List of unused highways in Massachusetts

An unused highway may reference a highway or highway ramp that was partially or fully constructed but was unused or later closed. An unused ramp can be referred to as a stub ramp, stub street, stub-out, or simply stub. The following is a list:

Massachusetts

A number of cloverleaf interchanges in the Boston area have a missing arm and overly wide bridges, reflecting an unbuilt highway. Many of these were imposed as a result of the moratorium on highways inside Massachusetts State Route 128 imposed after the Boston Transportation Planning Review.

Canton/Westwood

• Interstate 95 was cancelled north of what is now the I-95/Massachusetts Route 128 and Interstate 93 junction. This cloverleaf has also been converted into a trumpet interchange, but grading for the cloverleaf and collector-distributor lane, plus an extra bridge for a flyover from I-95 south to Massachusetts Route 128 south, are still clearly visible. Portions of the roadway to the north, proposed as the Southwest Expressway, are paved and somewhat overgrown and can be traversed by foot today. 1965 MassDPW map 19

Revere

• Interstate 95 was to go through Boston and planned to split from U.S. Route 1 at what is now the junction of U.S. 1 and Massachusetts State Route 60. Ramps for the unbuilt portion of I-95 remain visible, and a graded embankment extends to the Saugus River. 20

Burlington

• At the junction of Interstate 95/Massachusetts Route 128 and U.S. Route 3, U.S. 3 south of the junction was cancelled in 1971. The cloverleaf has since been converted into a somewhat awkward trumpet interchange, but grading for the cloverleaf is still clearly visible. 1965 MassDPW map 21

Boston

• Cancellation of Interstate 695 (The Inner Belt) resulted in two incomplete Y interchanges in The Downtown area. Four ramp stubs existed at the planned northern terminus interchange and two can still be seen today while two others were converted into the Leverett Circle Connector. 22 View before the Big Dig. The other was at exit 20 (proposed exit 15), which serves Massachusetts Avenue, Roxbury, and Andrew Square. 23 The interchange has been completed and stubs removed since the Big Dig was completed. 1965 MassDPW map

• Another Y interchange was for U.S. Route 1 north of the Charles River crossing. Stubs were created when U.S. 1 was tunneled under the center of Charlestown. That set of ramp stubs disappeared when the Big Dig was completed and the old, elevated highway torn down, though a few can still be seen on Google maps. 24 Prior to the Big Dig.

Attleboro

• Both of the proposed alignments for Interstate 895 planned to connect at the Interstate 295 and Interstate 95 interchange. Stubs exit on the mainline of I-295 just east of the interchange. The Massachusetts Highway Department plans to construct the "Attleboro Connector" from this interchange, which is to be a divided highway spur into the city. 25

Marlborough

• At the junction of Interstate 495 and Interstate 290, the bridges over I-495 are wider than needed for the two-lane freeway connector into Hudson, as there were once plans to extend I-290 all the way to Massachusetts Route 128. There is also grading for an abandoned cloverleaf loop from I-290 east to I-495 north. This was replaced by a flyover, due to a large number of truck rollovers on the ramp. 1968 MassDPW map 26

West Stockbridge

• The western end of the Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike has ramp stubs where it once curved at the border to end at Massachusetts State Route 102. 27

Somerville

• The Sullivan Square overpass was recently dismantled, leaving a stub approach on Massachusetts State Route 99. 28 29

Agawam

• Massachusetts State Route 57 ends abruptly at Massachusetts State Route 187, with a stub continuation in the median. This is planned for further extension as a Southwick bypass as traffic may warrant. 30

See also

• List of unused highways in the United States
• List of unused highways
• list of ghost towns