Interstate 89

Interstate 89 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States, connecting the states of New Hampshire and Vermont to the Canada–United States border. Its southern terminus is at a junction with Interstate 93 and Interstate 393 near Concord, and it extends north for over 190 miles to the international boundary at Highgate Springs, where it connects to Quebec Autoroute 35. The highway serves as a vital transportation corridor for the Upper Valley region, the state capital of Montpelier, and the largest city in Vermont, Burlington.

Route description

Beginning at its complex interchange with Interstate 93 in Bow, it travels northwest through the Merrimack River valley, passing near the state government hub of Concord. The route ascends into the New England Upland and crosses the Connecticut River into Vermont at White River Junction, a historic railroad town. In Vermont, the highway traverses the scenic, mountainous terrain of the Green Mountains, providing access to popular ski areas like Sugarbush Resort and Mad River Glen. It passes directly through the state capital, Montpelier, before curving northwest along the Winooski River valley toward Lake Champlain and the metropolitan area of Burlington. The final segment runs north through the agricultural lands of Franklin County before terminating at the Highgate Springs–St. Armand/Philipsburg Border Crossing with Canada.

History

The route was designated as part of the seminal Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Initial construction began in New Hampshire in the early 1960s, with the challenging segment through Franconia Notch being bypassed in favor of the current alignment. In Vermont, construction faced significant engineering hurdles in the Green Mountains, including the massive Bolton Valley cut. A key political figure in its development was Senator George Aiken, who advocated for its routing to serve Montpelier. The final section, linking Milton to the Canadian border, was completed and opened to traffic in 1982, fulfilling its role as a critical link in the Interstate Highway System for New England.

Major intersections

From south to north, key junctions include the southern terminus at Interstate 93 and Interstate 393 in Bow. It meets the eastern terminus of NH 11 and NH 103 near Warner. In Lebanon, it intersects NH 120 before crossing into Vermont. Major Vermont junctions include the western terminus of Interstate 91 and US 5 at White River Junction, an interchange with VT 100 serving the Mad River Valley, and a complex interchange with US 2 and VT 12 in Montpelier. It intersects I-189 and US 7 near Burlington, and meets the northern terminus of VT 78 in Swanton before reaching the border.

Exit list

A sequential list of interchanges includes Exit 1 for Logging Hill Road in Bow. In Concord, key exits provide access to NH 9 and NH 202. Exit 12 serves Grantham and the Dartmouth–Lake Sunapee Region. The exit for Interstate 91 and White River Junction is numbered 1 in Vermont. Notable Vermont exits include Exit 9 for VT 100 and Sugarbush Resort, Exit 18 for US 2 and downtown Montpelier, and Exit 20 for VT 12 and Barre. The major interchange with I-189 and US 7 for Burlington is Exit 13 in the Chittenden County numbering sequence. The final exit in the United States is for Route 133 leading to the Highgate Springs–St. Armand/Philipsburg Border Crossing. Category:Interstate Highways in New Hampshire Category:Interstate Highways in Vermont Category:Transportation in Merrimack County, New Hampshire Category:Transportation in Grafton County, New Hampshire