I-189

Interstate 189 (I-189) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in Chittenden County, Vermont. The spur extends for 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

There was once a plan for the highway to continue north, named as the Southern Connector, into the city of Burlington along the waterfront and service an industrial area. Construction was delayed due to the presence of a toxic barge canal on Pine Street. The alignment was planned go through the barge canal. C-1 Segment I-189 to Home Avenue was built in 1989 and then was eventually canceled as the city largely left behind its industrial past in favor of tourism in the 1980s. 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 of road, along with a few ramps.

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. , consensus is for a two-lane parkway named the "Champlain Parkway" that will run northerly from Home Avenue for about , then curve onto existing city streets in order to funnel traffic into downtown away from US 7. I-189 would 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. Opposition to the $30-million project and changes to its design have led to delays in construction, which finally has begun in June 2022.

Exit list

In 2020, Vermont added mileage-based numbers on existing signs; however, this route is exempted from this change.

Images

File:I189 east terminus.jpg, Eastern terminus (August 2014)
File:I189 west terminus.jpg, Western terminus (August 2014)
File:I189 looking west.jpg, Looking east at a sign for I-189
File:Abandoned section of I-189.jpg, Looking south at the abandoned section of Interstate with a makeshift skate park and graffiti
File:Abandoned I189 Looking North.jpg, Looking north at the abandoned section

References

External links

{{Burlington, Vermont

89-1
89-1
South Burlington, Vermont
Transportation in Chittenden County, Vermont