New England Interstate I-92

TomWhite

As I used Google Maps to calculate my 1973/74 long ski trip for that thread, I wondered what interstates were in use. I tried to find an article on such. I don’t think I’ll look more but I found “The East-West New England I-92”. There were (at least) three paths proposed. The article shows 3 maps. Below are selected paragraphs. I'm sure the Canadian government was interested in the northern route.

I-92

ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DESIGNATION: In 1970, the states of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine collaborated on two new proposed Interstate routes. The routes among a total of approximately 10,000 miles submitted under the guidelines of the 1968 Federal Highway Act, which called for a total of 1,500 new Interstate miles. They were routed as follows:
• 174.3 miles of new Interstate mileage from Albany, New York east to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This highway would have incorporated the route of the current NH 101 Expressway (Exeter-Hampton Expressway).

• 388.2 miles of new Interstate mileage from Glens Falls, New York east to Calais, Maine. This amount does not include overlay mileage along I-89 and I-95, which would have been incorporated into the east-west highway.
In 1971, Bartlett Cram, industrial consultant; Hamilton South, a former Marine brigadier general who was Vice President of Albany's National Commercial Bank and Trust Company; and Clifford Barnes, executive vice president of the Rutland (Vermont) Chamber of Commerce, offered their own proposal: a 500-mile-long expressway (with approximately 367 miles of new construction) linking Amsterdam, New York with Calais, Maine. The transportation link was devised as an economic catalyst for the "Appalachia of New England." Like the official state submissions, this group also sought 90 percent Federal financing for the route.

MAINE OFFICIALS RESURRECT PLANS: More than a quarter century after I-92 was cancelled, officials in Maine and Canada devised plans for an east-west highway connecting the Maritime Provinces with Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto. The 1999 "East-West Highway Study" developed by the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) proposed five corridors -- three on existing alignment and two on new alignment -- all of which would be paid 80 percent by the Federal government:

http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/I-92/

slatham

Very interesting. I was not aware of these plans. Did they ever get serious consideration? Hard to believe the VT portions would have been approved even back in the 70's, and certainly not now.

abubob

My wife and I drive to southern Ohio every year (except for the last two) the only part I don’t enjoy is connecting to 87 in NY. A smoother connection to the Southern Tier Hwy in NY would be appreciated. I hate 90; t’s boring and desolate.

Interstate highways tent to disconnect you from the area you drive through so not a huge fan. However, I would like to be disconnected from driving through is Troy NY. Large cities need to be circumnavigated but I like driving through small towns like the kind you have in NH and VT.

NELSAP

Part of the Glens Falls-Calais route was built - the Route 4 section from the NY Border to Rutland. There's even an abandoned unfinished interchange at the NY border. The section from Glens Falls-VT would be a great addition today using the 149-Route 4 route. The current portion from Fort Ann to Whitehall is a tough stretch, with sharp curves on top of hills.

NewEnglandSkier13

It faced heavy opposition here in Maine and people still bristle at any mention of it.

rickbolger

NELSAP;c-51302 wrotePart of the Glens Falls-Calais route was built - the Route 4 section from the NY Border to Rutland. There's even an abandoned unfinished interchange at the NY border. The section from Glens Falls-VT would be a great addition today using the 149-Route 4 route. The current portion from Fort Ann to Whitehall is a tough stretch, with sharp curves on top of hills.

The section between Fort Ann and Whitehall was realigned about 40 years ago, it used to have more turns and was adjacent to the canal for a stretch -- although that stretch wasn't terrible. It was concrete sections and featured a continuous kachunk kachunk sound as you drove along. the curvy hills closer to Whitehall remain mostly unchanged, and drivers still cross the center line all the time on those hills.

Whitehall NY Motto: Even McDonalds Failed Here

lotsoskiing

rickbolger;c-51309 wrote
NELSAP;c-51302 wrotePart of the Glens Falls-Calais route was built - the Route 4 section from the NY Border to Rutland. There's even an abandoned unfinished interchange at the NY border. The section from Glens Falls-VT would be a great addition today using the 149-Route 4 route. The current portion from Fort Ann to Whitehall is a tough stretch, with sharp curves on top of hills.
The section between Fort Ann and Whitehall was realigned about 40 years ago, it used to have more turns and was adjacent to the canal for a stretch -- although that stretch wasn't terrible. It was concrete sections and featured a continuous kachunk kachunk sound as you drove along. the curvy hills closer to Whitehall remain mostly unchanged, and drivers still cross the center line all the time on those hills.

Whitehall NY Motto: Even McDonalds Failed Here

I hate that stretch....will be on it for Thanksgiving trek once again...

sugarloaf

As someone who drives on Massachusetts Turnpike, I wish it had more exits between Westfield and Western Massachusetts. I think part of the reason Blandford is out of business is because it's difficult to get to from I-90. The highway is literally a few miles away, but not accessible.

I know there's talk about adding more exits, but I don't see it happening. I wonder if it's even In any planning with potential infrastructure funds.

Schweig_1

I read somewhere (I don’t remember where) that I-88 in New York was supposed to go from Binghamton, NY to Bennington, VT. New York State received Federal funding to build it, contingent on the route being toll free. The state built it at far as Schenectady, which funneled motorists onto the New York $tate Thruway, which wasn’t toll-free. The Feds didn’t like that, and that is why the thruway is toll free for people traversing from I-88 to I-87 North.
In Bennington, the big highway interchange where Rt 9 meets Rt 7 was a remnant of that plan, which for most of the 1970’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 00’s was partially unused.

TomWhite

That's 279 and 7 right?

z1000307470

sugarloaf;c-51311 wroteAs someone who drives on Massachusetts Turnpike, I wish it had more exits between Westfield and Western Massachusetts. I think part of the reason Blandford is out of business is because it's difficult to get to from I-90. The highway is literally a few miles away, but not accessible.

I know there's talk about adding more exits, but I don't see it happening. I wonder if it's even In any planning with potential infrastructure funds.

It is absurd to have a 30 mile stretch of highway with no exit - but NIMBY!!!
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/archives/lawmakers-agree-if-blandford-doesnt-want-new-pike-exit-case-closed/article_17856f5a-6a43-5b38-9be1-e20f4241e746.html

Schweig_1

TomWhite;c-51320 wroteThat's 279 and 7 right?

That’s what I meant to say: where 279 meets 7.

conrad

In the early 2010's there was a private proposal that would have an east-west highway just in Maine, connecting New Brunswick in Quebec. The tolls were going to be very high with the primary customer base being Canadian truckers. I don't believe it was a very popular idea and I forget what happened in the end, but eventually it went away.

ski_it

lotsoskiing;c-51310 wrote
rickbolger;c-51309 wrote
NELSAP;c-51302 wrotePart of the Glens Falls-Calais route was built - the Route 4 section from the NY Border to Rutland. There's even an abandoned unfinished interchange at the NY border. The section from Glens Falls-VT would be a great addition today using the 149-Route 4 route. The current portion from Fort Ann to Whitehall is a tough stretch, with sharp curves on top of hills.
The section between Fort Ann and Whitehall was realigned about 40 years ago, it used to have more turns and was adjacent to the canal for a stretch -- although that stretch wasn't terrible. It was concrete sections and featured a continuous kachunk kachunk sound as you drove along. the curvy hills closer to Whitehall remain mostly unchanged, and drivers still cross the center line all the time on those hills.

Whitehall NY Motto: Even McDonalds Failed Here

I hate that stretch....will be on it for Thanksgiving trek once again...

Well keep your eyes open for Sasquatch, Amish buggies..and the smokies. I've heard the latter love out of state skiers headed for Killington.

NELSBEER

All smokies love all skiers, they're more fun to chase than old tractors.