances distance Boston-NYC and Boston-Albany (and points west). If you look at the straight line distances to NYC and Albany as compared to the I-90 route, both are ~30 miles from ideal.

acomjean 7y ago

95 was supposed to go to Boston too, it kind loops around, but doesn't have the three number name. Its hard to build highways through land thats already been developed, its very political: Also of note, each highway seems to have its own wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_95_in_Massachusetts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_95_in_Massachusetts "The original plans called for I-95 to run through downtown Boston. The highway would have progressed from Route 128 and Readville, followed the Southwest Corridor, joined the Inner Belt in Roxbury, heading east, and joining the Southeast Expressway at South Bay, then north to the Central Artery at the South Station interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike/Interstate 90, and connecting with the Northeast Expressway at the Charlestown banks of the Charles River. However, due to pressure from local residents, all proposed Interstate Highways within Route 128 were canceled in 1972 by Governor Francis Sargent with the exception of Interstate 93 to Boston."