History
Built in the early 1960s and opened on October 24, 1962, the Lowell Connector is located along the re-channelled River Meadow (or Hales) Brook. This alignment minimally affected existing neighborhoods, unlike many urban expressways in the region. Plans to extend the Connector through the city's Back Central neighborhood, up to and along the Concord River, then onward to Lowell's main street, Merrimack Street, were drawn out, but abandoned after they were decided to be too disruptive to one of the oldest parts of the city. This left the highway terminating abruptly at a residential section of Gorham Street.
Another plan circa 1968 had the connector connecting to the planned route of Massachusetts Route 213 in Dracut.
The Connector was officially named for the American Legion on May 20, 1963, a few months after opening; however, signs reflecting this were not posted until November 16, 2010.
When the Connector was originally built, it was signed as Interstate 495 Business Spur. It no longer carries any numeric designation, although a sign that was recently removed had designated it as such on Plain Street (Exit 4).
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