Interstate 90 (Massachusetts)

Interstate 90 (Massachusetts)
source
State	MA
Route	90
Alternate name	Massachusetts Turnpike
Maint	Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Length mi	138.1
Length km	222.3
Direction a	West
Terminus a	New York state line at West Stockbridge
Direction b	East
Terminus b	I-93 / US 1 in Boston
Counties	Berkshire, Hampden, Worcester, Middlesex, Suffolk
Previous route	89
Next route	91

Interstate 90 (Massachusetts), officially designated the Massachusetts Turnpike, is a 138.1-mile (222.3 km) tolled east–west interstate highway that spans the state from the New York border to Boston. It is a critical component of the Interstate Highway System in New England, serving as the primary vehicular corridor between the Albany area and the Greater Boston metropolitan region. The highway is maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and connects major cities including Springfield and Worcester to the state capital.

Route description

The western terminus of the highway is at the New York state line in the town of West Stockbridge, where it continues west as the New York State Thruway. From there, it traverses the scenic Berkshire Hills before descending into the Connecticut River valley and passing through the Springfield metropolitan area. East of Worcester, the route becomes a primary commuter artery into Boston, culminating at a complex interchange with I-93 and US 1 near the Ted Williams Tunnel. Key geographical features along the route include crossings of the Westfield River and the Quabbin Reservoir watershed, and it runs parallel to historic routes like the Boston and Albany Railroad.

History

Planning for a cross-state toll road began in the 1950s, with the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority established by an act of the Massachusetts General Court in 1952. The first section, from the New York border to Westfield, opened in 1957, with subsequent extensions reaching Boston in 1965. A major expansion occurred in the 1990s with the Big Dig project, which extended the highway eastward through the Ted Williams Tunnel to Logan International Airport. The Turnpike Authority was merged into the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in 2009. Historically, the roadway's path follows the corridor of the old Boston and Albany Railroad, which was itself built along the 19th-century survey line known as the Talcott Mountain Range.

Exit list

The exit numbering sequence begins at Exit 1 in West Stockbridge and increases eastward, with major interchanges at I-91 in West Springfield (Exit 14) and I-290/I-395 in Auburn (Exit 10). Other significant exits provide access to Springfield (Exits 6-8), the University of Massachusetts Amherst via Route 9 (Exit 4), and Framingham (Exit 13). The easternmost exits serve the Prudential Center and the South Boston waterfront before the highway terminates. The entire route is located within Massachusetts.

Major intersections

The most significant highway junctions along the route include its western connection to the New York State Thruway (I-87) at the state line. In West Springfield, it intersects with I-91, a major north-south artery serving Hartford and Vermont. Further east, it meets I-84 in Sturbridge, a key route to Connecticut and New York City. In Auburn, it interchanges with I-290 and I-395, providing access to Worcester and Webster. Its eastern terminus is a multi-level interchange with I-93 and US 1 in Boston, connecting to the Central Artery and the Ted Williams Tunnel.

Tolls and electronic tolling

Historically, the Massachusetts Turnpike collected tolls via a barrier system at plazas in West Stockbridge, Lee, Auburn, and Weston. In 2016, the state transitioned to all-electronic, open-road tolling (ORT) under the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The system, branded as **E-ZPass MA**, uses overhead gantries to charge vehicles equipped with E-ZPass transponders or bills drivers via Pay By Plate mail. The removal of the Weston toll plaza was a significant part of this modernization. Toll revenue is dedicated to the maintenance of the Massachusetts Turnpike and other statewide transportation projects.

Category:Interstate 90 Category:Transportation in Massachusetts Category:1957 establishments in Massachusetts