Route 128 (solo section)

[Roadgeekteen]

I was on MA 128 in Beverly, and it's quite sketchy. The speed limit drops to 50 for a bit, and the ramps are short and it felt kinda scary merging onto the highway.

[hotdogPi]

Does anyone know the purpose of Exit "21.1" northbound?

[shadyjay]

Does anyone know the purpose of Exit "21.1" northbound?

I'm assuming you mean this?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5702085,-70.91197,3a,53.1y,108.58h,76.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJecheZgRyEii5yISMSjSfQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Yeah, that doesn't look dangerous at all! 

Seriously, did MassDPW model that portion of the road off Connecticut's Merritt Parkway? 

[noelbotevera]

Quick glance at exit 21 shows that this part is a bastardized conversion from a divided highway. It's not even a Jersey freeway, like US 1 north of Boston, since those have actual interchanges at every road (but have driveways). "Converting" it to a freeway meant roads crossing it were separated or separated with RIROs put in. The I-95 section doesn't have this problem, probably because that had to be upgraded to Interstate standards.

I have no clue why MA 128 is like this, other than Mass DPW being lazy and only upgrading the I-95 section because they had to.

[hotdogPi]

Quick glance at exit 21 shows that this part is a bastardized conversion from a divided highway. It's not even a Jersey freeway, like US 1 north of Boston, since those have actual interchanges at every road (but have driveways). "Converting" it to a freeway meant roads crossing it were separated or separated with RIROs put in. The I-95 section doesn't have this problem, probably because that had to be upgraded to Interstate standards.

I have no clue why MA 128 is like this, other than Mass DPW being lazy and only upgrading the I-95 section because they had to.

Exit 21 itself is strange, but that's not what I'm referring to. I'm talking about the exit right next to 21 that's unnumbered.

[shadyjay]

Does anyone know the purpose of Exit "21.1" northbound?

I'm assuming you mean this?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5702085,-70.91197,3a,53.1y,108.58h,76.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJecheZgRyEii5yISMSjSfQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Yeah, that doesn't look dangerous at all! 

Seriously, did MassDPW model that portion of the road off Connecticut's Merritt Parkway? 

Or could it be this?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5695952,-70.9141937,3a,75y,156.72h,80.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sR7FQ7FbR-IDigP-mbfCEcg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[noelbotevera]

Quick glance at exit 21 shows that this part is a bastardized conversion from a divided highway. It's not even a Jersey freeway, like US 1 north of Boston, since those have actual interchanges at every road (but have driveways). "Converting" it to a freeway meant roads crossing it were separated or separated with RIROs put in. The I-95 section doesn't have this problem, probably because that had to be upgraded to Interstate standards.

I have no clue why MA 128 is like this, other than Mass DPW being lazy and only upgrading the I-95 section because they had to.

Exit 21 itself is strange, but that's not what I'm referring to. I'm talking about the exit right next to 21 that's unnumbered.

Taking a look at the opposite side reveals that until recently, you could enter or exit MA 128 from here. Now it's strictly an exit ramp. Also, in 1978, this was a roundabout (according to Historic Aerials). Except for those tidbits, I have no clue why this access exists - especially since exit 21 accesses the same neighborhood.

[shadyjay]

Checking it out on Google Maps, it appears this is an isolated neighborhood, with the only access via either this way, or via Exit 21, and neither are anything close to freeway-grade.  According to sources, this portion of 128 was constructed in the 1950s, with at-grade intersections in some locations, and the roadway "upgraded" in the 1960s.  It was probably during that time that the Trask Lane/Folly Hill neighborhood was built (the 50s) and when 128 was upgraded, it was left with no other option but to retain access. 

Not sure how you could tie "Folly Hill" back into the rest of town in a more civilized / safer manner.  It looks like some of those cul-de-sacs come close to the outside world, but it looks like a tight residential community all around, and you've got a business park and apartment complex in part of the isolated section.  Not sure how an increase of traffic through the adjoining neighborhoods would go over.  Maybe a bridge over to the north side, and some better ramps. 

[webny99]

Why is MA 128 unnumbered on Google Maps? It's marked only as "Yankee Division Highway", with no shield markers.

[STLmapboy]

Quick glance at exit 21 shows that this part is a bastardized conversion from a divided highway. It's not even a Jersey freeway, like US 1 north of Boston, since those have actual interchanges at every road (but have driveways). "Converting" it to a freeway meant roads crossing it were separated or separated with RIROs put in. The I-95 section doesn't have this problem, probably because that had to be upgraded to Interstate standards.

I have no clue why MA 128 is like this, other than Mass DPW being lazy and only upgrading the I-95 section because they had to.

Exit 21 itself is strange, but that's not what I'm referring to. I'm talking about the exit right next to 21 that's unnumbered.

Looks like one of those "authorized vehicle only" turnpike roads to maintenance sheds.

[PurdueBill]

My understanding from asking about it when I lived around there is that originally Trask Lane and the entrance to the neighborhood didn't connect in any way but they did soon enough so that the two entries from 128 became redundant to a degree but were left in case one were to be blocked.

[CapeCodder]

Good to see the old Kings Grant Inn.

[PHLBOS]

According to sources, this portion of 128 was constructed in the 1950s, with at-grade intersections in some locations, and the roadway "upgraded" in the 1960s.

As mentioned in other-related threads, this stretch of 128 is probably one of the oldest stretches built; some of which dates back to even the late 1940s.  As a result, many abnormalities with respect to modern highway design were built.  Such are the reasons why the Peabody to Gloucester stretch of 128 will never receive an I-x95 designation.

Another oddball example that's now long gone: prior to 1976, the Forest St. intersection in Peabody was signalized.

Another oddball that's still present: the cemetery entrance along 128 northbound in Peabody.

[PurdueBill]

According to sources, this portion of 128 was constructed in the 1950s, with at-grade intersections in some locations, and the roadway "upgraded" in the 1960s.

As mentioned in other-related threads, this stretch of 128 is probably one of the oldest stretches built; some of which dates back to even the late 1940s.  As a result, many abnormalities with respect to modern highway design were built.  Such are the reasons why the Peabody to Gloucester stretch of 128 will never receive an I-x95 designation.

Another oddball example that's now long gone: prior to 1976, the Forest St. intersection in Peabody was signalized.

Another oddball that's still present: the cemetery entrance along 128 northbound in Peabody.

I'm just old enough to remember "Exit 27" in its last form, including a northbound entrance via Summit Street that is now obliterated by the northbound exit for Lowell Street that was added to get rid of the way-too-tight loop ramp.  Somewhere I may have saved (but probably don't have) a Peabody Times with the old loop ramp pictured blocked off with very elementary old barricades by DPW when the state and the city finally had enough crashes.

The ramps on the southbound side are unchanged all these years later, but at least have maybe a little better sight distance for merging?

[PHLBOS]

According to sources, this portion of 128 was constructed in the 1950s, with at-grade intersections in some locations, and the roadway "upgraded" in the 1960s.

As mentioned in other-related threads, this stretch of 128 is probably one of the oldest stretches built; some of which dates back to even the late 1940s.  As a result, many abnormalities with respect to modern highway design were built.  Such are the reasons why the Peabody to Gloucester stretch of 128 will never receive an I-x95 designation.

Another oddball example that's now long gone: prior to 1976, the Forest St. intersection in Peabody was signalized.

Another oddball that's still present: the cemetery entrance along 128 northbound in Peabody.

I'm just old enough to remember "Exit 27" in its last form, including a northbound entrance via Summit Street that is now obliterated by the northbound exit for Lowell Street that was added to get rid of the way-too-tight loop ramp.  Somewhere I may have saved (but probably don't have) a Peabody Times with the old loop ramp pictured blocked off with very elementary old barricades by DPW when the state and the city finally had enough crashes.

The ramps on the southbound side are unchanged all these years later, but at least have maybe a little better sight distance for merging?

The biggest issue with 128 from Lowell St. (Peabody) to MA 1A (Beverly) is the mainline overpasses.  Many of them are not only original but such do not offer a right-hand shoulder lane.  This was the reason why the MA 35 & MA 62 cloverleaf interchanges were reconfigured to their current diamond-style ramps (that change eliminated the remaining direction-based (N,S,E,W) suffixes for the exit numbers).  Upgrading those cloverleaf ramps would've meant reconstructing & widening the mainline overpasses in order to accommodate proper ramp tapering distances.