Massachusetts

[Roadgeekteen]

I was using apple maps earlier today and I noticed that it said to get on Route 128, not I-95. This happened both northbound and southbound. The FWHA is really losing the war over the road signage LMAO

More like the people at Apple Maps are lazy and aren't bothering to do their research first.  128 south of Peabody is a totally useless concurrency, because the route doesn't split off at the lower end.  People (especially Boston's traffic reporters) have to wake up and realize that the world isn't going to end if it goes away completely.

I love 128! Re extended it to Braintree and send I-93 down route 3.

[kramie13]

I love 128! Re extended it to Braintree and send I-93 down route 3.

It would make sense to renumber MA 3 as MA 128 - why do we need a second (state) route 3 when there is already a US 3?

On the other hand, most vehicles going towards the Braintree split from Canton are most likely going north, towards Boston.  So having that direction signed "south" would certainly confuse drivers.  I would assign I-595 to the segment of I-93 between Canton and Braintree, and sign it east-west.  Then maybe give MA 3 another route number to keep it separate from US 3.

Massachusetts still recognizes MA 128 as "concurrent" with I-95 - the mileposts (and recently renumbered exits) along "standalone" MA 128 between Peabody and Gloucester start at 37.

[Roadgeekteen]

I love 128! Re extended it to Braintree and send I-93 down route 3.

It would make sense to renumber MA 3 as MA 128 - why do we need a second (state) route 3 when there is already a US 3?

On the other hand, most vehicles going towards the Braintree split from Canton are most likely going north, towards Boston.  So having that direction signed "south" would certainly confuse drivers.  I would assign I-595 to the segment of I-93 between Canton and Braintree, and sign it east-west.  Then maybe give MA 3 another route number to keep it separate from US 3.

Massachusetts still recognizes MA 128 as "concurrent" with I-95 - the mileposts (and recently renumbered exits) along "standalone" MA 128 between Peabody and Gloucester start at 37.

If you make MA 3 I-93 you can eliminate MA 3.

[hotdogPi]

MA 3 does not need to be eliminated. US 3 and MA 3 are one continuous route, just with a different designation. It's not like there are two unrelated routes with that number. (I would prefer an upgrade to US 3, though.)

[Roadgeekteen]

MA 3 does not need to be eliminated. US 3 and MA 3 are one continuous route, just with a different designation. It's not like there are two unrelated routes with that number. (I would prefer an upgrade to US 3, though.)

There is no reason why it's not US 3 (well there is, but it shouldn't be)

[kernals12]

MA 3 should be signed as i-93 and the 128 designation should  be restored to the section from Canton to Quincy. Bay Staters would quickly see i-93 as the "Cape Cod Expressway", especially after they replace the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.

[Roadgeekteen]

MA 3 should be signed as i-93 and the 128 designation should  be restored to the section from Canton to Quincy. Bay Staters would quickly see i-93 as the "Cape Cod Expressway", especially after they replace the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.

I suggested that. Maybe I-93 can go to Orleans on the Mid Cape.

[Alps]

^~-.enough fictional discussion.-~^

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/iM8jTsFHysmo8nN38
Very inconsistent with the exit numbers here.  Exit 7 and then skips to 18 & 19 (signed backwards in sequence) here at the I-93 and MA 3 interchange.

[shadyjay]

Exit 7 is the exit for MA 3 off I-93.  Then-Exits 19 & 18 are MA 3 exits.  There's an advance here warning motorists that the exit is coming up.

Maybe a better solution would be to not have an "Exits 19 & 18" exit tab here, but instead put it on the sign in the distance.  BTW, Exits 19 & 18 is now Exits 42-41.

[PHLBOS]

Exit 7 is the exit for MA 3 off I-93.  Then-Exits 19 & 18 are MA 3 exits.  There's an advance here warning motorists that the exit is coming up.

Maybe a better solution would be to not have an "Exits 19 & 18" exit tab here, but instead put it on the sign in the distance.  BTW, Exits 19 & 18 is now Exits 42-41.

Maybe MassDOT could handle such in a similar way NJDOT handled the old I-95 exit number tabs along I-295 near Trenton.

Just feature an exit tab that reads:
EXITS 42-41 OFF 3
*using a small MA 3 shield for the above*

[CapeCodder]

I have a question: was MA 240 supposed to be a part of something bigger? Seems kind of pointless.

[deathtopumpkins]

I have a question: was MA 240 supposed to be a part of something bigger? Seems kind of pointless.

Essentially, local residents opposed it: https://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20200222/end-of-road-why-fairhavens-route-240-never-extended-into-acushnet

[5foot14]

I have a question: was MA 240 supposed to be a part of something bigger? Seems kind of pointless.

Looking on Google maps there is a paved stub that is visible at the beginning of the southbound side. I always assumed it was planned to connect to 140 north of New Bedford, since it's number seems to be based on that route.

SM-A515U

[kiwislark]

I have a question: was MA 240 supposed to be a part of something bigger? Seems kind of pointless.

Looking on Google maps there is a paved stub that is visible at the beginning of the southbound side. I always assumed it was planned to connect to 140 north of New Bedford, since it's number seems to be based on that route.

SM-A515U

Probably was meant to join 140 here?

[The Ghostbuster]

It seems like there is too much development in the way to make a northern extension of MA 240 feasible.

[Roadgeekteen]

Not sure if a northern extension of MA 240 is really warranted.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Massachusetts might be getting its first DDI in the state. They are proposing to redesign the 1930's era cloverleaf in Natick.

Link: https://framinghamsource.com/index.php/2021/06/04/meeting-on-plans-to-re-design-route-9-27-interchange/

[hotdogPi]

Just for reference, here are the ten flashing greens at intersections I know of:

Brookline: W Roxbury Pkwy / Puddingstone Rd.
Peabody: 114/Driscoll St.
Peabody: 114/Roycroft Rd.
Salem: Dalton Pkwy / Broad St.
Salem: Boston St./Rawlins St.
Salem: 114/Rainbow Terrace
Salem: 1A/114/Ocean Ave.
Salem: 1A/114/Holly St.
Somerville: 16/Woodstock St.
Wakefield: North Ave./Wolcott St.

This is from the project I've been working on. I've looked at about 4/5* of intersections in the eastern third of the state north of I-90 and mostly just the towns along the coast south of I-90 (this includes Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard) and absolutely none of it in the other parts of the state. These are the ten I found. Note that this project only keeps track of intersections, so I have no idea where the ones not at intersections are or even how many there are.

*It was a group project, but I'm the only one since the beginning who's still active, and I have to review other people's work.

[5foot14]

Here's a few I know of:
Peabody: Lynn St @ St Ann's Ave
Salem: Jefferson Ave @ Willson St
Stoneham: 149 or 154 Pond St
Beverly: Cabot St @ May St
Dorchester: Morrissey Blvd @ Tolman St

I think there's a few more along some DCR parkways, but I can't remember where they are.

There also were 4 more of these, all in Salem, that no longer exist:
Bridge St @ Osgood St (Unfortunately now replaced by a flashing beacon)
Bridge St @ Skerry St (Replaced by Beacon)(GSV does not go back far enough in time)
North St @ Mason St (Replaced by regular traffic light)(GSV does not go back far enough in time)
North St @ Garden Terr (Replaced with Nothing, 2 modern ped crossings were added in 2 other locations)

Just want to point out the flashing green on Dalton Parkway in Salem DOES NOT display the yellow/red combination when activated. It has regular pedestrian signals. Not sure if this has any bearing on what your doing, just wanted to let you know.

SM-A515U

[Alps]

Now hold on, how many of the remaining flashing greens DO use red/yellow mode? Because that is something I want to scope out next time I'm through there.

[Mergingtraffic]

Saw these yesterday, one of three button copy "clusters" left.  The other two are on MA-33 and MA-49.

[Ben114]

Took a trip on I-290 today to check out the current sign replacement project between Auburn and Worcester (current exits 7-20). A lot of the auxiliary signs are in, as well as the paddle signs at the end of the ramp, which now utilize the new design with two posts. None of the main exit signs have been placed between exits 20 and 13 westbound. Two signs at the exit for exit 12 have been placed, and were caught on GSV last November.

I did notice two changes to destinations which could be happening. At exit 14 WB (Route 122), this sign has had its destinations changed from Barre / Uxbridge to Grafton / Paxton, which may change the westbound control cities at the exit. At exit 19 WB, an auxiliary sign has been placed stating "Route 12 / use exit 19". Route 12 may be removed from the main BGS for exit 19, which is currently "I-190 to Route 12".

Now the new signs on 290 are coming in. I took a trip today and took photos of the new signs I saw westbound.

Auxiliary sign before exit 20.


BGS at exit 20. Exit 19 advance can be seen in the background (I have no photo), but control cities changed to Sterling and Leominster.


Advance sign for exit 18. This replaced the previous "to MA 9 Ware / Framingham", now including MA 70 at referencing regions within Worcester.


Auxiliary sign directing traffic to the DCU Center and Polar Park. The latter may be a way to divert traffic away from Kelley Square, as Google Maps would use exit 13.


Auxiliary sign for St. Vincent Hospital.


BGS at exit 14. Same thing as seen at exit 18, old control cities of Barre and Uxbridge replaced with Grafton St.


Advance for exits 12 and 11. Exit 11 previously was not signed here, first was at exit 12.


New sign listing distances from upcoming exits.

[Alps]

Saw these yesterday, one of three button copy "clusters" left.  The other two are on MA-33 and MA-49.

Shit, I must have clinched US 6 EB and never looked back west.

[bjcolby50]

Saw these yesterday, one of three button copy "clusters" left.  The other two are on MA-33 and MA-49.

Shit, I must have clinched US 6 EB and never looked back west.

I remember going back and forth to UMass Dartmouth on MA 140 and seeing button copy almost all 19 miles between Dartmouth and Taunton (north AND south).

This must have been at least 1970 vintage, when they opened I-195.