Rhode Island News

[bob7374]

Any update on Rhode Island going to mile-based exit numbers.  My understanding is RIDOT was  supposed to start with unnumbered freeways either last year or this year and complete the conversion in four phases by 2019.

It would make sense to change the numbers on 295 once the state finishes the Greenville Ave exit, but I doubt that'll happen.  May end up with an unnumbered exit or a 6D for a year and a half.

Perusing the RIDOT contract page, there have been no contracts let or advertised so far in 2017 regarding exit signing. This includes the RI 146 project that was mentioned in an earlier post to be going out to bid in early 2017. There is a RI 146 reconstruction project that has been awarded, but perusing the item list revealed no mention of exit signage, just directional, regulatory and warning signs totaling $33,750. Too small an amount for exit signage. The list can be found at:
https://www.pmp.dot.ri.gov/PMP/PMPReporting/Home.mvc/ReportViewer/315882

Wonder how much of that $33,750 goes to making those stupid blue "Rhode Works" signs, which don't really do anything except act as free taxpayer advertising for the governor.

There's no update to the RIDOT STIP page. The STIP was approved in Sept. 2016 and said the first section of RI 146 to get new signs would be from the MA border to RI 146A in FY 2017. Given that we're now in FY 2018 (when the next section from RI 146A to Lincoln is supposed to be done) and nothing has happened it does appear priorities have changed.

[lowerdeck]

I don't know if this was previously mentioned in here, but they finally got around to switching the mile marker posts on 146 South, where it actually goes down from the MA state line rather than starting at zero.

[Alps]

I don't know if this was previously mentioned in here, but they finally got around to switching the mile marker posts on 146 South, where it actually goes down from the MA state line rather than starting at zero.

Are exit numbers nigh?

[southshore720]

Wonder how much of that $33,750 goes to making those stupid blue "Rhode Works" signs, which don't really do anything except act as free taxpayer advertising for the governor.

I think that that even though the requirement is to go to mile based exit numbering, repairing the roads and bridges they've neglected and taking heat over is taking precedent.

I laugh every time I see these signs.  The Providence Viaduct Rhode Works sign indicates that they are over budget and behind schedule!  I find it very ironic that they are maintaining these temporary signs, yet permanent signage throughout the state of RI remains in disrepair.  There are several exits on I-95 (mainly Southern RI) and I-295 where a key BGS is missing and not replaced or worse, replaced with an LGS.

[JJBers]

Wonder how much of that $33,750 goes to making those stupid blue "Rhode Works" signs, which don't really do anything except act as free taxpayer advertising for the governor.

I think that that even though the requirement is to go to mile based exit numbering, repairing the roads and bridges they've neglected and taking heat over is taking precedent.

I laugh every time I see these signs.  The Providence Viaduct Rhode Works sign indicates that they are over budget and behind schedule!  I find it very ironic that they are maintaining these temporary signs, yet permanent signage throughout the state of RI remains in disrepair.  There are several exits on I-95 (mainly Southern RI) and I-295 where a key BGS is missing and not replaced or worse, replaced with an LGS.

The first exit sign for RI 5 on US 6 is a LGS

[roadman]

Wonder how much of that $33,750 goes to making those stupid blue "Rhode Works" signs, which don't really do anything except act as free taxpayer advertising for the governor.

I think that that even though the requirement is to go to mile based exit numbering, repairing the roads and bridges they've neglected and taking heat over is taking precedent.

I laugh every time I see these signs.  The Providence Viaduct Rhode Works sign indicates that they are over budget and behind schedule!  I find it very ironic that they are maintaining these temporary signs, yet permanent signage throughout the state of RI remains in disrepair.  There are several exits on I-95 (mainly Southern RI) and I-295 where a key BGS is missing and not replaced or worse, replaced with an LGS.

I would suspect that the contract specification for the Rhode Works signs includes a requirement that the contractor update the sign legend as directed by the resident engineer.

And, while I'm not defending Rhode Island's use of these unnecessary signs, MassHighway's experience with the ARRA project identification signs for projects funded under that program was that a pair of signs and supports fabricated and installed cost an average of $6,000 per project.  For a large project like I-95 Providence Viaduct - currently estimated at $208 million, that would represent about 0.003% of the total project cost.  So you can see the appeal to install such signs - it's known in the vernacular as "cheap politics."

As for having the Governor's name on signs, I find that ironic - as Massachusetts did away with project identification signs (with the exception of the later ARRA project signs - which never had officials names on them), and eliminated officials names from border crossing signs as well, in 2004 under then Governor Romney.

[bob7374]

In perusing the RIDOT website, I found a listing for a contract "Mileage Based Exit Renumbering of I-295 and 'I-99'" on its Bidding Opportunities webpage: http://www.dot.ri.gov/contracting/bids/index.php

Bids to be opened on August 25. The list of plan holders include Liddell Bros. and Roadsafe Traffic Systems, the contractors replacing signs on the Mass Pike.

[PHLBOS]

I wonder why I-195 wasn't included in the Exit renumbering contract?  Granted, it has 8 numbered exits for just over a 4-mile stretch; such a conversion would turn most of those numbers into alphabet soup.

[roadman]

In perusing the RIDOT website, I found a listing for a contract "Mileage Based Exit Renumbering of I-295 and 'I-99'" on its Bidding Opportunities webpage: http://www.dot.ri.gov/contracting/bids/index.php

Bids to be opened on August 25. The list of plan holders include Liddell Bros. and Roadsafe Traffic Systems, the contractors replacing signs on the Mass Pike.

"I-99?"  Sounds like they've got the wrong state.

and yes, I now know that was a typo and should have read "I-95" "RI-99"- as I've just verified with my contact at RIDOT.

[vdeane]

I wonder why I-195 wasn't included in the Exit renumbering contract?  Granted, it has 8 numbered exits for just over a 4-mile stretch; such a conversion would turn most of those numbers into alphabet soup.

Maybe they're doing the easy/uncontroversial stuff first?

[PHLBOS]

I wonder why I-195 wasn't included in the Exit renumbering contract?  Granted, it has 8 numbered exits for just over a 4-mile stretch; such a conversion would turn most of those numbers into alphabet soup.

Maybe they're doing the easy/uncontroversial stuff first?

Perhaps.

[SectorZ]

In perusing the RIDOT website, I found a listing for a contract "Mileage Based Exit Renumbering of I-295 and 'I-99'" on its Bidding Opportunities webpage: http://www.dot.ri.gov/contracting/bids/index.php

Bids to be opened on August 25. The list of plan holders include Liddell Bros. and Roadsafe Traffic Systems, the contractors replacing signs on the Mass Pike.

"I-99?"  Sounds like they've got the wrong state.

and yes, I now know that was a typo and should have read "I-95" "RI-99"- as I've just verified with my contact at RIDOT.

So nothing for I-95?

[bob7374]

In perusing the RIDOT website, I found a listing for a contract "Mileage Based Exit Renumbering of I-295 and 'I-99'" on its Bidding Opportunities webpage: http://www.dot.ri.gov/contracting/bids/index.php
Bids to be opened on August 25. The list of plan holders include Liddell Bros. and Roadsafe Traffic Systems, the contractors replacing signs on the Mass Pike.

"I-99?"  Sounds like they've got the wrong state.

and yes, I now know that was a typo and should have read "I-95" "RI-99"- as I've just verified with my contact at RIDOT.

Given the MUTCD preference for all Beltway type routes to have one exit numbering system regardless of whether they cross state lines, will MassDOT (if and when they start changing numbers) coordinate with RIDOT and possibly change their proposed exit numbers (2 and 4) and just continue those in Rhode Island?
Since RIDOT lists the miles along with the numbers on its interstate exit lists, and assuming the numbers are correct, it looks like the future exits numbers would be 1A, 1B (unless RI uses 0 for the first exit-RI 113), 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21 and 22.

[jp the roadgeek]

In perusing the RIDOT website, I found a listing for a contract "Mileage Based Exit Renumbering of I-295 and 'I-99'" on its Bidding Opportunities webpage: http://www.dot.ri.gov/contracting/bids/index.php
Bids to be opened on August 25. The list of plan holders include Liddell Bros. and Roadsafe Traffic Systems, the contractors replacing signs on the Mass Pike.

"I-99?"  Sounds like they've got the wrong state.

and yes, I now know that was a typo and should have read "I-95" "RI-99"- as I've just verified with my contact at RIDOT.

Given the MUTCD preference for all Beltway type routes to have one exit numbering system regardless of whether they cross state lines, will MassDOT (if and when they start changing numbers) coordinate with RIDOT and possibly change their proposed exit numbers (2 and 4) and just continue those in Rhode Island?
Since RIDOT lists the miles along with the numbers on its interstate exit lists, and assuming the numbers are correct, it looks like the future exits numbers would be 1A, 1B (unless RI uses 0 for the first exit-RI 113), 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21 and 22.

I actually have 1A, 1B (or 0), 4 A-B, 7, 8, 9 A-B(NB)-C, 11 (future), 12 A-B, 15 A-B, 19 A-B, 21, 23 in RI.  2 A-B and 4 A-B (25 and 27 if the numbering continues) in MA for I-295.

Here's what I have for RI Exit #'s:

I-95: 1, 5, 7 A/B, 9 (NB), 14 A/B, 18, 20, 21, 24 (A/B NB), 25 (SB), 27 (A/B SB), 28 (A & B NB, A/B/C SB), 29, 31 A/B, 32, 33 A/B, 34 (SB), 35, 36A, 36B, 37 A-B-C-D, 38 (A & B NB), 39, 40 (A/B NB), 41 (A/B NB), 42 (A/B NB), 43

I-195: 1 (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E WB), 2 (A & B EB), 3 (A & B EB), 4 (EB)
RI 4: 3 (A/B SB), 6, 7 (A/B SB), 9 (A/B NB)
US 6: 15 (WB), 16, 17, 18, 19, 20A (EB), 20B (EB), 21 (A, B & C EB)
RI 10: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D (SB), 2, 3, 4 (NB)
RI 24: 1(SB), 2, 3, 4, 5
RI 37: 1 A/B, 1 C/D, 2A, 2 B/C, 3A, 3B
RI 78: 1, 2 (A & B WB)
RI 99: 1
RI 138: 23 (WB), 26, 28, 29, 32
RI 146: 1 (SB), 2, 3, 4, 5A, 5B, 7, 8A, 8 B/C, 9 (NB) <GAP IN FREEWAY> 11 (NB), 12, 13, 14
RI 403: 1 A/B (WB), 2(EB), 3 (EB), 4 (WB)
TF Green Connector: 1A, 1B

[bob7374]

I wonder why I-195 wasn't included in the Exit renumbering contract?  Granted, it has 8 numbered exits for just over a 4-mile stretch; such a conversion would turn most of those numbers into alphabet soup.

Maybe they're doing the easy/uncontroversial stuff first?

Going through RIDOT's plan that was included in this news story from back in March 2016:
http://wpri.com/2016/03/29/ri-set-to-renumber-all-its-highway-exit-signs/

The final phase from 2017 to 2018 was to complete the renumbering of RI 146 and then do all the exits on I-195, I-295 and I-95 after a 6-month public education campaign. It will be interesting to see if the I-295 work goes ahead with or without the campaign, and whether the other parts of the plan, which were to take place by now, will be done concurrently or after all the interstate numbers are changed.

[bob7374]

Apparently, Liddell Bros. experience with MassDOT over their postponed exit renumbering project didn't scare them off from bidding for and winning the contract for the I-295 and RI 99 renumbering project. The details of their winning bid are at:
https://www.pmp.dot.ri.gov/PMP/PMPReporting/Home.mvc/ReportViewer/335132

[roadman]

Apparently, Liddell Bros. experience with MassDOT over their postponed exit renumbering project didn't scare them off from bidding for and winning the contract for the I-295 and RI 99 renumbering project. The details of their winning bid are at:
https://www.pmp.dot.ri.gov/PMP/PMPReporting/Home.mvc/ReportViewer/335132

Something looks screwy in that item list.  55 existing exit tabs are being removed and disposed, but only 44 new replacements are being provided.  Plus, there's apparently no provisions for overlaying or replacing gore signs in the contract, let alone providing any temporary "Formerly Exit XX" signs.

Are there any links to the actual project documents?

[bob7374]

Apparently, Liddell Bros. experience with MassDOT over their postponed exit renumbering project didn't scare them off from bidding for and winning the contract for the I-295 and RI 99 renumbering project. The details of their winning bid are at:
https://www.pmp.dot.ri.gov/PMP/PMPReporting/Home.mvc/ReportViewer/335132

Something looks screwy in that item list.  55 existing exit tabs are being removed and disposed, but only 44 new replacements are being provided.  Plus, there's apparently no provisions for overlaying or replacing gore signs in the contract, let alone providing any temporary "Formerly Exit XX" signs.

Are there any links to the actual project documents?

Doesn't appear to be any online. The RIDOT website has this info on their Bidding Opportunities page: "The Plans, Specifications and Special Provisions are available every weekday except holidays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Questions? Call us (401) 222-2495." Perhaps a RIDOT contact could provide the answer.

[spooky]

Apparently, Liddell Bros. experience with MassDOT over their postponed exit renumbering project didn't scare them off from bidding for and winning the contract for the I-295 and RI 99 renumbering project. The details of their winning bid are at:
https://www.pmp.dot.ri.gov/PMP/PMPReporting/Home.mvc/ReportViewer/335132

Something looks screwy in that item list.  55 existing exit tabs are being removed and disposed, but only 44 new replacements are being provided.  Plus, there's apparently no provisions for overlaying or replacing gore signs in the contract, let alone providing any temporary "Formerly Exit XX" signs.

Are there any links to the actual project documents?

There are "Old Exit X" tabs being added atop the replaced exit tabs. I have only seen one of the sheets so I cannot comment on the quantity discrepancy.

[southshore720]

Not everyone is happy with the blue RhodeWorks signs...   

A Portsmouth man is seeking information on the blue RhodeWorks signs, such as their cost and funding source.
http://www.newportri.com/newportdailynews/news/local_state/dot-ordered-to-release-data-on-signs/article_e1e2d583-7419-57f3-bfea-342c42cdc577.html

[Mergingtraffic]

Are there any RI expressways that still have non-reflective demountable copy?
RI-78 has escaped the recent signing contracts.

[bob7374]

In perusing the RIDOT website, I found a listing for a contract "Mileage Based Exit Renumbering of I-295 and 'I-99'" on its Bidding Opportunities webpage: http://www.dot.ri.gov/contracting/bids/index.php
Bids to be opened on August 25. The list of plan holders include Liddell Bros. and Roadsafe Traffic Systems, the contractors replacing signs on the Mass Pike.

"I-99?"  Sounds like they've got the wrong state.

and yes, I now know that was a typo and should have read "I-95" "RI-99"- as I've just verified with my contact at RIDOT.

Given the MUTCD preference for all Beltway type routes to have one exit numbering system regardless of whether they cross state lines, will MassDOT (if and when they start changing numbers) coordinate with RIDOT and possibly change their proposed exit numbers (2 and 4) and just continue those in Rhode Island?
Since RIDOT lists the miles along with the numbers on its interstate exit lists, and assuming the numbers are correct, it looks like the future exits numbers would be 1A, 1B (unless RI uses 0 for the first exit-RI 113), 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21 and 22.

I actually have 1A, 1B (or 0), 4 A-B, 7, 8, 9 A-B(NB)-C, 11 (future), 12 A-B, 15 A-B, 19 A-B, 21, 23 in RI.  2 A-B and 4 A-B (25 and 27 if the numbering continues) in MA for I-295.

Based on the exit numbers in this article:
http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20171004/rhode-island-set-to-renumber-all-highway-exits

The new I-295 exit #s NB will be: 1A, 1B, 3A/B, 6, 7, 9A/B/C, 10 (Future), 12A/B, 15A/B, 18A/B, 20, 22
SB: 22, 20, 18B/A, 15B/A, 12B/A, 10 (Future), 9C/A, 7, 6, 3B/A, 1B, 1A

[Alps]

The article suggests a future I-295 interchange at RI 5.
http://www.dot.ri.gov/documents/news/I-295_RI-5_Interchange_MERGED.pdf
Is this under construction, or final design, or?

[bob7374]

RIDOT has created its own webpage for the Exit Renumbering Project:
http://www.dot.ri.gov/projects/exitnumbers/index.php

[spooky]

The article suggests a future I-295 interchange at RI 5.
http://www.dot.ri.gov/documents/news/I-295_RI-5_Interchange_MERGED.pdf
Is this under construction, or final design, or?

Under construction.