Interstate 189
Interstate 189 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Map I-189 highlighted in red. It's unused segments are in black. | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Auxiliary route of I-89 | ||||
| Maintained by VTrans | ||||
| Length | 1.49 mi[1] (2.40 km) | |||
| NHS | Entire route | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  US 7 on the South Burlington–Burlington city line | |||
| East end |  I-89 in South Burlington | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Vermont | |||
| Counties | Chittenden | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Interstate 189 (I-189) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in Chittenden County, Vermont. The spur extends for 1.49 miles (2.40 km) from I-89 exit 13 in South Burlington to US Route 7 (US 7) at the Burlington city limit. I-189 is the only auxiliary route of I-89 and the only auxiliary Interstate Highway in Vermont.
Route description
I-189 serves as an Interstate-grade connector between I-89 and a commercial district along US 7 (Shelburne Road). It is signed as an east–west highway. Prior to 2010, only one directional sign had been posted on the highway, on the eastbound side after the on-ramp from US 7. Sign replacements and additions in late 2010 added directional signs on both the eastbound and westbound sides of the route.
History
The concept of I-189, named as the Southern Connector, and the Champlain Parkway into the city of Burlington along the waterfront and service an industrial area was first made in the mid-1960s. Construction began in the 1980s but was delayed due to the presence of a toxic barge canal on Pine Street.[2] The alignment was planned go through the barge canal. C-1 Segment I-189 to Home Avenue was built in 1989, but construction was again delayed due continued legal challenges. These challenges mostly came from the Pine Street Coalition, who argued the project was unnecessary and too costly as well as discriminatory due to the increased traffic in the low-income and minority residents of King and Maple streets neighborhood. The Champlain Parkway project were eventually canceled as the city largely left behind its industrial past in favor of tourism in the 1980s and the roadway was abandoned just beyond the US 7 interchange. As a result, Jersey barriers are in place on I-189 west directing traffic onto the US 7 offramp, orphaning approximately 0.65 miles (1.05 km) of road, along with a few ramps. More support of the project in recent years has led to a resumption of construction.[3]
Future
The federal government previously gave the state a deadline to make a final decision on building the extension or they would lose matching funds. In early 2012, consensus settled on a two-lane parkway named the "Champlain Parkway" that will run northerly from Home Avenue for about 0.7 miles (1.1 km), then curve onto existing city streets in order to funnel traffic into downtown away from US 7.[4] I-189 will extend westward, then turn to the north, terminate at Home Avenue, and connect to the parkway. In August 2014, the parkway received its land use permit, clearing the way for the project to begin.[5] Opposition to the $30-million project and changes to its design led to delays in construction,[6][7] which finally began in June 2022.[8] Parts of the road are slated to open in mid-2024, with the entire highway going into service in 2027.[3]
Exit list
In 2020, Vermont added mileage-based numbers on existing signs; however, this route is exempted from this change. The entire route is in Chittenden County.
| Location | mi[9] | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Burlington | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 7 – Shelburne, Middlebury, Rutland, Burlington | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; western terminus; future southern terminus of Champlain Parkway | ||
| 1.488 | 2.395 | I-89 – Winooski, St. Albans, Williston, Montpelier | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; eastern terminus; Exit 87 on I-89 | |||
 Dorset Street – Burlington International Airport | At-grade intersection; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit ramp continues east as Kennedy Drive | |||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| ||||||
Images
Eastern terminus (August 2014)
Western terminus (August 2014)
Looking east at a sign for I-189
Looking south at the abandoned section of the Champlain Parkway with a makeshift skate park and graffiti
Looking north at the abandoned section
References
- ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Pine Street Canal Superfund". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ a b Crowley, Patrick (17 May 2023). "Federal judge rules in favor of Burlington in Champlain Parkway lawsuit". VTDigger. Retrieved 21 May 2023.WCAX News (17 May 2023). "Ruling paves the way for part of Champlain Parkway to open next year". Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ Champlain Parkway project map
- ^ WCAX News (26 August 2014). "Champlain Parkway Wins Act 250 Permit". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ Liguori, Priscilla (November 16, 2017). "Will construction for the Champlain Parkway finally begin?". WCAX. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ Battipaglia, Helena (May 21, 2018). "Residents ask planners to reconsider long-delayed Champlain Parkway project". NBC5. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ WCAX News (21 June 2022). "Champlain Parkway Construction Resumes". Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "2006 (Route Log) AADTs – State Highways" (PDF). Vermont Agency of Transportation. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
External links
