Interstate 195 was initially planned as Interstate 95E, and exists today as a spur from Providence, Rhode Island east to Falls River, New Bedford, and Wareham, Massachusetts. In addition to serving the aforementioned cities, Interstate 195 in conjunction with Massachusetts 25 and the U.S. 6 freeway serve Barnstable County and the greater Cape Cod resort areas.
Interstate 195 east
Interstate 195 parts with U.S. 6 and 44 before entering the state of Massachusetts. The freeway meets Massachusetts 114A (Fall River Avenue). Fall River Avenue carries the state highway through the Seekonk community between U.S. 6 (Highland Avenue) and U.S. 44 (Taunton Avenue). Connections with Rhode Island 114 lead travelers south to Barrington, Rhode Island. Photo taken 06/27/05.
The first reassurance shield posted on Interstate 195 eastbound within Massachusetts. Anthony Street spans the split carriageways of the freeway ahead. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Commercial vehicles must enter the weigh station located between Exits 1 and 2 on Interstate 195 during times of operation. Here is the approach sign and associated VMS. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Eastbound at the truck weigh station on Interstate 195 in southeast Seekonk. The freeway skims the southwestern reaches of the Town of Rehoboth next. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Massachusetts 136 (James Reynolds Road) intersects Interstate 195 at the Exit 2 half-cloverleaf interchange. The north-south highway serves the Warren and Bristol areas of Rhode Island to the south. Photo taken 06/27/05.
One half mile west of the Exit 2 off-ramp to Massachusetts 136 (James Reynolds Road). Massachusetts 136 transitions into Rhode Island 136 1.25 miles south of Interstate 195. The state highway continues south 7.5 miles to its merge with Rhode Island 114 near the Mt. Hope Bridge over Mt. Hope Bay. Rhode Island 114 continues the southward journey to Newport. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Travelers bound for Massachusetts 136 depart Interstate 195 east via Exit 2. Massachusetts 136 skims the western reaches of Swansea at the freeway. The state highway ends at Exit 2, with James Reynolds Road continuing a short distance to Davis Street. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Situated at the end of the Exit 2 ramp are signs directing travelers onto Massachusetts 136 south to junction U.S. 6 and Warren, Rhode Island. Rehoboth lies northward via Davis Street east and Pleasant Street north to Massachusetts 118. Photo taken 06/27/05.
U.S. 6 crosses paths with Interstate 195 for the first time at the Exit 3 half-cloverleaf interchange. The federal highway travels east from Exit 3 toward the Swansea town center and Somerset, a community nestled along the Taunton River. Massachusetts 118 ends nearby at U.S. 6 and Swansea Mall Drive. The state highway stems northward four miles to Rehoboth and 11 miles to North Rehoboth. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Next in line for eastbound travelers is the Exit 4 half-diamond interchange with Lee's River Avenue near Ocean Grove and South Swansea. Lee's River Road provides the connection onto the adjacent Massachusetts 103 (Wilbur Avenue) from Interstate 195 east. A partial-cloverleaf interchange joins Interstate 195 west with the state highway otherwise. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Interstate 195 continues east toward the through-truss Charles Braga Bridge over the Taunton River. The six-lane bridge was built in conjunction with the freeway between Exits 3 and 10 during 1960-65. Reconstruction of the bridge occurred in 1989.1 Photo taken 06/27/05.
The city of Fall River lies east of the Taunton River crossing of Interstate 195. Fall River derives its name from the Native American name Quequechan, which translates to Falling Water. The Quequechan River flows through the city. Fall River began as a Plymouth colonist settlement in 1659 after the purchase of land from the Native American Wampanoag tribe. The city later played a role in the Revolutionary War Battle of Fall River in 1778. The early 1800s saw the city named Troy, a name that would revert back to Fall River in 1934.2 Photo taken 06/27/05.
The eastern side of the Charles Braga Bridge ties into the south end of the Massachusetts 79 freeway near downtown Fall River. Massachusetts 79 straddles the west banks of the Taunton River northward to junction Massachusetts 24 en route to Taunton, Brockton, and Boston. Massachusetts 138 follows the frontage street system of the freeway north from Interstate 195 to junction U.S. 6, with both highways spanning the Taunton River west to Somerset and Swansea. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Entering the city of Fall River at mid span on Interstate 195 east over the Taunton River. Fall River's city limits extend southward to the Rhode Island state line. Massachusetts 138 follows Broadway and South Main Street to Rhode Island 138 and North Tiverton. Photo taken 06/27/05.
A second dusk look at the Charles Braga Bridge superstructure along Interstate 195 eastbound. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Continuing the descent on Interstate 195 east toward the directional ramps to Massachusetts 79 north and Massachusetts 138 (Broadway and Davol Streets). Davol Street North and South provide the frontage street system of the freeway north to U.S. 6. Massachusetts 138 spans the Taunton River with U.S. 6 before continuing north to Dighton and Taunton. Massachusetts 79 merges with the Massachusetts 24 freeway 10 miles south of Taunton. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Exit 5 leaves Interstate 195 east ahead of the Milliken Boulevard over crossing. The ramps to Massachusetts 79 and 139 tie into a double-deck freeway at the Massachusetts 138 transition from Broadway to Davol Street. Massachusetts 138 becomes Rhode Island 138 (Main Road) 2.5 miles south of Interstate 195. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Interstate 195 enters the tunnel underneath Fall River Government Center between Exits 5 and 6. Exits 6 and 7 quickly depart from eastbound after motorists reemerge from the tunnel. Exit 6 provides a ramp onto Hartwell Street toward the Government Center; Exit 7 serves the southbound beginning of Massachusetts 81 (Plymouth Avenue) for south Fall River and Rhode Island 81. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Six lanes of Interstate 195 travel underneath Fall River Government Center. The tunnel itself is more of a bridge structure supporting a large enough deck to accommodate the 1976-opened facility and its adjacent plazas and streets.1 Photo taken 06/27/05.
Approaching junction Massachusetts 24 south (Exit 8A) to Tiverton and Newport, Rhode Island. Massachusetts and Rhode Island 24 comprises a 48-mile freeway between Portsmouth, Rhode Island and Canton, Massachusetts. Rhode Island 24 north merges onto Interstate 195 east briefly between Exits 8A and 8B. Photo taken 06/27/05.
