State, city officials dedicate I-290 span to basketball Hall of Famer
WORCESTER — Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and other state leaders on Friday formally dedicated the I-290 bridge that carries motorists over Southbridge Street as the Bob Cousy Pass, honoring the Celtics legend and longtime Worcester resident.
The designation cements a public tribute to Cousy, a Basketball Hall of Famer and former Holy Cross All-American who has lived in Worcester for nearly eight decades. Officials said the naming is intended to be a lasting recognition of Cousy’s career and community ties.
“I bonded with Worcester the minute I stepped off the train and took a nice big whiff of fresh New England air,” Cousy said during the ceremony.
Healey announced in her State of the Commonwealth address in January that she planned to dedicate a bridge in Cousy’s honor. At Friday’s ceremony she said the pass will stand as a lasting tribute to a career defined by “excellence, innovation, leadership and an unwavering commitment to his community.”
Local context and significance
The renaming places Cousy’s name on a heavily traveled span of I-290, ensuring that commuters and visitors will encounter the tribute daily. For Worcester — the state’s second-largest city and home to institutions such as College of the Holy Cross — the dedication connects a national sports figure to the city’s local identity.
Friday’s dedication follows a high-profile local naming last year, when officials renamed the Washington Street Bridge in Boston for Bill Russell, Cousy’s former Celtics teammate and fellow Hall of Famer. The two dedications link Boston area bridges to two of the region’s most notable basketball figures.
What the dedication means for residents
- Commuter visibility: The I-290 span carries thousands of drivers; the new name increases Cousy’s visibility to residents and visitors.
- Civic recognition: The naming underscores Worcester’s role in the personal and professional life of an athlete who remains connected to the community.
- Institutional pride: Holy Cross and other local organizations gain a renewed reminder of their ties to a prominent alumnus.
At the dedication Cousy reflected on his connection to the city and joked about the honors he has received.
“I’m greedy. I’ve had a statue, I shouldn’t want a pass as well, you should have a pass, but thank you Maura,” he told attendees.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Honoree | Bob Cousy |
| Structure | I-290 bridge over Southbridge Street |
| Official name | Bob Cousy Pass |
| Presenting official | Gov. Maura Healey |
The dedication adds to a recent pattern of commemorating sports figures in public infrastructure across the region. For Worcester, a city balancing development, commuter needs and institutional ties, the naming is a symbolic affirmation of local heritage and the prominence of a resident who rose to national stature in basketball.
State and local leaders said the signage and formal records will reflect the new name going forward, ensuring the span bears Cousy’s name for motorists and for official use.
