The interchange pre-dates the Interstate Highway System, originally built as an intersection between two local roads in 1951.

The re-design was prompted from an incident where a U.S. Navy truck hauling torpedoes overturned, causing panic and major disruptions in the city.

The name "mousetrap" was coined by the long-time airborne radio traffic reporter Don Martin in the 1960s, calling the interchange "a maze that could trap a mouse".

The situation was made worse as no one answered at the phone number provided with the cargo, and an unknown liquid was leaking from one of the torpedoes.

[2][3] Investigations later revealed that the truck driver did not follow a recommended route provided by the state police, and was specifically warned to avoid the Mousetrap.