Interstate 189
Opened in 1962, Interstate 189 provides a short freeway connection between U.S. 7 (Shelburne Road) and Interstate 89 in South Burlington. The freeway carries four overall lanes and a 55 mph speed limit. Extensions of Interstate 189 westbound were planned to tie the route into the Burlington Belt Line in 1965 and downtown Burlington via the Southern Connector in 1979. See Burlington, Vermont @ NorthEastRoads.com for a detailed history on Interstate 189 and its planned extensions.
Profile map showing the unopened Southern Connector "C-1 Segment". At one point this interchange was configured as a trumpet, with a westbound Interstate 189 to southbound U.S. 7 direct connection. That ramp was abandoned and now all westbound traffic ascends to a signalized intersection with U.S. 7.
Interstate 189's western terminus consists of a partial-cloverleaf interchange with several unused ramps. These ramps tie into an unopened section of four-lane parkway, known as the Southern Connector, that was constructed in the late 1990s. The closed ramps from/to Interstate 189 and U.S. 7 were blocked with small flower gardens in 2000 but even those were abandoned to a fate of grass and weeds by 2007. A no hitchhiking sign was even posted at the unopened ramp between U.S. 7 north and the Southern Connector west in 2000 but was also removed by 2007.
| Interstate 189 East
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| Eastbound Interstate 189 and the only reassurance shield posted on the short route. Photo taken 07/23/00.
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| End Eastbound Interstate 189 at Junction Interstate 89 (#1). This photo was taken on the mainline of Interstate 189, with three choices afforded: north Interstate 89, the Burlington Airport, and south Interstate 89. The next photo documents the northbound transition ramp from eastbound Interstate 189. Photo taken 07/23/00.
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| End Eastbound Interstate 189 at Junction Interstate 89 (#2). This photo was taken on the transition ramp from eastbound Interstate 189 to northbound Interstate 89. The ramp to the right leads to the Burlington airport. Photo taken 07/23/00.
| | Interstate 189 West
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| End Westbound Interstate 189 at Junction U.S. 7 south of Burlington. Interstate 189 was planned to continue west from this point east for another half mile, then turn north along the Lake Champlain shoreline to serve downtown Burlington. This freeway was not completed, although a significant portion of it was constructed but remains unused (see below photographs). Photo taken 07/23/00.
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| Scenes Pertaining to Interstate 189
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| Interstate 189 and U.S. 7 shields posted on Dorsett Street southbound ahead of the intersection with Kennedy Drive. Dorsett Street westbound transitions into Interstate 189 just west of the signal ahead. Photo taken 07/23/00.
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| Interstate 189 and U.S. 7 trailblazers located on Dorsett Street westbound near the airport and Kennedy Drive. Photo taken 07/23/00.
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Unopened Southern Connector
| This view shows the western half of the interchange in the map above. Lane stripings and even lampposts still remain from where westbound traffic to U.S. 7 southbound used the ramp from east I-189 to south U.S. 7. Photo taken 07/23/00.
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| View from the westbound lanes looking at the eastern half of the interchange where all I-189 traffic is shunted onto the ramp to U.S. 7. Here one can see the barrier blocking the westbound lanes, and the never opened ramp from northbound U.S. 7 to westbound I-189. Again, notice the lamposts that still remain. Photo taken 07/23/00.
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| Now we are standing on the eastbound lanes looking at the beginning of the ramp from I-189 east to U.S. 7 south. If you look closely, you can see a clearing just beyond the ramp's beginning where traffic to southbound U.S. 7 from I-189 west used to travel. Just to our backs are jersey barriers that keep traffic off of abandoned I-189 from the local road of Pine Street. Photo taken 07/23/00.
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| Rock outcroppings on Interstate 189 to the west of the U.S. 7 interchange. Some blasting had to be done in order to get this section constructed, and many of the homes on the eastbound side overlook the closed roadway. Photo taken 07/23/00.
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| This is the vantage point one sees when looking south from the Home Avenue area. Behind us stood a small gravel area, then a set of jersey barriers blocking traffic from turning onto the freeway. A railroad line sits to our right, and behind us sits a residential neighborhood. Photo taken 07/23/00.
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Page Updated September 10, 2007.
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