Massachusetts milepost exit numbering conversion contract

[hotdogPi]

Route 2 should be next. Their exit numbering scheme is a crime to humanity.

What's wrong with Route 2's exit numbering scheme? (I haven't seen what the new exit numbers will be)

It randomly starts with exit 14 on the west end of the expressway section, goes to 42 I think, there is an exit 50 just randomly in the middle, resumes at 52 and goes to 60.

The new numbering won't fix that. It still won't start at zero, and there will be a gap with a single exit in the middle, only with different numbers.

[Roadgeekteen]

Route 2 should be next. Their exit numbering scheme is a crime to humanity.

What's wrong with Route 2's exit numbering scheme? (I haven't seen what the new exit numbers will be)

It randomly starts with exit 14 on the west end of the expressway section, goes to 42 I think, there is an exit 50 just randomly in the middle, resumes at 52 and goes to 60.

The new numbering won't fix that. It still won't start at zero, and there will be a gap with a single exit in the middle, only with different numbers.

Yeah, but at least the exit numbers will make sense.

[SectorZ]

Route 2 should be next. Their exit numbering scheme is a crime to humanity.

What's wrong with Route 2's exit numbering scheme? (I haven't seen what the new exit numbers will be)

It randomly starts with exit 14 on the west end of the expressway section, goes to 42 I think, there is an exit 50 just randomly in the middle, resumes at 52 and goes to 60.

The new numbering won't fix that. It still won't start at zero, and there will be a gap with a single exit in the middle, only with different numbers.

Yeah but at least following mile markers it will make sense. The exit 14 start had no rational basis whatsoever. It will still look weird, but it will be logical.

[Jim]

My assumption on MA 2 numbers was that they were based on a sequential numbering of where hypothetical interchanges would be placed if the road was ever completed as a full freeway end-to-end, or at least as far west as it could make any sense to do so.  The mileage-based numbers will definitely make more sense and convey something much more meaningful.

[SectorZ]

So looking at wikipedia for mileage and seeing the new exit numbers on US 3 S/B thus far, it appears the posted mile markers are about 1/2 mile too high along the stretch from I-95. I was wondering how old exit 34 (Westford Rd), now exit 88, was 88 when the bridge crossing over the road is between MM 89.0 and 89.2. Well, it appears the exit is really at MM 88.6, and all the marker signs are off.

[vdeane]

I see that south of Exit 28, MA24 got 295ed.

295 as a transitive verb means to forgo renumbering exits spaced on average about 1 mile apart at the beginning of a highway when the exit numbers don't fully match the mileposts. Named after the 295 upta lopstah country theyah.

Speaking of 295, any word on the one in Mass?

The proposed new MUTCD does say that exit numbers can be 1 off if it's done to avoid letter-suffix exits. Including a figure illustrating that idea. But it also says that suffixes may be necessary to avoid numbers being 2 miles off, or if there are more than 2 or 3 exits in a mile.

So it makes sense that the states that are converting now are avoiding letter suffixes.

Interesting.  If that makes it to the final MUTCD, I can think of a couple interstates in NY that would de facto convert immediately upon adoption.  MA's sections that retain sequential wouldn't all meet that standard, though.  I-291 and I-391 both have numbers that are at least two off, and I bet I-91 does as well.

[bob7374]

Exit renumbering along US 3 South got to the MA 62 exit in Burlington as of last night. Tonight's work has been postponed by weather, meaning this number combination will be up for at least another day, showing a nearly 50 number difference between exits, courtesy of Paul Schlichtman:


When the new number is placed for the I-95 exit, the signs will still look odd because there will be a 2 miles distance between exits 73 and 72. Other photos of the changes to the I-495 exit in Chelmsford are at:
https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#photos

[SectorZ]

Got news via e-mail on a new route soon to get its new exit numbers

The following corridor will begin conversion in approximately a week:   

    Corridor: Route 128
    Approximate start date: Feb. 3
    Approximate construction duration: 2 weeks
    Location: Gloucester to Peabody
    Hours of operation: 8:00 PM - 5:00 AM

[5foot14]

Got the email from MassDOT this morning announcing Route 128 as next up for renumbering. Anticipated start date is February 3rd and is expected to take 2 weeks. 

SM-A515U

[SectorZ]

Got the email from MassDOT this morning announcing Route 128 as next up for renumbering. Anticipated start date is February 3rd and is expected to take 2 weeks. 

SM-A515U

Am I on your ignore list or something? 

[5foot14]

Got the email from MassDOT this morning announcing Route 128 as next up for renumbering. Anticipated start date is February 3rd and is expected to take 2 weeks. 

SM-A515U

Am I on your ignore list or something? 

My bad, I thought i scrolled to the bottom... guess I didn't. 

SM-A515U

[fwydriver405]

I've been noticing some of the news stations in the Boston area are a bit slow to adapt to the new exit numbering... a few examples:

https://whdh.com/news/multiple-crashes-reported-after-snow-creates-slick-spots-in-parts-of-bay-state/

Troopers responding to a reported crash on Interstate 90 westbound just before exit 13 across from the Natick Service Plaza Wednesday morning found a car with significant damage and a tractor-trailer that had gone off the road.

Even the State Police is using the old numbers:

https://twitter.com/MassStatePolice/status/1354418422508040192

As well as this part of the mass.gov website as well.

[The Ghostbuster]

Hopefully they will adjust to the new numbers in time. I'm sure other portions of the country that underwent sequential-to-mileage-based exit renumberings had similar problems initially.

[SectorZ]

Hopefully they will adjust to the new numbers in time. I'm sure other portions of the country that underwent sequential-to-mileage-based exit renumberings had similar problems initially.

Yeah but our media still calls a stretch of I-93 "128" despite it being removed from the roadway 32 years ago. Boston media can be a tad resistant to basic changes.

[yakra]

When the I-95 exit number is changed there will be 2 miles listed between Exits 73 and 74, the reason below.
...
The milepost seen behind it is for Mile 74, why was that number not chosen?
More to come...

Don't leave us hanging! What is the reason?



https://newmassexits.com/us-3-corridor doesn't list a new number for the other Jct. I-95 & RTE 128.
Looks like it doesn't already have a number, and MassDOT isn't adding numbers to exits that don't already have them, correct?
Significant that it's an exit from the non-freeway portion of the route.

[SectorZ]

When the I-95 exit number is changed there will be 2 miles listed between Exits 73 and 74, the reason below.
...
The milepost seen behind it is for Mile 74, why was that number not chosen?
More to come...

Don't leave us hanging! What is the reason?

See my reply #829 above. The mile marker signs are apparently not reality.

[yakra]

So looking at wikipedia for mileage and seeing the new exit numbers on US 3 S/B thus far, it appears the posted mile markers are about 1/2 mile too high along the stretch from I-95. I was wondering how old exit 34 (Westford Rd), now exit 88, was 88 when the bridge crossing over the road is between MM 89.0 and 89.2. Well, it appears the exit is really at MM 88.6, and all the marker signs are off.

Just to muddy the waters even more, some data from RoadInv2017/Road_Inventory shapefiles (downloaded here iirc, dated 2017-07-11):

MM      Exit
70.2    I-95
72.4    MA62
87.8    Westford Rd

[PurdueBill]

So looking at wikipedia for mileage and seeing the new exit numbers on US 3 S/B thus far, it appears the posted mile markers are about 1/2 mile too high along the stretch from I-95. I was wondering how old exit 34 (Westford Rd), now exit 88, was 88 when the bridge crossing over the road is between MM 89.0 and 89.2. Well, it appears the exit is really at MM 88.6, and all the marker signs are off.

Just to muddy the waters even more, some data from RoadInv2017/Road_Inventory shapefiles (downloaded here iirc, dated 2017-07-11):

MM      Exit
70.2    I-95
72.4    MA62
87.8    Westford Rd

So 62 and Westford Road are pretty much OK as far as the new exit numbers (Route 62 could have been 73, but at 72.4 it could go either way).  Could someone have read the mileage at 128/95 aloud as "seventy, two" and someone else wrote it down as 72 and that's how the new exit number got to be what it is?    It is seriously off to have the numbers differ by 1 with more than 2 miles between the exits and no need for fudging to avoid extra letters or anything.

[PHLBOS]

So looking at wikipedia for mileage and seeing the new exit numbers on US 3 S/B thus far, it appears the posted mile markers are about 1/2 mile too high along the stretch from I-95. I was wondering how old exit 34 (Westford Rd), now exit 88, was 88 when the bridge crossing over the road is between MM 89.0 and 89.2. Well, it appears the exit is really at MM 88.6, and all the marker signs are off.

Just to muddy the waters even more, some data from RoadInv2017/Road_Inventory shapefiles (downloaded here iirc, dated 2017-07-11):

MM      Exit
70.2    I-95
72.4    MA62
87.8    Westford Rd

So 62 and Westford Road are pretty much OK as far as the new exit numbers (Route 62 could have been 73, but at 72.4 it could go either way).  Could someone have read the mileage at 128/95 aloud as "seventy, two" and someone else wrote it down as 72 and that's how the new exit number got to be what it is?    It is seriously off to have the numbers differ by 1 with more than 2 miles between the exits and no need for fudging to avoid extra letters or anything.

US 3 MM 73.6 just south of the MA 62 underpass 
That said, assigning this interchange Exit 74 instead of Exit 73 would've made more logical sense.

For the I-95 (MA 128)/US 3 interchange further south:

US 3 southbound MM 71.6 just north of the I-95 underpass

Further down US 3 southbound along the cloverleaf ramp at MM 71.4

MM 71.2 along US 3 northbound from I-95 southbound prior to merging with the mainline US 3

A pair of MM 71 markers along I-95 southbound/US 3 northbound

MM 71's opposite companions along I-95 northbound/US 3 southbound

This one's more of a toughy given the interchange geometry & route concurrency.  If one were to hold US 3 northbound, the I-95 interchange would be Exits 71 B-A*.  However, since US 3 southbound comprises more of the mainline US 3 corridor as well as longer mileage (the mainline I-95 underpass is roughly at US 3 southbound's MM 71.5); one could justify assigning it Exits 72 B-A*.  It's also worth noting & for obvious reasons that the I-95 exits are only along US 3 southbound; therefore, Exits 72 B-A* gets the nod.
*Given that Exit 72 A (old 25 A) is thru-US 3 southbound (to I-95 northbound); I would've ditched the exit tab for that movement altogether and signed the I-95 southbound exit ramp simply as Exit 72.

[bob7374]

Exit renumbering on US 3 North has gotten as far as the MA 129 exit in Chelmsford. Here's the latest number gap to appear on the route, with the I-495 exit not yet renumbered, courtesy of Paul Schlichtman:


Photos documenting the complete exit renumbering of US 3 South, can be found at:
https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#photos

[DrSmith]

Signs were put along 91 indicating that exit numbers are changing soon

[bob7374]

They completed renumbering the I-495 and MA 110 exits on US 3 North before the storm hit, but they got this one wrong, this is now Exits 80/81A:


The rest have the correct numbers, but they are backwards, though they are in the same order as the Old Exit numbers (and someone forgot an S):

[5foot14]

Drove up Route 128 this morning, so far no progress has been made on the exit renumbering. I'm assuming this is due to delays on US3 due to the nor'easter we had this week.

SM-A515U

[paul02474]

This is a correct assumption. The contractor needs to finish US 3 before proceeding to 128.

Drove up Route 128 this morning, so far no progress has been made on the exit renumbering. I'm assuming this is due to delays on US3 due to the nor'easter we had this week.

SM-A515U

[abqtraveler]

Drove up Route 128 this morning, so far no progress has been made on the exit renumbering. I'm assuming this is due to delays on US3 due to the nor'easter we had this week.

SM-A515U

Looks like work is slowing down now that winter has finally hit New England.