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

Westbound: Chicopee/Springfield

291 West begins at this stoplight, or at the road that comes out from the Masspike, whichever you prefer.

This is coming from the Masspike on to 291W. The sign on the right is one that replaced a cut-corner sign (You can see it on various road websites). In fact, it's not a new sign, but a sign that's glued or otherwise attached to the old sign! If you look at the back of it coming from Burnett road, you'll see the cut corner sign back! The sign on the left has been there since I-291 was constructed. The shield is missing part of its paint now, although it is hard to see from this photo. The button copy is also not the kind that's built into the sign, but the REALLY old embossed kind. Old MassPike style.

A closeup of said sign. Courtesy MassPike authority. This will probably be replaced when I-291 is resurfaced in the next year or so.

It's the attack of the centermounted tabs again! The "Begin 291" sign is a bit late, but that's probably just MassHighway 291, as the 1/4 mile from the exit of the MassPike to this gantry is controlled by the MassPike authority. The Exit 5 guide sign really needs to be replaced - in a few more years, it'll be all but falling apart. Note the Massachusetts in the 291 reassurance shield.

The reason there's only one exit 5 going westbound is that it works out that you can get to both roads without having to step on anyone's toes with one offramp. The blue sign on the lightpost is a trailblazer for the Fast Lane service center in the Eastfield mall. Like you'd ever be able to read it going 55 MPH with that tiny type?

One of the few ground exit signs on 291.

As you can see, there's a missing sign on that gantry. Care to guess what it's for? ;)

Again with the huge giant mileage markers.

Yes, you read that right - south is on the right, north is on the left. Why the interchange is an inverse Y, we'll never know. Also, these shields have a Massachusetts in them too.

Look at those funky signs with their inversed tabs. The left two lanes are "express" into 91, with an extra offramp being dumped to a collector road set for US 20. If you want to get to Chestnut Street, be sure to keep right! If you haven't figured it out, Exits 1B and 1A are 91N/S, respectively.

Choose your path through Springfield-land quickly! Oh, and both of these signs should be exit only - after all, they both split apart and join another highway. More "Massachusetts" branded interstate shields too.

Hey, the Exit 2s haven't happened yet! Oh, there they are. This and the next set of signs are the newest signs on 291. The ones before this must have just fallen apart.

At this point, the split is complete, the exit 2s happen, and then you're on your way to I-91.

Done? Head Eastbound or Return home.