Editing Interstate 91 (section)

== History ==
{{See also|Romaine Tenney|label 1=Romaine Tenney, Vermont farmer whose land was acquired to build Interstate 91}}
A limited-access highway replacement for [[U.S. Route 5|US&nbsp;5]] was planned at the federal level starting in 1944. A 1953 Massachusetts plan was funded by the [[Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956]], along with spur [[Interstate 291 (Massachusetts)|I-291]] (but not [[Interstate 391|I-391]]). The Vermont section of I-91 was built in stages from 1958 to 1965.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://digital.vpr.net/post/four-decades-36000-photographs-construction-i-89-and-i-91#stream/0 |title = Building of Vermont section |date = November 21, 2013 |publisher = digital.vpr.net |access-date = January 5, 2018 |archive-date = January 6, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180106065029/http://digital.vpr.net/post/four-decades-36000-photographs-construction-i-89-and-i-91#stream/0 |url-status = live }}</ref> In Massachusetts from [[Bernardston, Massachusetts|Bernardston]] to [[Northampton, Massachusetts|Northampton]], I-91 follows an abandoned [[Right-of-way (transportation)|right-of-way]] of the [[New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad]]. To support plans for [[urban renewal]] along the "low value" waterfront, the highway crossed the Connecticut River to parallel active New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad tracks on the Springfield side of the river, bypassing [[West Springfield, Massachusetts|West Springfield]] and [[Agawam, Massachusetts|Agawam]], Massachusetts. Later, this path was perceived as cutting off the city from the river, restricting further commercial development. By 1960, a few miles in Massachusetts were completed, starting from the Connecticut and Vermont state lines. Massachusetts construction was completed from 1960s to 1970.<ref name="bostonroads">{{cite web |title = I-91 Springfield: MassDOT answers your questions about Interstate 91 reconstruction |url = https://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2016/01/i-91_massdot_answers_reader_questions_ab.html |website = masslive.com |date = January 14, 2016 |access-date = August 10, 2018 |archive-date = August 10, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180810174748/https://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2016/01/i-91_massdot_answers_reader_questions_ab.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

In the 1950s–1970s, there were [[Long Island Sound link|plans]] to extend I-91 to [[Wading River, New York]], from its existing terminus in [[New Haven, Connecticut]], via a crossing of the [[Long Island Sound]] (see "Unbuilt Long Island extension" below).<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url = http://future.newsday.com/10/fgsound.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040710174432/http://future.newsday.com/10/fgsound.htm |archive-date = July 10, 2004 |work = Newsday |last = Madden |first = Steve |title = Spanning the Sound |access-date = September 18, 2015 |url-status = unfit }}</ref> Vermont completed its last sections of I-91 in 1978.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.historicvermont.org/sites/html/history.html |title = Vermont History Timeline |work = HistoricVermont.org |author = Division for Historic Preservation |publisher = [[Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development]] |date = n.d. |access-date = December 17, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110927035345/http://www.historicvermont.org/sites/html/history.html |archive-date = September 27, 2011 }}</ref>

Starting in the 1990s, several rest areas were downgraded in Vermont, increasing distances between facilities. In 2008, Vermont closed the Springfield–Rockingham rest areas because of suspected use by drug abusers. In 2009, the northbound rest area in Hartford was closed, creating a {{convert|90|mi|km|adj=on}} gap in on-highway facilities. At the present time, there exist two intermediate rest areas with facilities in each direction, in addition to a welcome center at each end of the state. Several parking areas remain open.<ref name="rh">{{cite news |url = http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20081210/THISJUSTIN/812100294 |title = Drugs, Sex Force Rest Stop Closure |work = [[Rutland Herald]] |agency = [[Associated Press]] |date = December 10, 2008 |access-date = May 10, 2009 |archive-date = July 5, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090705100848/http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20081210/THISJUSTIN/812100294 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

In the early 1990s after the [[Interstate 284|I-284]] project was canceled, the exit&nbsp;44 interchange in [[East Windsor, Connecticut]], was altered as it was designed to be part of the freeway. After alterations, exit&nbsp;44 connected to US&nbsp;5 for all traffic to get on and off. As a result, exit&nbsp;43 was shut down and closed in that same time frame. Exit&nbsp;43 was a northbound exit/southbound entrance on [[Connecticut Route 510|Route&nbsp;510]]/Main Street in East Windsor, which was about {{convert|320|m|ft|order=flip}} away from exit&nbsp;44.

After the [[September 11 attacks]], a seldom-staffed temporary border patrol checkpoint was installed near [[White River Junction, Vermont]], about {{convert|100|mi|km}} from the Canada–United States border.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.acluvt.org/issues/border_patrol_stops.php |title = Border Patrol Stops |publisher = American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont |author = American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont |date = n.d. |access-date = December 17, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213170823/http://www.acluvt.org/issues/border_patrol_stops.php |archive-date = February 13, 2012 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

In 2005, the [[Massachusetts Highway Department]] completed a rebuild of on- and offramps in Springfield to reduce accidents caused by weaving near the tightly spaced exits.<ref name="bostonroads" />

=== Impact in Springfield, MA ===
[[File:I-91 Springfield viaduct meets completion, Massachusetts Dept of Public Works.jpg|thumb|right|I-91 in 1969, just after completion of the viaduct which would separate Springfield from the Connecticut River. [[St. Joseph's Church (Springfield, Massachusetts)|St. Joseph's Church]] and the Campanile can be seen in the foreground, as well as an incomplete Tower Square.]]

During its construction in the 1960s, I-91 sliced through three Springfield neighborhoods: the [[North End, Springfield, Massachusetts|North End]], [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]], and [[South End, Springfield, Massachusetts|South End]], which led to [[urban decay]] in the highway's vicinity. Springfield's portion of the Interstate was widely regarded as positive progress when it was built. However, by the 2010s, it would come to be perceived as disrupting the urban fabric of riverfront neighborhoods while effectively disconnecting the [[Connecticut River]], the [[Connecticut River Walk Park]] and the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] from everything east of the highway—the majority of the city. I-91 was erected without tunnels, footbridges or other paths, a design choice which poses logistical problems for travel between the riverfront and the remainder of the city. This, in turn, poses problems for businesses that would like to set up along the riverfront. The placement of I-91 has left Springfield's riverfront virtually undeveloped, aside from the sliver of land surrounding the Basketball Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite news |author = The Republican Editorials |date = February 26, 2010 |title = Editorial: Tapping Potential of Springfield's Riverfront |work = MassLive |url = http://www.masslive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/02/editorial_tapping_potential_of.html |access-date = December 17, 2011 |archive-date = September 25, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120925032705/http://www.masslive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/02/editorial_tapping_potential_of.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

In 2010, the [[Urban Land Institute]] made recommendations for how Springfield might reconnect with its riverfront, in order to revitalize the area through [[urban renewal]], suggesting the most cost-effective but also the most development-limiting strategy (constructing pathways beneath I-91). No decision has been reached regarding those recommendations.<ref>{{cite web |author = Office of Planning and Economic Development |date = 2008 |title = River's Landing Project |url = http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/riverfront-proj.0.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080703195451/http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/riverfront-proj.0.html |archive-date = July 3, 2008 |access-date = December 17, 2011 |publisher = City of Springfield, MA }}</ref> {{As of|2011}}, academic and civic studies are still underway. Preliminary findings indicate that I-91's placement negatively impacts tourism in Springfield's Metro Center—the site of many of Springfield's historic, cultural, and entertainment venues. Springfield's most popular tourist attraction, the riverfront Basketball Hall of Fame, is separated from Metro Center by a {{convert|20|ft|m|adj=on}} stone wall, buttressing an elevated portion of the six-lane I-91 and greatly discouraging travel between the two areas. Academic suggestions that involve the demolition of the current highway and moving it to a less obtrusive site in the city have been proposed, including the demolition of the highway and following the original path suggested, Riverdale Road, and, least obtrusive but still requiring a great deal of work, a plan to construct numerous walkways beneath the elevated highway to better integrate the neighborhoods with the waterfront despite the highway's presence.<ref>{{cite web |last1 = Fay |first1 = Tony |date = January 29, 2016 |title = Long term solutions: What could become of I-91 in Springfield? |url = https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/long-term-solutions-what-could-become-of-i-91-in-springfield/1043655415 |access-date = August 15, 2018 |location = Springfield, Massachusetts |publisher = WWLP-TV |archive-date = October 1, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201001060252/https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/long-term-solutions-what-could-become-of-i-91-in-springfield/1043655415/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Unbuilt Long Island extension ===
{{Interstate 91 Extension}}
Between the 1950s and 1970s, officials proposed extending I-91 across the [[Long Island Sound]] from its current terminus at the I-91/[[Interstate 95|I-95]] interchange in [[New Haven, Connecticut]], to [[Wading River, New York]], by means of a bridge over the Long Island Sound, as one of the many [[Long Island Sound link|Long Island Sound Link]] proposals.<ref name=":0" /> The extension would have continued southward from Wading River to the southern shore of [[Long Island]] by the existing [[County Route 46 (Suffolk County, New York)|County Route&nbsp;46]] (William Floyd Parkway) in central [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk County]]—which would have been updated to [[Interstate Highway standards]]. It would also provide easier access to New York City via the [[Interstate 495 (New York)|Long Island Expressway]] (I-495), as well as to [[the Hamptons]] via [[New York State Route 27]] (Sunrise Highway). The various proposals for this never-built extension were ultimately dropped after a 1979 study of the concept.<ref>{{cite news |last = Stannard |first = Charles |date = May 14, 2002 |title = The Bridge That Never Was: Cable Flap Brings To Mind Sound-Crossing Controversy |work = [[Hartford Courant]] |url = https://www.courant.com/2002/05/14/the-bridge-that-never-was/ |access-date = September 18, 2015 |archive-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060937/http://articles.courant.com/2002-05-14/news/0205141460_1_long-island-sound-bridge-project-chesapeake-bay-bridge-tunnel |url-status = live }}</ref> Following this, officials proposed to connect the New Haven and [[Shoreham, New York|Shoreham]]–Wading River areas by means of ferry service across the Long Island Sound—however, the plans to implement these cross-sound ferry services were ultimately mothballed, as well.<ref>{{cite web |last = Anderson |first = Steve |title = William Floyd Parkway |url = http://www.nycroads.com/roads/CR-46/ |access-date = March 18, 2010 |work = NYCRoads |archive-date = June 6, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100606072306/http://www.nycroads.com/roads/CR-46/ |url-status = live }}{{sps|certain=yes|date=July 2020}}</ref>

Despite the cancelation of the bridge, many Long Islanders are still in favor of building one.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title = Shoreham-New Haven Bridge (I-91, unbuilt) |url = http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/shoreham-newhaven/ |access-date = 2020-07-25 |website = NYCRoads |archive-date = January 29, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200129130546/http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/shoreham-newhaven/ |url-status = live }}{{sps|certain=yes|date=July 2020}}</ref> In 2000, a survey was conducted by [[News 12 Networks]] and [[Newsday]], which found that the majority (63&nbsp;percent) of Long Islanders were in support of such a project.<ref name=":1" />

In 2016, the proposal was again renewed by New York Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]], as either a bridge or a tunnel.<ref name=":1" /> However, these plans were also dropped, as announced by the [[New York State Department of Transportation]] in 2018.<ref name=":1" />
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