Roads and Highways of the Pioneer Valley

Interstate 291 - The Springfield Expressway

I-291 Information: Western terminus is at I-91 in Springfield, MA. The Eastern terminus is at Burnett Road and the Mass Pike in Chicopee, MA.

History/Facts: I-291 was envisioned as a cross-city expressway, mainly to connect downtown Springfield to the more easterly section of the Masspike. It hasn't received a lot of love since being built, since many of its signs are old, its lines are starting to fade, and it really could use a direct interchange instead of this half-stoplight, half-ramp crap at Burnett Road, which really makes getting off the pike and on I-291 a chore, since you need to wait through a stoplight and all sorts of yucky traffic. It also serves to bring US 20 off of surface streets in Downtown Springfield to alleviate traffic.

I-291 was totally resurfaced in 2006, and a signage replacement project is in the works for 2008. Enjoy this old stuff while it lasts.

Photos: Eastbound / Westbound

Eastbound: Springfield/Chicopee

If you came on to I-291 east from I-91 South or US 20 east, after going on the flyover ramp, this is what you'd see. Note the old 291 East reassurance sign on the gantry - it has the extra-wide sign with ultra-large font. The red's been gone after thirty plus years of New England weather. A pity.

I-291 began about a quarter of a mile or so ago - where have you been, Mr. Sign?

I think there used to be a blue east sign up there, but it's gone now in any case. Note the extra large mileage in the exit sign.

I-291 uses a lot of gantries for exit information.

MA 20? Such a thing does not exist! What saddens me even more is that this happens AGAIN just a short bit down the road. Since there is no MA 20, I suppose it's not a big deal, but it's the principle of the thing, you know?

Exit four is a really sharp curve to an overpass. It's rough on wet days like this.

These 291 signs are really ancient. That poor 1 in 291 looks like it's about to fall off the sign! Another lack of blue Interstate direction as well.

That sign looks like it got whacked by something. Indian Orchard is the northeast side of Springfield, bordering with Ludlow and Chicopee. Lots of industrial parks and stuff like that there. It's also where US 20 leaves I-291. If you're following from the US 20 page, click here to return to US 20. These signs probably date from construction of the highway, the East 291 sign has a "Massachusetts" in it.

Thanks for letting me know. Isn't that a funny looking interstate shield?

Gotta love those huge mileage numbers. This is one of the few ground exit signs on 291.

291 East has two exit 5s. Look at the misplacement of the 20 on the shield. Someone was asleep at the wheel that day. US 20 and 291 part ways at this exit.

So, what about exit 6? We know most people are going to the Pike, but come on. You have room on that gantry for three signs.

This one's an oddball too - middle placed tab, "Next right" instead of mileage, pipes for stands instead of holed mini-girders, no break in the bottom sign border. What's it there for, considering the real sign is just ahead?

This one is more consistent with the rest of I-291 signage. Also notice the MassHighway style "Entering Town" signs.

Just ahead, 291 terminates. These signs are so ancient that the laminate on the metal is starting to peel apart. Also note the middle tabs - not like that on the other signs. The signs also have the "Massachusetts in the interstate shield. Note the "State Highway Ends" sign - the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority controls the 1/4 mile between the end of this bridge and the terminus at Burnett Road.

This is the terminus of I-291 at the Masspike and Burnett road. You can only directly access the Pike from 291, and not the other way around - else you have to deal with a stopilght. If you opt to keep going straight, you'll end right up on Burnett road, which starts after this stop light.

Done? Head Westbound or Return home.