Interstate 93 in Massachusetts

Interstate 93 in Massachusetts is a major north–south highway that forms a critical segment of the Interstate Highway System in the New England region. It runs approximately 51 miles from its southern terminus at the Braintree Split interchange with Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 in Canton to the New Hampshire state line in Salisbury. The highway serves as a primary conduit through the heart of Greater Boston, connecting the metropolitan area with northern suburbs and states, and is co-signed with U.S. Route 1 and Massachusetts Route 3 along significant portions of its route.

Route description

From its southern origin at the complex Braintree Split, Interstate 93 heads north through the densely populated communities of Quincy and Milton. It then enters the city of Boston, where it bisects the downtown area through the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel and the Leonard P. Zakim Breeze Hill Bridge, iconic features of the Big Dig project. North of Boston, the highway passes through the cities of Medford, Wilmington, and Andover, traversing a mix of suburban and commercial landscapes. The route continues through Lawrence and Methuen before its final stretch through the more rural terrain of Haverhill and Salisbury to the state line, where it continues as Interstate 93 in New Hampshire.

History

The routing of Interstate 93 was originally planned in the 1950s as part of the federal Interstate Highway System championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Initial segments in Massachusetts opened to traffic in 1957, with construction progressing through the 1960s. The highway's original path through downtown Boston was an elevated structure known as the Central Artery, which opened in 1959 and quickly became notorious for severe congestion. This led to the monumental Big Dig project, formally the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, overseen by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. The project, one of the most complex and expensive in American history, replaced the elevated highway with the underground Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel and created the landmark Leonard P. Zakim Breeze Hill Bridge, with the new alignment fully opening in the early 2000s.

Major intersections

Interstate 93 intersects with numerous other major highways along its corridor. Its southern terminus is a multi-level interchange with Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 in Canton. In Quincy, it meets Massachusetts Route 3 southbound via the Braintree Split. A critical junction in Boston is with Interstate 90, the Massachusetts Turnpike, via a direct interchange. Further north, in Medford, it intersects with Massachusetts Route 16 and U.S. Route 1. In Andover, it has a major interchange with Interstate 495, a key beltway around Boston. Its final major intersection within Massachusetts is with Massachusetts Route 110 in Methuen, just south of the New Hampshire border.

Exit list

The exit numbering for Interstate 93 in Massachusetts runs sequentially from south to north, beginning with Exit 1 in Canton. Key exits include Exit 4 for Massachusetts Route 228 in Quincy, Exit 7 for Massachusetts Route 3 North in Braintree, and Exits 18-26 serving various points in downtown Boston, including Government Center and North Station. Exits 32 and 33 provide access to Mystic Valley Parkway and Massachusetts Route 16 in Medford. The interchange with Interstate 495 is at Exit 41 in Andover. Exits 45 and 46 serve Lawrence, and Exit 48 serves Massachusetts Route 110 in Methuen. The final exit in Massachusetts is Exit 50 for Massachusetts Route 110 in Salisbury, just before the highway crosses the state line into Salem, New Hampshire. Category:Interstate 93 Category:Transportation in Massachusetts