Interstate 189

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Interstate 189 marker
Interstate 189
Champlain Parkway
I-189 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-89
Length1.488 mi[1] (2.395 km)
Major junctions
West end US 7 on the South Burlington–Burlington city line
East end I-89 in South Burlington
Location
CountiesChittenden
Highway system

State highways in Vermont

← VT 155→ VT 191

Interstate 189 (I-189) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The spur extends for 1.488 miles (2.395 km) from Interstate 89 exit 13 in South Burlington to US Route 7 at the Burlington city limit. I-189 is the only auxiliary route of I-89, and the only auxiliary Interstate Highway in Vermont.

Route description[]

I-189 serves as an Interstate-grade connector between I-89 and a commercial district along US 7 (Shelburne Road). It is signed as an east–west highway. Prior to 2010, only one directional sign had been posted on the highway - on the eastbound side after the on-ramp from US 7. Sign replacements and additions in late 2010 added directional signs on both the eastbound and westbound sides of the route.

History[]

There was once a plan for the highway to continue north into the city of Burlington along the waterfront and service an industrial area.[2] Construction was delayed due to the presence of a toxic barge canal[3] and eventually cancelled as the city largely left behind its industrial past in favor of tourism in the 1980s. The roadway was abandoned just beyond the US 7 interchange. As a result, Jersey barriers are in place on I-189 west directing traffic onto the US 7 off-ramp, orphaning approximately 0.65 miles (1.05 km) of road, along with a few ramps.

Unused section of 189 to the west of US 7; the current interchange is visible in the distance.

Future[]

The Federal Government previously gave the state a deadline to make a final decision on building the extension or they would lose matching funds. As of Spring 2012, consensus is for a two-lane parkway named the "Champlain Parkway" that will run northerly from Home Avenue for about 0.7 miles (1.1 km), then curve onto existing city streets in order to funnel traffic into downtown away from US 7.[4] I-189 would extend westward, then turn to the north, terminate at Home Avenue, and connect to the parkway. In August 2014, the parkway received its land use permit, clearing the way for the project to begin.[5] Opposition to the $30 million project and changes to its design have led to delays in construction, which has not begun as of 2018.[6][7]

Exit list[]

In 2020, Vermont added mileage-based numbers on existing signs; however, this route is exempted from this change. The entire route is in Chittenden County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
BurlingtonHome AvenueFuture at-grade western terminus of I-189; to continue northward as the Champlain Parkway
South Burlington0.0000.000 US 7 – Shelburne, Middlebury, Rutland, BurlingtonWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; current western terminus
1.4882.395 I-89 – Winooski, St. Albans, Williston, MontpelierEastbound exit and westbound entrance; eastern terminus; Exit 87 on I-89
Dorset Street – Burlington International AirportAt-grade intersection; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit ramp continues east as Kennedy Drive
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Incomplete access
  •       Unopened

Images[]

  • Eastern terminus (August 2014)

  • Western terminus (August 2014)

  • Looking east at a sign for I-189

  • Looking south at the abandoned section of interstate with a makeshift skate park and graffiti

  • Looking north at the abandoned section

References[]

Route map:

( • help)
KML is from Wikidata
  1. ^ a b "2006 (Route Log) AADTs – State Highways" (PDF). Vermont Agency of Transportation. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  2. ^ "Interstate 189 Vermont at Interstate-Guide.com". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Pine Street Canal Superfund". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  4. ^ Champlain Parkway project map
  5. ^ WCAX News (26 August 2014). "Champlain Parkway Wins Act 250 Permit". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  6. ^ Liguori, Priscilla (November 16, 2017). "Will construction for the Champlain Parkway finally begin?". WCAX. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  7. ^ Battipaglia, Helena (May 21, 2018). "Residents ask planners to reconsider long-delayed Champlain Parkway project". NBC5. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
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