Massachusetts

[DJ Particle]

The US 3 sign replacement project has now finally appeared among projects under construction in the MassDOT Projects Listing (ProjectInfo). According to the project page the Notice to Proceed was given on March 1, and as of July 9 work is 2% complete. The site notes as of July 9 "The contractor started mobilizing the work crew and equipment this week. The subcontractor (Soil X) is preforming the soil borings and taken samples to be analyzed. The results will be used for designing the overhead guide sign support system. Cosco, Inc. has also started work on the proposed highway guardrail system." Work on the soil borings is to be completed as of today ("the end of July"). The revised project listings no longer give a date of project completion, I am guessing Spring of 2023.

So I guess these will be the first BGSs in MA to originally come with the new exit numbers?  😊

[SectorZ]

The US 3 sign replacement project has now finally appeared among projects under construction in the MassDOT Projects Listing (ProjectInfo). According to the project page the Notice to Proceed was given on March 1, and as of July 9 work is 2% complete. The site notes as of July 9 "The contractor started mobilizing the work crew and equipment this week. The subcontractor (Soil X) is preforming the soil borings and taken samples to be analyzed. The results will be used for designing the overhead guide sign support system. Cosco, Inc. has also started work on the proposed highway guardrail system." Work on the soil borings is to be completed as of today ("the end of July"). The revised project listings no longer give a date of project completion, I am guessing Spring of 2023.

So I guess these will be the first BGSs in MA to originally come with the new exit numbers?  😊

Assuming the lack of activity on 495 continues, that will be the case. 495 got all new auxiliary and exit gore signs, but nothing new for BGSs in the months since.

[bob7374]

The US 3 sign replacement project has now finally appeared among projects under construction in the MassDOT Projects Listing (ProjectInfo). According to the project page the Notice to Proceed was given on March 1, and as of July 9 work is 2% complete. The site notes as of July 9 "The contractor started mobilizing the work crew and equipment this week. The subcontractor (Soil X) is preforming the soil borings and taken samples to be analyzed. The results will be used for designing the overhead guide sign support system. Cosco, Inc. has also started work on the proposed highway guardrail system." Work on the soil borings is to be completed as of today ("the end of July"). The revised project listings no longer give a date of project completion, I am guessing Spring of 2023.

So I guess these will be the first BGSs in MA to originally come with the new exit numbers?  😊

Assuming the lack of activity on 495 continues, that will be the case. 495 got all new auxiliary and exit gore signs, but nothing new for BGSs in the months since.

Meanwhile, MassDOT updated the I-495 project on their project listings site, which now says the project is complete. Umm, forget something?

[SectorZ]

The US 3 sign replacement project has now finally appeared among projects under construction in the MassDOT Projects Listing (ProjectInfo). According to the project page the Notice to Proceed was given on March 1, and as of July 9 work is 2% complete. The site notes as of July 9 "The contractor started mobilizing the work crew and equipment this week. The subcontractor (Soil X) is preforming the soil borings and taken samples to be analyzed. The results will be used for designing the overhead guide sign support system. Cosco, Inc. has also started work on the proposed highway guardrail system." Work on the soil borings is to be completed as of today ("the end of July"). The revised project listings no longer give a date of project completion, I am guessing Spring of 2023.

So I guess these will be the first BGSs in MA to originally come with the new exit numbers?  😊

Assuming the lack of activity on 495 continues, that will be the case. 495 got all new auxiliary and exit gore signs, but nothing new for BGSs in the months since.

Meanwhile, MassDOT updated the I-495 project on their project listings site, which now says the project is complete. Umm, forget something?

I can't even find the Littleton to Lowell one in there. The one for Lowell to Methuen is marked as completed but I can't find the one they're currently "working" on.

[bob7374]

The US 3 sign replacement project has now finally appeared among projects under construction in the MassDOT Projects Listing (ProjectInfo). According to the project page the Notice to Proceed was given on March 1, and as of July 9 work is 2% complete. The site notes as of July 9 "The contractor started mobilizing the work crew and equipment this week. The subcontractor (Soil X) is preforming the soil borings and taken samples to be analyzed. The results will be used for designing the overhead guide sign support system. Cosco, Inc. has also started work on the proposed highway guardrail system." Work on the soil borings is to be completed as of today ("the end of July"). The revised project listings no longer give a date of project completion, I am guessing Spring of 2023.

So I guess these will be the first BGSs in MA to originally come with the new exit numbers?  😊

Assuming the lack of activity on 495 continues, that will be the case. 495 got all new auxiliary and exit gore signs, but nothing new for BGSs in the months since.

Meanwhile, MassDOT updated the I-495 project on their project listings site, which now says the project is complete. Umm, forget something?

I can't even find the Littleton to Lowell one in there. The one for Lowell to Methuen is marked as completed but I can't find the one they're currently "working" on.

It's not listed under a particular town. You have to go under Advanced Project Search and click on the Project Type link for Structural Signing, Under Construction, Project Number 607919.

[empirestate]

Cool, but Wikipedia does this for all these roads and many more in every state.

Right.  If it's on the internet, it must be correct.

If your view of the world is filtered through Wikipedia ("the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit"), you have a serious problem.  Apparently you've never seen a Wikipedia article edited by someone with less-than-honorable intentions.

Well that escalated quickly.

[shadyjay]

They are making progress on Littleton-to-Lowell, from an "approach-road" standpoint.  Exited in Westford briefly for food and noticed new signs on the offramps and onramps.  There's a staging yard around the MA 2A exit that has a few of these signs left in it, and there are now secondary guide signs in there as well.  Still no overheads, whatsoever, and no evidence of earthwork to support the foundations. 

[Mergingtraffic]

Looks like the MA-18 Expwy segment will be a boulevard soon.
https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/2021/02/05/massdot-studying-rt-18-improvements-elm-st-north-new-bedford-coggeshall-pedestrian-bikes-sidewalks/4387528001/

So these would prob stay until then...

[DJ Particle]

Looks like the MA-18 Expwy segment will be a boulevard soon.
https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/2021/02/05/massdot-studying-rt-18-improvements-elm-st-north-new-bedford-coggeshall-pedestrian-bikes-sidewalks/4387528001/

IMHO any freeway removal in a major MA metro area would be a BAD idea.

[Pete from Boston]

Looks like the MA-18 Expwy segment will be a boulevard soon.
https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/2021/02/05/massdot-studying-rt-18-improvements-elm-st-north-new-bedford-coggeshall-pedestrian-bikes-sidewalks/4387528001/

IMHO any freeway removal in a major MA metro area would be a BAD idea.

This one isn't really doing much freeway work.

[Roadgeekteen]

Looks like the MA-18 Expwy segment will be a boulevard soon.
https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/2021/02/05/massdot-studying-rt-18-improvements-elm-st-north-new-bedford-coggeshall-pedestrian-bikes-sidewalks/4387528001/

IMHO any freeway removal in a major MA metro area would be a BAD idea.

We already cleaned up our city with the Big Dig.

[yakra]

"Massachusetts is a really big city."
- some guy on a bus in Portland c. 2005

[Rothman]

"Massachusetts is a really big city."
- some guy on a bus in Portland c. 2005

He might be surprised by the fact the MA town I grew up in had some dirt roads...

[RobbieL2415]

"Massachusetts is a really big city."
- some guy on a bus in Portland c. 2005

MA is actually bigger than NJ.

[Pete from Boston]

"Massachusetts is a really big city."
- some guy on a bus in Portland c. 2005

MA is actually bigger than NJ.

Only in area. When people talk of the "size"  of cities it's most often in terms of population, and in that regard NJ is 25% larger.

[JWF1959]

And on Sutton Ave off I-395 Exit 4... this gem....



I've noticed this one for years.   It looks like a relatively recent sign (well, maybe less than 20 years old..). Has the word "freeway" ever been used in Massachusetts?

[hotdogPi]

And on Sutton Ave off I-395 Exit 4... this gem....



I've noticed this one for years.   It looks like a relatively recent sign (well, maybe less than 20 years old..). Has the word "freeway" ever been used in Massachusetts?

Do you have a picture or link?

[fwydriver405]

And on Sutton Ave off I-395 Exit 4... this gem....



I've noticed this one for years.   It looks like a relatively recent sign (well, maybe less than 20 years old..). Has the word "freeway" ever been used in Massachusetts?

Do you have a picture or link?

From reply 1568:

And on Sutton Ave off I-395 Exit 4... this gem....

395SB-Exit94-entrance by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

[kernals12]

I just found out Massachusetts is getting $4.2 billion for road improvements in the infrastructure bill (plus $1 billion for bridges, the bulk of which will be going to the ones connecting Cape Cod to the Mainland).

That is more than enough for pretty much all of the state's highway needs

[Rothman]

I just found out Massachusetts is getting $4.2 billion for road improvements in the infrastructure bill (plus $1 billion for bridges, the bulk of which will be going to the ones connecting Cape Cod to the Mainland).

That is more than enough for pretty much all of the state's highway needs

Your concept of costs for transportation projects is off the mark.  All their needs?  No way.

[kernals12]

I just found out Massachusetts is getting $4.2 billion for road improvements in the infrastructure bill (plus $1 billion for bridges, the bulk of which will be going to the ones connecting Cape Cod to the Mainland).

That is more than enough for pretty much all of the state's highway needs

Your concept of costs for transportation projects is off the mark.  All their needs?  No way.

Replace the cloverleaf interchanges on 95 with 93 (both of them), 2, and 3 with stacks
Remove the last at-grade intersections on 2
Remove at-grade intersections on 1A
Widen US 1 to 6 lanes from Malden to Saugus
Widen 93 to 8 lanes to the New Hampshire border

That about covers it.

[Rothman]

I just found out Massachusetts is getting $4.2 billion for road improvements in the infrastructure bill (plus $1 billion for bridges, the bulk of which will be going to the ones connecting Cape Cod to the Mainland).

That is more than enough for pretty much all of the state's highway needs

Your concept of costs for transportation projects is off the mark.  All their needs?  No way.

Replace the cloverleaf interchanges on 95 with 93 (both of them), 2, and 3 with stacks
Remove the last at-grade intersections on 2
Remove at-grade intersections on 1A
Widen US 1 to 6 lanes from Malden to Saugus
Widen 93 to 8 lanes to the New Hampshire border

That about covers it.

Leaving what funding for MassDOT's capital program?

Even with a preservation program, MA would need to spend billions to keep its conditions from declining.  And then you have routine maintenance...

[kernals12]

I just found out Massachusetts is getting $4.2 billion for road improvements in the infrastructure bill (plus $1 billion for bridges, the bulk of which will be going to the ones connecting Cape Cod to the Mainland).

That is more than enough for pretty much all of the state's highway needs

Your concept of costs for transportation projects is off the mark.  All their needs?  No way.

Replace the cloverleaf interchanges on 95 with 93 (both of them), 2, and 3 with stacks
Remove the last at-grade intersections on 2
Remove at-grade intersections on 1A
Widen US 1 to 6 lanes from Malden to Saugus
Widen 93 to 8 lanes to the New Hampshire border

That about covers it.

Leaving what funding for MassDOT's capital program?

Even with a preservation program, MA would need to spend billions to keep its conditions from declining.  And then you have routine maintenance...

Hopefully Worcester Polytechnic can get that self healing concrete on the market soon.

[Rothman]

I just found out Massachusetts is getting $4.2 billion for road improvements in the infrastructure bill (plus $1 billion for bridges, the bulk of which will be going to the ones connecting Cape Cod to the Mainland).

That is more than enough for pretty much all of the state's highway needs

Your concept of costs for transportation projects is off the mark.  All their needs?  No way.

Replace the cloverleaf interchanges on 95 with 93 (both of them), 2, and 3 with stacks
Remove the last at-grade intersections on 2
Remove at-grade intersections on 1A
Widen US 1 to 6 lanes from Malden to Saugus
Widen 93 to 8 lanes to the New Hampshire border

That about covers it.

Leaving what funding for MassDOT's capital program?

Even with a preservation program, MA would need to spend billions to keep its conditions from declining.  And then you have routine maintenance...

Hopefully Worcester Polytechnic can get that self healing concrete on the market soon.

Truly you have a dizzying intellect.

[kernals12]

When they do widen the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges, won't that increase the pressure to widen Route 3?