Regional Boards > Northeast
How did Boston get 495?
kernals12:
Boston is lucky to have 2 freeway loops; 95/128 and 495. It means that congestion in Boston's suburbs is merely annoying rather than unbearable.
It's especially amazing when you consider all the cities that clearly need outer loops but don't have them (Washington DC, Atlanta, Seattle) or do have them but users are required to pay tolls (Houston, Dallas, Chicago). So how did Boston luck out?
1:
Four of the six cities you mention had much lower populations when the Interstate system was first being built.
The Ghostbuster:
Boston almost had a third loop, the Middle Circumferential Highway: http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/middle-belt/. However, the road proved to be unfeasible.
webny99:
--- Quote from: The Ghostbuster on February 19, 2022, 12:20:33 PM ---Boston almost had a third loop, the Middle Circumferential Highway: http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/middle-belt/. However, the road proved to be unfeasible.
--- End quote ---
Interesting. There is also an almost-complete third loop outside of I-495, following I-195, I-95, RI/MA 146, I-290, I-190, (gap), the Everett Turnpike, I-293, I-93, and NH 101. I don't think that's by design, but it could be used that way aside from the gap between Leominster, MA and Nashua, NH.
I-495 also serves as an important regional connector to Cape Cod in the south and NH/ME in the north; it's much more than just a loop around Boston.
kernals12:
--- Quote from: The Ghostbuster on February 19, 2022, 12:20:33 PM ---Boston almost had a third loop, the Middle Circumferential Highway: http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/middle-belt/. However, the road proved to be unfeasible.
--- End quote ---
"almost" is doing a lot of heavy lifting. As far as I can tell, it was never anything more than a line on a map. Bostonroads is the only place I can find any reference to it.
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