Interstate 93

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Interstate 93 marker
Interstate 93
I-93 highlighted in red
Route information
Length189.95 mi[1] (305.69 km)
Existed1957–present
RestrictionsNo hazardous goods and cargo tankers between exits 15/15B and 18 (formerly 18 and 26) in Massachusetts[2]
Major junctions
South end I-95 / US 1 / Route 128 in Canton, MA
 
North end I-91 in Waterford, VT
Location
StatesMassachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
CountiesMA: Norfolk, Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex
NH: Rockingham, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Belknap, Grafton
VT: Caledonia
Highway system
  • Interstate Highway System

State highways in Vermont
I-91MA I-95
I-89NH I-95
I-91VT VT 100

Interstate 93 (I-93) is an Interstate Highway in the New England states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont in the United States. Spanning approximately 190 miles (310 km) along a north–south axis, it is one of three primary Interstate Highways located entirely within New England, the other two being I-89 and I-91. The largest cities along the route are Boston, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire; it also travels through the New Hampshire state capital of Concord.

I-93 begins at an interchange with I-95, US 1, and Route 128 at its southern terminus in Canton, Massachusetts. It travels concurrently with US 1 beginning in Canton, and with Route 3 beginning at the Braintree Split on the BraintreeQuincy line, through the Central Artery in Downtown Boston before each route splits off beyond the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge. The portion of highway between the Braintree Split and the Central Artery is named the "Southeast Expressway", while the portion from Boston to the New Hampshire state line is named the "Northern Expressway".

It ends near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at I-91.[3] For most of its length, I-93 indirectly parallels U.S. Route 3. Particularly in New Hampshire, the two highways have several interchanges with each other, as well as a concurrency through Franconia Notch State Park.

Route description[]

Lengths
  mi[4][5][6] km
MA 46.25 74.43
NH 131.764 212.054
VT 11.104 17.870
Total 189.118 304.356

Massachusetts[]

Southern terminus of I-93 in Canton, Massachusetts

Interstate 93's southern terminus is at exit 26 (formerly exit 12) of I-95 in Canton, co-signed with U.S. Route 1 North. At this junction, I-95 North heads to the northwest (co-signed with U.S. Route 1 South, as well as Route 128, which begins at the interchange), to serve as the beltway around Boston, while I-95 South runs by itself southwest through Boston's southwestern suburbs toward Rhode Island. This violates the numbering plan for the highway system of the United States, which dictates that the signed number for odd-numbered interstates increase from west to east, and therefore I-95 should be farther east than I-93. Strict adherence to the number plan could have avoided this violation by signing this initial stretch of I-93 (through Boston and beyond) as I-95 and signing the circumferential section of I-95 that follows Route 128 to the north as an Interstate beltway (e.g., I-895). Massachusetts has a second beltway, I-495, which intersects I-95 farther south and crosses I-93 to the north, merging again with I-95 to the northeast.

The southernmost 3 miles (5 km) of I-93 run east through Boston's southern suburbs, passing through Canton and Randolph. In Randolph, I-93 meets the northern end of Route 24 (Fall River Expressway/AMVETS Memorial Highway) at Exit 4. I-93 continues east into Braintree, interchanging with Route 3, the major freeway linking Boston to Cape Cod, at Exit 7 (known locally as the "Braintree Split"). Route 3 North joins I-93 and US-1, and the highway turns north toward Boston. These first 7 miles (11 km) of I-93 follow what was formerly part of Massachusetts Route 128 before it was truncated at the I-95/I-93 junction, and many locals still[when?] refer to this section of roadway as part of Route 128.

Signs in the Financial District of Boston point toward Downtown Crossing, Chinatown, Interstate 93, and Interstate 90.

Upon turning northward, the highway is known as the Southeast Expressway, passing through Quincy and Milton before crossing into the city of Boston over the Neponset River. After the Massachusetts Avenue connector exit, the highway officially becomes the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, also known as the Central Artery, and passes beneath downtown Boston. A major intersection with the Massachusetts Turnpike/Interstate 90 (Exit 16, formerly 20) takes place just south of downtown Boston. After the massive interchange, motorists use the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel to travel underneath the city and then use Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge to cross the Charles River. Two exits are located in the tunnel, where the speed limit is 45 mph (70 km/h). Route 3 leaves the Artery just before the Zakim bridge via Exit 18 (formerly 26), and U.S. Route 1 leaves the Artery just after the bridge, via Exit 19 (formerly 27) (no southbound access). From Boston through the rest of Massachusetts, Concord, New Hampshire, appears as the control city on northbound overhead signs. The Artery ends as I-93 continues north out of the city.

I-93 continues through the northern suburbs of Boston, coming to a second interchange with Interstate 95 and Route 128, which run concurrently. Travelers going north can either change over to I-95 north to eventually reach Maine, or remain on I-93 toward New Hampshire. Farther north, in Andover, I-93 meets I-495, providing access to Worcester to the southwest and New Hampshire's Seacoast region to the northeast. Just south of the state line, I-93 crosses the Merrimack River into Methuen, where it interchanges with Routes 110 and 113 at exit 43 (formerly 46) just north of the river crossing. Between 2014 and 2018, the Route 110 and 113 junction beneath I-93 was converted from a rotary to a partial cloverleaf, with the new traffic patterns opening in various stages during 2016 and 2017.[7] On I-93 northbound, the exit was split into 43A (formerly 46A) for routes 110/113 eastbound, and 43B (formerly 46B) for the state routes westbound. I-93 then interchanges with the western end of Route 213, a connector between I-93 and I-495. I-93 then crosses into New Hampshire after about 1 mile (1.6 km).

In all, I-93 has 46 (formerly 48) numbered exits in Massachusetts, although, before the mileage-based exit numbering system, several numbers were skipped in and near Boston. One noteworthy reason that some exits were removed from I-93 is to further address traffic problems in addition to converting the Central Artery from six to eight to ten lanes, by reducing the combined number of on- and off-ramps from 27 to 14.[8] Exit 46 (formerly 48) in Methuen, just before the New Hampshire state line, is the highest-numbered exit along the entire route. I-93 once had only 22 exits prior to the re-routing of I-95 onto MA 128.[9] Due to the highway being one of the two major Interstates that enter Boston directly (Interstate 90 is the other), nearly the entire length of the highway in Massachusetts carries four lanes in each direction. Average daily traffic volumes on I-93 in the state range from 100,000 vehicles at the New Hampshire border[10] and 150,000 vehicles at the southern end at I-95[11] to over 200,000 vehicles through Braintree and Quincy.[10]

New Hampshire[]

Interstate 93 travels just over 131 miles (211 km) in the Granite State, around two-thirds of the highway's total distance. Serving as the main interstate route in New Hampshire, it connects the state capital, Concord, and its largest city, Manchester. Beyond Concord are the towns of Tilton, Plymouth, and Littleton. I-93 is designated as the Alan B. Shepard Highway,[12] from the Massachusetts line to Hooksett (just north of Manchester at the northern terminus of I-293), as the F.E. Everett Turnpike from Hooksett to Concord, and as the Styles Bridges Highway from Concord to the Vermont line. This section of roadway was constructed between 1961 and 1977.

Between the northern end of I-293 in Hooksett and the beginning of I-89 in Bow, I-93 also carries the northern end of the Everett Turnpike. There is one toll booth along this section, at Exit 11 in Hooksett; the toll for passenger cars is $1 (50¢ at the ramp toll booth). This is the only toll collected along the entire length of Interstate 93. I-93 in New Hampshire is also notable for having state liquor stores serve as rest areas, which are passed just after the toll plaza, traveling north. There are separate stores on both sides of the Interstate for travelers in each direction.

I-93 enters New Hampshire at Salem. A rest area/welcome center is available on the northbound side of the freeway, directly before Exit 1. I-93 is four lanes wide in each direction for its first 18.5 miles (29.8 km), until the split with Interstate 293 and the junction with New Hampshire Route 101, where I-93 drops to three lanes before adding a fourth and fifth lane back to the freeway after the interchange. The construction to widen I-93 to four lanes each way between the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border and its junction with I-293 and NH-101 was fully complete as of April 2021.[13] I-93 and New Hampshire Route 101 run concurrently for about 1 mile (1.6 km) before New Hampshire Route 101 heads directly east as its own freeway, serving Portsmouth and the Seacoast region. I-93 keeps three lanes of traffic in each direction until the junction with Interstate 89, when each side reduces to two, and remains a four-lane freeway through most of its journey northward, with the only exception being the Franconia Notch section.

Northbound lane of Interstate 93/US Route 3 in Franconia Notch

In the state capital of Concord, Interstate 393 heads directly east (co-signed with eastbound U.S. Route 4 and U.S. Route 202), providing another route to the Seacoast region. Westbound U.S. Route 4 joins I-93 and runs concurrently with it, crossing the Merrimack River again, until Exit 17 for Penacook, about 5 miles (8 km) further north, before exiting westward. Continuing north, I-93 traverses the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and makes its way north through the heart of the White Mountains. I-93 passes through Franconia Notch State Park as a Super-2 parkway (one lane in each direction) with a 45 mph (70 km/h) speed limit, designed to reduce I-93's impact on Franconia Notch. For the trip through Franconia Notch, I-93 and U.S. Route 3 run concurrently.

Beyond Franconia Notch State Park, U.S. 3 heads northeastward through the Great North Woods region, while I-93 runs to the northwest. The final town along I-93 in New Hampshire is Littleton, served by four exits. Many motorist services are available at Exit 42. After passing through town, it crosses the Connecticut River into Vermont. The last exit along I-93 is exit 44 for Monroe, through which a rest area/welcome center is accessible to travelers on both sides of the highway.

In 2013, a bill was signed by governor Maggie Hassan to raise the speed limit on Interstate 93 to 70 mph (115 km/h) from mile marker 45 to the Vermont border. The new limit took effect on January 1, 2014.

Vermont[]

Interstate 93 runs for 11 miles (18 km) in Vermont, with one numbered exit in the state before ending at the interchange with Interstate 91 in St. Johnsbury in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. A rest area/welcome center is located along the northbound side of the highway for travelers entering from New Hampshire. The final 3 miles (5 km) of the Interstate, just before its terminus, actually veer to the southwest. Vehicles bound for Canada can use northbound I-91 to reach the Derby Line–Stanstead Border Crossing at that Interstate's end, and northwards into Canada as an "autoroute" freeway into the Canadian province of Quebec. The portion of I-93 in Vermont parallels both U.S. Route 2 and Vermont Route 18.

History[]

Southeast Expressway[]

The Southeast Expressway was constructed between 1954 and 1959, at the same time the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway (Central Artery) was built. Its northern terminus is at Exit 15 (southbound) / 15B (northbound) (former exit 18) (Frontage Road) in South Boston, a former Y-interchange where the cancelled Southwest Corridor/Interstate 95 was to meet with I-93 and run concurrent northward into downtown. The southern terminus is at the Y-interchange (the "Braintree Split") at Exit 7 in Braintree (the former southern terminus of Route 128). A section of the Expressway, beginning south of the Savin Hill overpass and ending just before the Braintree Split, utilizes a zipper lane, in which a movable barrier carves out a reversible high-occupancy vehicle lane on the non-peak side of the highway during rush hour. Most of the right of way for the Granite Railway in Milton and Quincy was incorporated into the expressway.[14]

Boston[]

Route of the original Central Artery, as well as other roadways affected by the Big Dig
Route of the new Central Artery after the Big Dig
Interstate 93 through the O'Neill Tunnel
The South Bay Interchange (looking south) to the Southeast Expressway with Great Blue Hill visible in the background

The Central Artery, officially the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, was a section of highway in downtown Boston constructed in the 1950s and was originally designed as a fully elevated highway. This new highway was greatly disliked by the citizens of the city because it cut the heart of the city in half, cast long, dreary shadows and was an eyesore to the community. Because of the public outcry, Gov. John Volpe ordered the southern half of the highway redesigned so that it was underground; this section became known as the Dewey Square Tunnel. With the cancellation of the highway projects leading into the city in 1972 by Gov. Francis W. Sargent, the Central Artery gained the designation of Interstate 93 in 1974. It has also carried the local highway designations of U.S. 1 (since 1989) and Route 3.

By the mid-1970s, I-93 had outgrown its capacity and had begun to deteriorate due to a lack of maintenance. State Transportation Secretary Frederick P. Salvucci, aware of the issues surrounding the elevated roadway, proposed a plan conceived in the early 1970s by the Boston Transportation Planning Review to replace the rusting elevated six-lane Central Artery with a new, more efficient underground roadway. This plan was merged with a long-standing proposal to build a third harbor tunnel to alleviate congestion in the Sumner and Callahan tunnels to East Boston; the new plan became known as the Central Artery/Tunnel Project or the "Big Dig".

These new roadways were built during a twelve-year period from 1994 to early 2006. The massive project became the largest urban construction project ever undertaken in American history.[15] Construction on the new I-93 segment was not without serious issues: a lengthy federal environmental review pushed the start of construction back from approximately 1990, causing many inflationary increases, while funding for the project was the subject of several political battles between President Ronald Reagan and Rep. Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Major construction on the new roadway was done while maintaining the old roadway, a step that also greatly increased the cost of the project. The original Charles River crossing, named Scheme Z, was the object of great public outcry similar to that of the building of the original highway. The outcry eventually led to the replacement of Scheme Z with a newer, more sleek cable-stayed bridge and complementing exit for Cambridge, increasing the cost even more.

In Downtown Boston, I-93 is made up of the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel and the Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, which spans the Charles River. The underground construction of the tunnel system was completed as of October 2006; however, repairs continue to many parts of the tunnel due to water leakage because of improper construction of the slurry walls supporting the O'Neill Tunnel. The former route of the above-ground Artery, so named "the other Green Monster" by Mayor Thomas Menino, was replaced mostly by open space known formally as the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway.[citation needed]

Additional improvements were done in the South Bay section of the highway: the I-90/I-93 interchange was completely redesigned, a new HOV lane extending from the zipper lane in Quincy was added and the South Boston Haul road that was constructed to bypass truck traffic around residential streets in the South End was opened to general traffic.[citation needed]

Hazardous cargoes are prohibited from I-93 in Boston due to safety issues in the tunnels; these cargoes must exit at either the Leverett Circle connector when traveling southbound or at the Massachusetts Avenue exit when traveling northbound.[citation needed]

Northern Expressway[]

The Northern Expressway was constructed from Medford to the New Hampshire border between 1956 and 1963. It was extended through Somerville and Charlestown to the Central Artery, U.S. Route 1, and the planned route of the Inner Belt between 1965 and 1973. Because it was already under construction, the highway was granted an exception to the moratorium on highway expansion inside Route 128 which was announced in 1970.[16]

I-93's original southern terminus was in Cambridge (just north of Boston), where it was to meet the Inner Belt (I-695). However, when that route was canceled, and the I-95 section into Boston was canceled and rerouted along Route 128 in the mid-1970s, I-93's route was extended an additional 18 miles (29 km) down the Central Artery (which had been signed as a concurrency of I-95/MA-3 before I-95 was rerouted) and the Southeast Expressway (what was then just Route 3) from Boston to Braintree and then west along former Route 128 to its intersection with I-95 in Canton.

In an attempt to alleviate rush-hour traffic jams, travel in the breakdown lane of I-93 is permitted on a small stretch between Exit 35 (formerly 41) and Exit 46 (formerly 43). This extra travel is permitted on the southbound side on weekdays between 6AM and 10AM, and on the northbound side between 3PM and 7PM. However, on most busy days this fails to prevent traffic delays. The Massachusetts State Police is displeased with this arrangement, citing that traffic in the breakdown lanes interferes with the ability of emergency vehicles to respond to accidents.[citation needed]

Rapid bridge replacement project[]

In August 2010, in Medford, a 25-by-7-foot (7.6 m × 2.1 m) section of bridge deck on the northbound side partially collapsed due to age-related structural fatigue.[17] The collapse forced the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to evaluate the remaining bridges along the corridor, eventually deciding to replace several bridges along the highway in a plan called 93 Fast 14. The MassDOT set in motion a plan to replace the superstructure and concrete decks on 14 overpass bridges along that section of the interstate, using rapid bridge replacement methods. The $98.1 million project replaced bridges originally built in 1957 with a set of prefabricated modular concrete bridges in a series of weekend roadway closures. Traffic was diverted into a series of crossover lanes during construction. The main part of the project took place each weekend from June through August 2011, with the exception of the July 4th holiday weekend. One or two bridges were replaced each weekend during the construction time frame. The project was part of the Commonwealth's Accelerated Bridge Program.[18][19]

Methuen Rotary[]

Off exit 43 (formerly 46) in Methuen, the surface level traffic circle was rebuilt as part of an overall infrastructure improvement that also included constructing a new bridge carrying the Interstate over the local road, reconstructing on- and off-ramps to the highway, and realigning the Interstate itself.[20]

New Hampshire[]

As originally envisioned by the federal government, I-93 would have followed the route of present U.S. Route 3/Northwest Expressway/Everett Turnpike from Boston to Concord. By 1956, the two states had drawn up new plans for I-93 to the east, bypassing the tolled Everett Turnpike from Manchester southwards along a new alignment, known as the "Northern Expressway" in Massachusetts and crossing into New Hampshire in Salem. The New Hampshire section would be named the Alan B. Shepard Highway, named for the first American in space.[21]

The first part of I-93 completed in New Hampshire opened in Salem from the Massachusetts border to exit 2 (NH 38/NH 97) in August 1961. The route was extended gradually northward over the next several years, reaching exit 3 (NH 111) by the end of 1961, as well as a second segment from the I-293/NH 101 West interchange to exit 7 (NH 101 East) at the same time. The two segments were connected in late 1962. This left a gap in I-93, as traffic was directed along NH 101 West and the Everett Turnpike, while the southern segment of I-93 continued on and ended in a stub at exit 7.[21]

By 1963 the route had been completed from the end of the Everett Turnpike section, through Concord and north to Tilton (exit 20), and to NH 104 in New Hampton by 1964 (exit 23) and to Plymouth by 1965 (exit 26), and from there gradually northward until it reached the southern end of Franconia Notch. By 1977, I-93 was completed between exit 7 and the Everett Turnpike in Hooksett, completing the Alan B. Shepard Highway segment of I-93, and closing the gap that had stood for 15 years. The Everett Turnpike section had been built in 1957 and incorporated into I-93 in 1958. After the completion of the Alan B. Shepard Highway portion, the portion concurrent with NH 101 was widened to eight lanes, while the Everett Turnpike section from Hooksett to Concord was widened to six lanes in 1978.[21]

A small segment was also completed from the northern end of Franconia Notch to Littleton prior to 1984, with the final stretch from Littleton to the Vermont border completed by 1984. This left a gap through Franconia Notch, with traffic directed along U.S. 3 between the two sections. For years, debates over how to minimize environmental impact on the road through the notch prevented it being built. As a compromise the Franconia Notch Parkway, a super two roadway with 45 mile per hour speed limit, was completed in 1988, replacing U.S. 3. Originally, this road was not included in I-93, as it had its own exit numbers and was signed "TO I-93", though later the parkway was officially added to the Interstate system despite the substandard conditions and the exits renumbered.[22]

Begun in 2009 and continuing until 2017, the portion between the state border and the I-293 southern terminus was widened to eight lanes; this necessitated the rebuilding and/or relocation of several interchanges. An additional exit has been proposed near mile marker 13 that would include a new connector road to NH 28, effectively bypassing downtown Derry and relieving traffic along NH 102 at exit 4.[21]

Vermont[]

Construction of Interstate 93 was completed in 1982, in Vermont. It was planned to be built longer if I-91 didn't change its designation eastward in the northeastern part of the state.[23] It was the last interstate to be built in the state.[24]

Future expansion[]

Massachusetts plans[]

Since 1996, MassHighway has studied rebuilding the intersection of I-93 and I-95 in Woburn along the border with Stoneham and Reading.[25] The project was expected to start in the spring of 2017 and cost $267 million, but continued community opposition has postponed the project indefinitely.[26] A project to upgrade the I-93/I-95 interchange in Canton is proposed.

An additional 2010 proposal to upgrade MA Route 24, running southwards from I-93's exit 4 to Interstate 195 near Fall River, has also been put off due to studies showing the cost of the project being very high.[27]

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and its predecessor MassHighway have planned on widening I-93 to a uniform four travel lanes in both directions from the lane drop near Exit 35 (formerly 41) in Wilmington to the New Hampshire border since the beginning of the 2000s.[28] The first section of widening will be done as part of the I-93 Tri-Town Interchange Project. The project will construct a new interchange in Wilmington. I-93 will be widened from three to four lanes in each direction from Exit 35 (formerly 41) to I-495, a distance of approximately 5 miles (8 km), as the first phase in widening I-93 from Exit 35 (formerly 41) to the New Hampshire state line. Early estimates of the entire project place the cost at $567 million.[29]

New Hampshire plans[]

Initial plans to widen I-93 to a uniform four travel lanes in both directions from Salem to Manchester beginning in 2008 were put on hold due to a lawsuit designed to force the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to update the plans to include other transportation options. Under orders from the US District Court, the NHDOT and US Department of Transportation must provide an updated environmental review. The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) filed a lawsuit in February 2006, hoping to force any expansion plans in the area to include the restoration of commuter rail service between Manchester and Boston.[30] Despite the suit, the Exit 1 interchange construction was allowed to undergo upgrading and expansion; other associated projects related to the widening, chiefly around Exits 3 and 5, were also eventually allowed to proceed. The whole set of projects were eventually allowed to move forward following an agreement between the state and the CLF that removed the group's opposition to construction which does not pose a threat to the environment.[31]

As part of the 2009 stimulus package, New Hampshire was set to receive several million dollars in highway construction funds. One of the projects was the widening of a portion of the highway between the Massachusetts border and Manchester. Bidding was set to begin in February 2009, with construction slated to begin in late 2009 or early 2010.[32] The plans called for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to widen the southernmost 20 miles (32 km) of I-93 to four lanes in each direction, from the two. In addition, all five interchanges along this length would be upgraded to accommodate larger amounts of traffic, including replacing many aging bridges.[31] According to plans filed by the state with the US Department of Transportation, the project was scheduled to run from 2009 through 2016, with work starting at the Massachusetts line and moving northward to Manchester. The project was designed with an intermodal transit bent; new or improved park and ride facilities were deployed at exits 1, 3 and 5, and a widened median strip was designed to accommodate a planned commuter rail service between Boston and Manchester.[33]

As a way to help defray the costs of the expansion, in early 2010 the NHDOT made a formal request to the Federal Highway Administration to add tolls to I-93 at the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. The new toll facility was to be located in Salem, approximately .5 mi (0.80 km) north of the state line, and would cost travelers $2 per car. The proposal faced opposition from state legislators in both states who claimed the tolls would cause severe congestion in the area and lead to an economic burden to local residents. Opponents included US senator Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts).[34] The proposal was eventually dropped in favor of issuing new state bonds to pay for expansion. The new policy was laid out by Transportation Commissioner George Campbell after reviewing the proposal and receiving a promise from the MassDOT that it would not be enacting a similar toll on the Massachusetts side of the border.[35]

Plans were announced in 2012 that I-93 would have a new northbound and southbound bridge over Interstate 89 in Bow. To reduce traffic on the southbound bridge the NHDOT added a third lane to ease congestion. The bridges were completed in 2014.

More plans were announced in 2014 that the Hooksett rest areas would be rebuilt. The new rest areas feature a 14-pump Irving gas station, a new New Hampshire liquor and wine outlet, and a few restaurants and shops. The project was completed in 2015.

In Londonderry, a new Exit 4A and connector road to the town of Derry were in final planning stages as of June 2020. Construction of Exit 4A, to be located approximately a mile north of Exit 4 in Londonderry, was slated to begin construction in late 2020.[36]

Exit list[]

Exits 17, 19, 21, and 25 in Massachusetts were eliminated as part of the Big Dig. Massachusetts exit numbers were to be changed to those based on I-93 mileposts with a project that was due to start in early 2016, but this project was postponed by MassDOT for several years.[37][38] On November 18, 2019, MassDOT confirmed that beginning in late summer 2020 the exit renumbering project would begin.[citation needed] MassDOT announced in a blog post on February 10, 2021, that the exit renumbering along I-93 will start as soon as I-95 receives the new exit numbers through the corridor, and it will start at existing Exit 13 (Boston/Dorchester) and continue to existing Exit 48 (Methuen). Exit renumbering along I-93 in Massachusetts will begin on or after May 2, 2021, announced by MassDOT on April 23, and it will go on for 4 weeks starting from the south and heading north from Exit 13 since Exits 1-12 will remain the same.

.
StateCountyLocation[4][5]
[6][39]
mi[4][5]
[6][39]
kmOld exitNew exit[40][41]Destinations[40][41]Notes
MassachusettsNorfolkCanton0.000–
0.267
0.000–
0.430
631 I-95 / Route 128 north / US 1 south – Dedham, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Providence, Rhode IslandSigned as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north); southern terminus of US 1 concurrency; exit 26 (former exit 12) on I-95; southern terminus of Route 128
1.4152.277642 Route 138 – Stoughton, MiltonSigned as exits 2A (south) and 2B (north)
Milton2.6154.208653Ponkapoag Trail – Houghton's Pond
Randolph3.4805.601664 Route 24 south – Brockton, Fall RiverLeft exit southbound; northern terminus of Route 24; exit 41A-B on Route 24
4.2336.812675 Route 28 – Randolph, MiltonSigned as exits 5A (south) and 5B (north)
Braintree6.45010.380686 Route 37 – West Quincy, Braintree, HolbrookNorthern terminus of Route 37
6.80210.9477 Route 3 south – Braintree, Cape CodBraintree Split; left exit southbound; southern terminus of Route 3 concurrency; former southern terminus of Route 128
South end of the Southeast Expressway
Quincy8.18213.1688Furnace Brook Parkway – Quincy
Milton9.162–
9.410
14.745–
15.144
9Adams Street – Milton, North Quincy
Bryant Avenue – West Quincy
Northbound signage
Southbound signage
10.13416.30910Squantum Street – MiltonSouthbound exit only
10.83217.43211AGranite Avenue east – East MiltonSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
10.84217.44911BMA Route 203.svg Granite Avenue west to Route 203 – AshmontSigned as exit 11 northbound; no northbound entrance
SuffolkBoston11.57518.62812 Route 3A south – Neponset, QuincyNo northbound exit
12.45620.0461313AFreeport Street – DorchesterNorthbound exit only
12.72820.4841413BMorrissey Boulevard – Savin HillNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; commercial vehicles and buses prohibited
14.34323.0831514Columbia Road – Dorchester, South Boston
14.82023.8501615ASouthampton Street – Andrew SquareNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
17Frontage RoadFormer northbound exit removed during Big Dig reconstruction
15.100–
15.929
24.301–
25.635
1815BFrontage Road / Massachusetts Avenue – Roxbury, Andrew SquareSouthbound entrance via exit 16; southbound exit signed as exit 15
19East Berkeley Street / Broadway / Albany StreetClosed as part of Big Dig reconstruction
North end of the Southeast Expressway, south end of the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
15.34024.6872016
I-90 Toll / Mass Pike – Logan Airport, Worcester, South Station
Northbound exit and southbound entrance; exits 134A/C on I-90.
South Station / AirportNorthbound left exit and southbound left entrance; former HOV-only exit until April 2021[42]
South end of the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel
17.25327.76622, 20A16A South StationSouthbound exit and northbound left entrance
20B16B
I-90 Toll / Mass Pike west / Albany Street[43]
Southbound exit and northbound entrance; exit 134B on I-90
21Kneeland Street – ChinatownFormer southbound exit and northbound entrance; closed during Big Dig reconstruction
16.69426.86622Surface Road – ChinatownSouthbound entrance only
17.34027.9062317Government CenterNorthbound exit and southbound entrance via North Street
17.48728.143Purchase StreetSouthbound exit and entrance only
17.87428.76524A17AGovernment CenterSouthbound exit only; northbound entrance closed; formerly served Clinton Street
24B17B Route 1A north (Callahan Tunnel) – AirportSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
North end of the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel
25Causeway Street – North Station / Haymarket Square / Government CenterClosed as part of Big Dig reconstruction
Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge over the Charles River
17.892–
19.585
28.794–
31.519
2618 Route 3 north / Route 28 (Storrow Drive) – Leverett Circle, Cambridge, North Station[44]Leverett Connector; signed as Storrow Drive northbound; northern terminus of concurrency with Route 3
Charlestown High Bridge over the Charles River (demolished 2004 as part of Big Dig reconstruction; existed west of current alignment)
18.60329.9392719 US 1 north (Tobin Bridge) – RevereNorthbound left exit and southbound entrance; northern terminus of concurrency with US 1
North end of the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
MiddlesexSomerville19.23030.9482820
To Route 99 – Sullivan Square, Somerville
Northbound exit only, partially in Boston
20.41532.855Sullivan Square, Charlestown, Assembly SquareSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
20.25932.6042921 Route 28 / Route 38 north – Somerville, MedfordNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; southern terminus of Route 38
Medford21.32334.3163021 Route 38 – Medford, SomervilleSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
21.74334.9923122 Route 16 west (Mystic Valley Parkway) – ArlingtonNorthbound signage
21.85935.179 Route 16 east – Everett, RevereSouthbound signage
22.55436.2973223 Route 60 – Medford, MaldenAlso to Route 16 southbound; to Tufts University's Medford/Somerville Campus
23.22937.3833324 Route 28 (Fellsway West) – Winchester
Stoneham25.27640.6783425 Route 28 north – Stoneham, MelroseNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
26.08741.9833526Park Street – Stoneham, MelroseSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Woburn26.92943.3383627Montvale Avenue – Stoneham, Woburn
Reading28.47645.82837A-B28A-B I-95 / Route 128 – Peabody, WalthamSplit into exits 28A (north) and 28B (south); exits 55A-B on I-95 / Route 128
Woburn29.96548.22437C30Commerce Way / Atlantic Avenue – Anderson RTC
Wilmington31.13650.1093831 Route 129 – Reading, Wilmington
32.63552.5213933Concord Street – Wilmington
34.06454.8214034 Route 62 – North Reading, Wilmington
34.62955.7304135 Route 125 – Andover, North Andover
EssexAndover37.68260.6434238Dascomb Road – Tewksbury, Andover
39.19663.0804339 Route 133 – Andover, North TewksburySigned as exits 39A (east) and 39B (west) southbound
40.52165.2124440 I-495 – Lawrence, LowellSplit into exits 40A (north) and 40B (south); exits 97A-B on I-495
42.42368.2734542River Road – South Lawrence
Merrimack River43.13969.425General Edward D. Sirois Memorial Bridge
Methuen43.46569.9504643 Route 110 / Route 113 – Lawrence, DracutInterchange rebuilt in 2017; signed as exits 43A (east) and 43B (west) northbound[45])
45.11372.6024745Pelham Street
45.48373.1984846 Route 213 east (Loop Connector) – Methuen, HaverhillWestern terminus of Route 213; exits 1A/1B on Route 213
 46.25
0.000
74.43
0.000
MassachusettsNew Hampshire line
New HampshireRockinghamSalem1.3682.2021NH Route 28.svgNH Route 38.svg Rockingham Park Boulevard to NH 28 / NH 38 – SalemOriginally northbound exit, southbound entrance only
3.0014.8302NH Route 38.svgNH Route 97.svg Pelham Road to NH 38 / NH 97 – Salem, Pelham
Windham5.8219.3683 NH 111 – Windham, North Salem
Londonderry11.34118.2524 NH 102 – Derry, Londonderry
15.29124.6085 NH 28 – North Londonderry
HillsboroughManchester18.48829.754 I-293 north / NH 101 west – Bedford, Manchester, Manchester AirportSouthern terminus of I-293; Southern terminus of concurrency with NH 101
20.59133.1386Candia Road / Hanover StreetNorthbound entrance to NH 101 East only; Southbound exit from I-93 only
20.96733.7437 NH 101 east – Portsmouth, SeacoastNorthern terminus of concurrency with NH 101
22.09335.5558NH Route 28A.svg Wellington Road / Bridge Street to NH 28A
MerrimackHooksett23.92238.4999 US 3 / NH 28 – Hooksett, ManchesterSplit into exits 9N (north) and 9S (south)
25.72741.40410 NH 3A – Hooksett
26.68942.952 I-293 south / Everett Turnpike south – Manchester, Nashua, Manchester AirportNorthern terminus of I-293; Southern terminus of concurrency with the Everett Turnpike
28.65946.122Hooksett Main Toll Plaza ($1.00 Cash, $0.70 NH E-ZPass)
28.75146.27011NH Route 3A.svg Hackett Hill Road to NH 3A – HooksettHooksett Ramp Toll Plaza ($1.00 Cash, $0.70 NH E-ZPass)
Bow35.49557.124 I-89 north – Lebanon, White River Junction VTSouthern terminus of I-89
Concord35.97757.89912
NH 3A (South Main Street) to I-89 – Bow Junction
Split into exits 12S (south) and 12N (north)
37.33160.07813 US 3 (Manchester Street) – Downtown Concord
38.45461.88614 NH 9 (Loudon Road) – State Offices
Everett Turnpike
Northern terminus of the Everett Turnpike
Southern terminus of Styles Bridges Highway
38.97762.72715E I-393 east / US 4 east / US 202 east – Loudon, PortsmouthWestern terminus of I-393; Southern terminus of concurrency with US 4
15W
US 202 west to US 3 (North Main Street) – Downtown Concord
40.18864.67616 NH 132 – East Concord
44.58271.74817

US 4 west to US 3 / NH 132 (Hoit Road) – Penacook, Boscawen
Northern terminus of concurrency with US 4; signed as exits 17W and 17E going southbound
Canterbury47.86977.03818
To NH 132 (West Road) – Canterbury
Northfield54.97688.47519 NH 132 – Northfield, FranklinNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
BelknapTilton56.90791.58320 US 3 / NH 11 / NH 132 / NH 140 – Laconia, Tilton
Sanbornton61.15998.42622 NH 127 – Sanbornton, West Franklin
New Hampton69.229111.41323 NH 104 / NH 132 – Meredith, New Hampton
GraftonAshland75.308121.19624 US 3 / NH 25 – Ashland, Holderness
Holderness79.992128.73525 NH 175A (Holderness Road) – Plymouth
Plymouth80.877130.15926 US 3 / NH 25 / NH 3A south – Plymouth, RumneyNorthern terminus of Route 3A
Campton83.762134.80227
To US 3 – Blair Bridge, West Campton
86.819139.72228
NH 49 to NH 175 – Campton, Waterville Valley
Thornton88.542142.49529 US 3 – Thornton
Woodstock94.400151.92230 US 3 – Woodstock, Thornton
97.334156.64431
To NH 175 (Tripoli Road)
100.499161.73732 NH 112 – Lincoln, North Woodstock
Lincoln102.538165.01933 US 3 – North Woodstock, North Lincoln
South end of the Franconia Notch Parkway
104.315–
106.006
167.879–
170.600
134A US 3 south – Flume Gorge, Park Information CenterSouthern terminus of concurrency with US 3; No southbound entrance
Franconia110.158177.282234BCannon Mountain Tramway – Old Man Historic Site
110.858178.409334C NH 18 north – Echo Lake Beach, Peabody Slopes, Cannon MountainSouthern terminus of NH 18
111.401179.283North end of the Franconia Notch Parkway
112.315180.75335 US 3 north – Twin Mountain, LancasterNorthern terminus of concurrency with US 3; northbound exit and southbound entrance
112.947181.77136
NH 141 to US 3 – Twin Mountain, South Franconia
115.946186.59737 NH 18 / NH 142 – Franconia, BethlehemNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
116.728187.85638 NH 18 / NH 116 / NH 117 / NH 142 – Franconia, Sugar HillNH 142 not signed northbound
Bethlehem119.295191.98739 NH 118 / NH 116 – North Franconia, Sugar HillSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
120.777194.37240 US 302 / NH 18 – Bethlehem, Twin Mountain
Littleton122.418197.01341 NH 116 – Littleton, Whitefield
124.397200.19842
US 302 / NH 10 to NH 18 – Littleton, Woodsville
126.129202.98543
NH 135 to NH 18 – Littleton, Dalton
130.355209.78644 NH 18 / NH 135 – Monroe, Waterford, VT
Connecticut River131.764
0.000
212.054
0.000
Senator Andrew Poulsen Bridge[5]
New HampshireVermont line
VermontCaledoniaWaterford7.51012.08617
VT 18 to US 2 – St. Johnsbury, Lower Waterford, East St. Johnsbury
11.10417.87011 I-91 – St. Johnsbury, White River JunctionSigned as exits 11A (south) & 11B (north); exit 128 on I-91
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Closed/former
  •       Concurrency terminus
  •       Incomplete access
  •       Tolled

Auxiliary routes[]

  • Manchester, New HampshireI-293: The southernmost portion of this highway, between I-93 and the Everett Turnpike, was once known as Interstate 193.
  • Concord, New HampshireI-393

References[]

  1. ^ Federal Highway Administration (October 31, 2002). "FHWA Route Log and Finder List: Table 1". Retrieved March 28, 2007.
  2. ^ "Hazardous material route designation". Mass.gov. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  3. ^ Google (June 8, 2009). "Interstate 93" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c MassDOT Planning Division. "Massachusetts Route Log Application". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Bureau of Planning & Community Assistance (February 20, 2015). "NH Public Roads". Concord, New Hampshire: New Hampshire Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Traffic Research Unit (May 2013). "2012 (Route Log) AADTs for State Highways" (PDF). Policy, Planning and Intermodal Development Division, Vermont Agency of Transportation. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  7. ^ "Methuen Rotary Project: Major Milestone Reached". MassDOT Blog. MassDOT. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Central Artery/Tunnel Project - The Big Dig - Facts & Figures". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  9. ^ "Alps' Roads I-93 Photos". Alps' Roads. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Traffic Counts for Rte. I-93". Massachusetts Highway Department. Archived from the original on July 21, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2008.
  11. ^ "Traffic Counts for Rte. 1 & I-93". Massachusetts Highway Department. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2008.
  12. ^ "Alan B Shepard Highway (I-93)". Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  13. ^ "Salem-Manchester 10418-C | Project Specific Information | Project Center | NH Department of Transportation". www.nh.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  14. ^ "The Successor Railroads". Thomas Crane Library. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  15. ^ "Review Begins After Big Dig Tunnel Collapse". CNN. July 12, 2006. Archived from the original on July 15, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2006.
  16. ^ "Northern Expressway (I-93)". Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  17. ^ Moskowitz, Eric (August 4, 2010). "Officials expect I-93 north lanes in Medford to be open for a.m. commute". Boston Globe. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  18. ^ "I-93 Medford Bridges: 93Fast14 Video". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. May 5, 2011. Archived from the original on June 18, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  19. ^ "MassDot Accelerated Bridge Program: About the program". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  20. ^ Kashinsky, Leah (December 21, 2017). "MassDOT: 'Majority of construction' complete at former Methuen rotary". The Eagle-Tribune. North Andover, Massachusetts.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Alan B. Shepard Highway Historic Overview". Boston Roads. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  22. ^ "I-93". AA Roads. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  23. ^ "Vermont @ AARoads - Interstate 93". www.aaroads.com. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  24. ^ "Everett Turnpike (US 3, I-293, and I-93)". www.bostonroads.com. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  25. ^ "I-93\I-95 Interchange Transportation Study". Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  26. ^ WOBURN- READING- STONEHAM-WAKEFIELD- INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENTS TO I-93/I-95, archived from the original on June 16, 2013
  27. ^ Timmins, Steve. "personal correspondence" (Microsoft Word DOC). Mass Highway.[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ "I-93/Lowell Junction Development Area Background". Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  29. ^ Anderson, Steve. "Northern Expressway". BostonRoads.com. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  30. ^ James Vaznis (August 31, 2007). "I-93 widening in N.H. set back". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 14, 2007.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b Davidson, Kate (August 24, 2008). "I-93 projects move forward, not sideways". Concord Monitor. Retrieved September 13, 2008.[dead link]
  32. ^ John Distaso (February 18, 2009). "NH hustles for its slice of stimulus pie". New Hampshire Union Leader. MSNBC. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009. The biggest project on its list, the $31 million widening of Interstate 93 from Salem to Manchester, will be advertised on Feb. 24, Jannelle said.
  33. ^ NH Department of Transportation. "Rebuilding 93:Salem to Manchester – Project background". NH DOT. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  34. ^ Date, Terry (February 23, 2010). "NH, Massachusetts lawmakers speak against I-93 toll". Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  35. ^ Landrigan, Kevin (March 20, 2010). "Tolls nixed to pay for I-93 widening". Nashua Telegraph. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  36. ^ NH Department of Transportation. "I93 Exit 4A Project". NH DOT. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  37. ^ Commonwealth of Massachusetts (November 17, 2015). "608024 - STATEWIDE "Exit Signage Conversion to Milepost-Based Numbering System along Various Interstates, Routes and the Lowell Connector"". Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  38. ^ Robert H. Malme (2016). "Massachusetts Interstate Highways Exit Lists". Retrieved January 18, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b Bureau of Planning & Community Assistance (April 3, 2015). "Nodal Reference 2015, State of New Hampshire". New Hampshire Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 7, 2015.[permanent dead link] 2020 saw Vermont add mileage-based numbers to its existing signs, one at mile 7 & the other at the terminus at mile 11.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b Massachusetts Department of Transportation. "Exit Numbers and Names: Route I-93 (Canton to Route US 1)". Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b Massachusetts Department of Transportation. "Exit Numbers and Names: Route I-93 (Route US 1 to Methuen)". Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  42. ^ Mass.gov. "About the Bypass Road and Logan/Route 1A Express Lane pilot project". Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  43. ^ Google Maps (October 2013). "Street View". Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  44. ^ Google Maps (September 2013). "Street View". Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  45. ^ "Methuen Rotary Project: Home". Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Archived from the original on September 3, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2012.

Route map:

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