Massachusetts

[RobbieL2415]

Found these a while ago on MA 25 just before Exit 3.  Going back through Street View shows that they've been there since summer, 2011.  Does anyone here know what they are used for?  Contra-flow maybe?

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7597047,-70.5942665,3a,37.5y,233.42h,79.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp1o1CpBV38lZ9aU1fK_buA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[noelbotevera]

Found these a while ago on MA 25 just before Exit 3.  Going back through Street View shows that they've been there since summer, 2011.  Does anyone here know what they are used for?  Contra-flow maybe?

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7597047,-70.5942665,3a,37.5y,233.42h,79.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp1o1CpBV38lZ9aU1fK_buA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Looks like it. There's warning stripes and some sort of gate that raises up and down.

[bob7374]

Found these a while ago on MA 25 just before Exit 3.  Going back through Street View shows that they've been there since summer, 2011.  Does anyone here know what they are used for?  Contra-flow maybe?

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7597047,-70.5942665,3a,37.5y,233.42h,79.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp1o1CpBV38lZ9aU1fK_buA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Looks like it. There's warning stripes and some sort of gate that raises up and down.

Hopefully they'll take down that Formerly Exit 2 sign still up last October by the time the US 6 exit becomes Exit 10 and its Formerly Exit 3.

[roadman]

Found these a while ago on MA 25 just before Exit 3.  Going back through Street View shows that they've been there since summer, 2011.  Does anyone here know what they are used for?  Contra-flow maybe?

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7597047,-70.5942665,3a,37.5y,233.42h,79.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp1o1CpBV38lZ9aU1fK_buA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Looks like it. There's warning stripes and some sort of gate that raises up and down.

This is a steel moveable barrier that's used to block Route 25 eastbound when the Bourne Bridge is closed to Cape bound traffic as part of the established MEMA evacuation plan for Cape Cod.  That's the plan that will be implemented when a major hurricane is forecast to hit the Cape and islands.

[Beeper1]

The Lee gantry was up as of this weekend.

I think I have Lee Gantry's rookie card with the Astros.

Anyone know if the equipment is all expected to be up this year?  I'm potting my ticket captures and am curious how long I have.

As of this weekend, the overhead gantries and equipment seem to be fully in place at the Lee, Westfield, Ludlow, Southboro, Framingham and Weston sites.   

Warren, Charlton, and Hopkinton sites have the support posts installed but no overhead gantry in place yet.

At Blandford, the support posts are in place beside the WB roadway, with nothing yet installed on the EB side.

I didn't go east of I-95 so I'm not sure about the ones on the extension.

[KEVIN_224]

I was last on the Turnpike February 25th. I didn't see anything different east of the Weston toll plaza.

[hotdogPi]

I-95 / MA 128 South, between exits 34 and 33B:
____________
|        [2]       |
|   6 MILES     |
|___ MINUTES|
|---------------|
|      (90)       |
|   10 MILES   |
|___ MINUTES|
____________


(The "10" in the bottom half might be some other number.) The blanks were electronic signs that were off.

[bob7374]

I-95 / MA 128 South, between exits 34 and 33B:
____________
|        [2]       |
|   6 MILES     |
|___ MINUTES|
|---------------|
|      (90)       |
|   10 MILES   |
|___ MINUTES|
____________


(The "10" in the bottom half might be some other number.) The blanks were electronic signs that were off.

Could the number have been 13? The distance from Exit 33 (Mile 52) to Route 2 (Mile 46) is 6 miles while the distance to the Mass Pike (Mile 39) From Exit 33 is 13.

Glad to see the signs are moving south, from other reports they previously have been put up along US 3, where they were in test mode. Will be interesting to see what exits they use going further south. Will a sign after MA 2 have I-90 and I-95, or something closer, such as US 1.

According to the project listing (Project 607422) the contractor is currently working both on Routes 128 and 140 (as of 2/26) and the project is 27% complete.

[kefkafloyd]

The signs on US 3 angle for major destinations.

Heading Northbound:

Just after Exit 26:

I-495
New Hampshire State Line

There is not one after 495 heading Northbound, at least, not that I saw driving up this weekend. It's possible that I may have missed it. Since they may only have data to the NH state line, they may have omitted it.

Southbound:

Right after the NH State line:

I-495
I-95

After Exit 29:

I-95
I-93 via 95 N

After Exit 26

I-93
US 20 in Waltham

I don't remember the exact mileage, but the intervals are generally 6-10 miles inbetween the destinations.

[bob7374]

I-95 / MA 128 South, between exits 34 and 33B:
____________
|        [2]       |
|   6 MILES     |
|___ MINUTES|
|---------------|
|      (90)       |
|   10 MILES   |
|___ MINUTES|
____________


(The "10" in the bottom half might be some other number.) The blanks were electronic signs that were off.

Could the number have been 13? The distance from Exit 33 (Mile 52) to Route 2 (Mile 46) is 6 miles while the distance to the Mass Pike (Mile 39) From Exit 33 is 13.

Glad to see the signs are moving south, from other reports they previously have been put up along US 3, where they were in test mode. Will be interesting to see what exits they use going further south. Will a sign after MA 2 have I-90 and I-95, or something closer, such as US 1.

According to the project listing (Project 607422) the contractor is currently working both on Routes 128 and 140 (as of 2/26) and the project is 27% complete.

I decided to do some research to see if I could answer my questions above. I found the project bid page from September 2014 that has sketches of all the proposed signs. The answer to the mileage or I-90 is 12, despite the 13 miles between mileposts, the next sign is in Waltham and will read I-90 3 Miles, I-93 via I-90 East 14 miles.

The sketch images are available through links here: https://www.commbuys.com/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?docId=BD-14-1030-0H100-0H002-00000000718&external=true&parentUrl=bid

[bob7374]

I-95 / MA 128 South, between exits 34 and 33B:
____________
|        [2]       |
|   6 MILES     |
|___ MINUTES|
|---------------|
|      (90)       |
|   10 MILES   |
|___ MINUTES|
____________


(The "10" in the bottom half might be some other number.) The blanks were electronic signs that were off.

Could the number have been 13? The distance from Exit 33 (Mile 52) to Route 2 (Mile 46) is 6 miles while the distance to the Mass Pike (Mile 39) From Exit 33 is 13.

Glad to see the signs are moving south, from other reports they previously have been put up along US 3, where they were in test mode. Will be interesting to see what exits they use going further south. Will a sign after MA 2 have I-90 and I-95, or something closer, such as US 1.

According to the project listing (Project 607422) the contractor is currently working both on Routes 128 and 140 (as of 2/26) and the project is 27% complete.

I decided to do some research to see if I could answer my questions above. I found the project bid page from September 2014 that has sketches of all the proposed signs. The answer to the mileage or I-90 is 12, despite the 13 miles between mileposts, the next sign is in Waltham and will read I-90 3 Miles, I-93 via I-90 East 14 miles.

The sketch images are available through links here: https://www.commbuys.com/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?docId=BD-14-1030-0H100-0H002-00000000718&external=true&parentUrl=bid

If you would prefer not to go through the contract documents for the sign sketches, I have posted copies of most of them, by route, along with some comments, in Part B of my Misc. Massachusetts Highway Photos site: http://www.gribblenation.net/mass21/miscsigns.html

[bob7374]

If you would prefer not to go through the contract documents for the sign sketches, I have posted copies of most of them, by route, along with some comments, in Part B of my Misc. Massachusetts Highway Photos site: http://www.gribblenation.net/mass21/miscsigns.html

I have posted a couple of photos of the signs recently installed along I-95 south of Boston. This is one of three I saw this afternoon just before the Neponset Street exit on I-95 North:


There were two others, one on I-95 South before the US 1 exit in Dedham, the other further south just after the exit ramp for Coney Street in Walpole, the photo of the first is posted in place of the sketch of the sign in the link above (all the signs were identical to the sketches).

[SidS1045]

I was last on the Turnpike February 25th. I didn't see anything different east of the Weston toll plaza.

My daily commute takes me along Lincoln Street in Allston/Brighton, which parallels the MassPike just west of the toll barrier.  A portion of the chain-link fence has been temporarily made easily removable to permit work on the tolling point from Lincoln Street.  Work has been going on since December.  The equipment shelter and emergency generator are in place, but the foundations for the gantry haven't been placed yet.

[bob7374]

I took a quick road trip on Sunday along part of the I-95/128 corridor. I checked out some of the new guide or paddle signs installed as part of the renovation of the University Ave/RR Station exit in Westwood. I also checked out progress on the Add-A-Lane project in the Needham area. Clearing the area for bridge work in the MA 9 area has removed the existing overhead BGSs that were replaced by temporary signage.

Will Kendrick St. become the new Exit 19A and Highland Ave. become Exits 19B-C?  Is Kendrick St. only accessible from 95/128 SB?

On the map at the project website the Kendrick St. exit is labeled 19A (though by the time it is completed next fall, the number could be 35A), the Highland Avenue exit is not labeled. Kendrick St. will be accessible from both directions with a C/D ramp built between Kendrick St. and Highland Ave. There will be a new flyover ramp that will take traffic from Kendrick St. to I-95 North. Hard to tell if southbound traffic from Highland Ave. will be able to access I-95 directly or only from the new on-ramp from Kendrick St.

The MassDOT website: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/NeedhamWellesleyI95AddALane.aspx

MassDOT has added a new diagram to their AddALane Project website which goes into greater detail as to the final ramp alignments for the Highland Ave./Kendrick St. and MA 9 interchanges. I've posted a copy on my I-95 Photo Gallery site:


Looks like, though their adding an entrance ramp NB, their combining the ramps to Highland Avenue into one meaning there will still be only A and B exits as currently. Traffic to I-95 SB from Highland Ave. will have to cross Kendrick St. first.

[NE2]

OH MY GOD PARCLO B4

[cl94]

OH MY GOD PARCLO B4

A certain user would be very happy to see that. Not naming names...

[noelbotevera]

OH MY GOD PARCLO B4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvdf5n-zI14

--------------------------------------------------------------
It's really strange that I-95 MA 128 SB does this maneuver while I-95 MA 128 NB goes straight through. Also, if the Highland Avenue traffic wants to enter I-95 SB, won't the Kendrick St. interchange conflict with the movement?

[Mergingtraffic]

Still there in the Chic!



and some recent signage:


and on I-291

[mariethefoxy]

they have those travel time signs on US 3 South in Tyngsboro also. I don't remember the exact layout but the two things it was measuring distance to was I-495 and I-95. I don't remember seeing any on I-495 between US 3 and I-290 then again it was night time I was heading northbound and i was VERY TIRED trying to drive up to Nashua, and Southbound I was not really looking for them on 495.

[spooky]

If you would prefer not to go through the contract documents for the sign sketches, I have posted copies of most of them, by route, along with some comments, in Part B of my Misc. Massachusetts Highway Photos site: http://www.gribblenation.net/mass21/miscsigns.html

I have posted a couple of photos of the signs recently installed along I-95 south of Boston. This is one of three I saw this afternoon just before the Neponset Street exit on I-95 North:


There were two others, one on I-95 South before the US 1 exit in Dedham, the other further south just after the exit ramp for Coney Street in Walpole, the photo of the first is posted in place of the sketch of the sign in the link above (all the signs were identical to the sketches).

Son of a bitch. The current travel time PCMS is AFTER the Neponset Street exit, not before. I get on at Neponset Street every day.

I wonder if there is a mobile app that accesses this same data?

[PHLBOS]

It's really strange that I-95 MA 128 SB does this maneuver while I-95 MA 128 NB goes straight through. Also, if the Highland Avenue traffic wants to enter I-95 SB, won't the Kendrick St. interchange conflict with the movement?

Here's an aerial view of the area that the not-to-scale graphic's loosely based on.

IMHO, I still believe that converting the Route 9 cloverleaf into a parclo is a mistake given the traffic volumes and the number of traffic lights already on that road.  If MassDOT wanted to experiment with such on this particular project; the Highland Ave. interchange would've been a better candidate for a conversion IMHO.

[bob7374]

It's really strange that I-95 MA 128 SB does this maneuver while I-95 MA 128 NB goes straight through. Also, if the Highland Avenue traffic wants to enter I-95 SB, won't the Kendrick St. interchange conflict with the movement?

Here's an aerial view of the area that the not-to-scale graphic's loosely based on.

IMHO, I still believe that converting the Route 9 cloverleaf into a parclo is a mistake given the traffic volumes and the number of traffic lights already on that road.  If MassDOT wanted to experiment with such on this particular project; the Highland Ave. interchange would've been a better candidate for a conversion IMHO.

I have posted some new photos taken yesterday (4/2) traveling through the construction zone southbound, available at:
http://www.gribblenation.net/mass21/miscsigns.html#addalane

[shadyjay]

Another forum tipped me off to this page:

http://massdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicGallery/index.html?appid=29085e10d60743cf9a37d62b5fe8b83d

You can view Mass state maps from the 1930s up to 2009.  City inserts, Boston detail (inside 128 and center city), and Mass Pike toll tickets.... it's all there.  There's also a 1970s Texaco tri-state (CT-RI-MA) map and a Mass Pike map in there as well.  Some of those old maps even show exit listings, not just for the Mass Pike, but for 128 as well.  Also one of them shows I-95 exits south of 128 being numbered based on the "#25 is 128" system.  I knew the SE Exp'y, Rt 3 South, Rt 24, Rt 3 North, and 93N all used that system but didn't know 95S did as well.


But wait... there's more:


This link shows current maps:
http://massdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicGallery/index.html?appid=8e959aade58249f3be95a96e48c52ff0

Included in those maps are rest areas, ITS locations, road-by-road milepost location, park & ride, national highway system, and more.

[bob7374]

Another forum tipped me off to this page:

http://massdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicGallery/index.html?appid=29085e10d60743cf9a37d62b5fe8b83d

You can view Mass state maps from the 1930s up to 2009.  City inserts, Boston detail (inside 128 and center city), and Mass Pike toll tickets.... it's all there.  There's also a 1970s Texaco tri-state (CT-RI-MA) map and a Mass Pike map in there as well.  Some of those old maps even show exit listings, not just for the Mass Pike, but for 128 as well.  Also one of them shows I-95 exits south of 128 being numbered based on the "#25 is 128" system.  I knew the SE Exp'y, Rt 3 South, Rt 24, Rt 3 North, and 93N all used that system but didn't know 95S did as well.


But wait... there's more:


This link shows current maps:
http://massdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicGallery/index.html?appid=8e959aade58249f3be95a96e48c52ff0

Included in those maps are rest areas, ITS locations, road-by-road milepost location, park & ride, national highway system, and more.

Good find. Could probably spend a few hours perusing all the items. A quick look at the last map listed, a 1974 Texaco CT/MA/RI has a I-95 shield on the SE Expressway on the Boston Inset as well as along the NE Expressway. The first map I've seen showing that short-term designation. The 1973 official Mass. map had someone has highlighted all the 'I-Routes' in the state which include 128 from Canton to Braintree being labeled I-93. If from 1973, this would be the earliest reference to this designation, however, this could have been done at  later date.

[NE2]

NICE.