Interstate 189

Interstate 189
Champlain Parkway
Map of Chittenden County in western Vermont with I-189 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by VTrans
Length:	1.488 mi[1] (2.395 km)
Major junctions
West end:	US 7 at South Burlington/Burlington city line
East end:	I‑89 in South Burlington
Location
Counties:	Chittenden
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business State highways in Vermont ← VT 155 VT 191 →

Interstate 189 (abbreviated I-189) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The highway extends for 1.488 miles (2.395 km) from Interstate 89 exit 13 in South Burlington to US Route 7 at the Burlington city limit. I-189 is the only spur on the entire length of I-89.

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 into the city of Burlington along the waterfront and service an industrial area.^[2] Construction was delayed due to the presence of a toxic barge canal^[3] and eventually cancelled 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 off-ramp, orphaning approximately 0.65 miles (1.05 km) of road, along with a few ramps.

Unused section of 189 to the west of US 7; the current interchange is visible in the distance.

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. As of Spring 2012, consensus is for a two-lane parkway named the "Champlain Parkway" that will run northerly from Home Avenue for about 0.7 miles (1.1 km), then curve onto existing city streets in order to funnel traffic into downtown away from US 7.^[4] 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.^[5]

Exit list

The entire route is in Chittenden County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Burlington			Home Avenue	Future at-grade western terminus of I-189; to continue northward as the Champlain Parkway
South Burlington	0.000	0.000	US 7 – Shelburne, Middlebury, Rutland, Burlington	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; current western terminus
	1.488	2.395	I‑89 – Winooski, St. Albans, Williston, Montpelier, Montreal	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; eastern terminus; I-89 exit 13
			Dorset Street – Burlington International Airport	At-grade intersection; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit ramp continues east as Kennedy Drive
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Unopened

References

Route map: Bing / Google

1. "2006 (Route Log) AADTs – State Highways" (PDF). Vermont Agency of Transportation. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
2. "Interstate 189 Vermont at Interstate-Guide.com". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
3. "Pine Street Canal Superfund". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
4. Champlain Parkway project map
5. WCAX News (26 August 2014). "Champlain Parkway Wins Act 250 Permit". Retrieved 5 October 2014.