Massachusetts/New Hampshire Route 286

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Route 286

Length:

3.7 mi (6.0 km)
Massachusetts: 1.40^[1]mi (2.25km)
New Hampshire: 2.3^[2] mi (3.8 km)

Formed:

1971^{[citation needed]}

West end:

I-95 in Salisbury, MA

Major
junctions:

US 1 in Salisbury, MA

East end:

NH 1A, in Seabrook, NH

Browse numbered routes

< Route 240	MA	I-290 >
< NH 236	NH	I-293 >

Route 286 is a short, east-west state highway in Salisbury, Massachusetts and Seabrook, New Hampshire.

The eastern terminus of Route 286 is at the junction with NH 1A (Ocean Boulevard), which runs north–south along the Atlantic shore, approximately 160 feet (55 m) north of the Massachusetts/New Hampshire state line. The road continues into Massachusetts on Collins Street in Salisbury, and then connects with US 1 and I-95. Some maps incorrectly^[3] show the New Hampshire section of 286 briefly crossing into Massachusetts, just west of its terminus at NH 1A.

The total length of Route 286 is approximately 3.7 miles (6.0 km), of which approximately 2.3 miles (3.8 km) is in New Hampshire. The total length of Route 286 in Massachusetts is approximately 1.4 miles (2.25 km).

[edit] History

Route 286 was previously designated as Route 86.

Between 1971 and 1984, Massachusetts had an Interstate 86, which ran from Sturbridge, Massachusetts, to Hartford, Connecticut. The construction of I-86 prompted Massachusetts Route 86 to be renumbered to "286" because, according to MassHighway protocol, a state highway and an interstate highway may not share the same number. (The only exception to this rule is Massachusetts Route 295 and I-295, which are on opposite ends of the state.) When Massachusetts renumbered Route 86 to 286, New Hampshire matched the change on its section.

In 1984, plans to connect I-84 along the present day I-384/US 6 corridor from Hartford to Providence was scuttled for environmental reasons. As a result, I-84 was rerouted onto the completed I-86 freeway. The existing section of the old I-84 became I-384. The Massachusetts State Route has kept the 286 number, and by extension the New Hampshire road has as well.

Today I-86 is the former Southern Tier Expressway/NY-17 in New York State as that road is upgraded to Interstate Highway standards.