The manner in which Route 2 was joined to the older expressway accounts for the left exit and entrance at Routes 2 and 17. I-491 was eventually cancelled, but the Route 3 expressway was completed between Route 2 and Interstate 91 in 1987. A few years later, Route 2 was widened to three lanes in each direction between routes 3 and 17. In the 1960s, the state added Route 17 to its expressway plan, proposing a freeway extension from Hubbard Street down to a proposed Route 66 expressway in Portland. This was never built.
North is to the right.
The Expressway as constructed intersected Hebron Ave. Because of the short merging distance, access to Route 17 from Bantle Road was now prohibited. This was not done, although auxiliary lanes were added between routes 3 and 17 in 1990. In 1987, a trumpet interchange was built at the town line to connect the upgraded Route 3 freeway with Route 2. In 1990, auxiliary lanes were added between routes 3 and 17, making the highway six lanes in that area.