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Massachusetts

Started by hotdogPi, October 12, 2013, 04:50:12 PM

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MATraveler128

Quote from: RobbieL2415 on July 25, 2022, 12:47:06 PM
What is the significance of this VMS on the Mass Pike westbound before Exit 3 (former Exit 1)?
Its the only one of this design that I've ever seen.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3068695,-73.3493313,3a,15.4y,313.49h,93.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-MBpopKlD9Smvjatf_ag1g!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

I'm kind of surprised it wasn't an overhead VMS as MassDOT seems to be obsessed with overhead signs and VMSs. Could it be from when the Pike was still maintained by the former Turnpike Authority since most of the signs from before the 2015-2020 sign replacement project were pre-2009 ground mount?
Decommission 128 south of Peabody!

Lowest untraveled number: 56


shadyjay

Quote from: RobbieL2415 on July 25, 2022, 12:47:06 PM
What is the significance of this VMS on the Mass Pike westbound before Exit 3 (former Exit 1)?
Its the only one of this design that I've ever seen.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3068695,-73.3493313,3a,15.4y,313.49h,93.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-MBpopKlD9Smvjatf_ag1g!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

Could it either have been warning backups for the toll plaza (surrender ticket/pay toll), or tied into the NY Thruway system for any alerts further west into New York?

DrSmith

Quote from: Rothman on July 25, 2022, 11:30:33 AM
Quote from: spooky on July 25, 2022, 09:24:55 AM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on July 23, 2022, 04:21:48 PM
Is there a regular interval for cleaning the signs in the Big Dig tunnels, or is it just done as needed? So many of the overhead signs are so caked with soot at this point that they are barely visible even when lighted. Reflectivity is all but gone.

There was a schedule for such cleanings, I think once a month with alternating months by direction; however that was a number of years ago, and knowing MassDOT, they likely dropped the routine.
It's hard to imagine it was that often.

The signs in the Pru tunnel on the Pike are unreadable, except for a bright new exit number that glows, or at least is how it was the last time I was through there a few months ago.

RobbieL2415

Quote from: shadyjay on July 25, 2022, 05:34:10 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on July 25, 2022, 12:47:06 PM
What is the significance of this VMS on the Mass Pike westbound before Exit 3 (former Exit 1)?
Its the only one of this design that I've ever seen.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3068695,-73.3493313,3a,15.4y,313.49h,93.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-MBpopKlD9Smvjatf_ag1g!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

Could it either have been warning backups for the toll plaza (surrender ticket/pay toll), or tied into the NY Thruway system for any alerts further west into New York?
I think it's one of those old front-lit VMSs where there are little square elements that can flip between black and green, like the old ConnDOT VMSs.

jpdailey14

I remember seeing it lit up once on a trip west to New York in a snowstorm back in the late 90s/early 2000s.  It was some sort of caution of weather conditions approaching the toll plaza.

Quote from: RobbieL2415 on July 25, 2022, 12:47:06 PM
What is the significance of this VMS on the Mass Pike westbound before Exit 3 (former Exit 1)?
Its the only one of this design that I've ever seen.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3068695,-73.3493313,3a,15.4y,313.49h,93.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-MBpopKlD9Smvjatf_ag1g!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

roadman

Quote from: BlueOutback7 on July 25, 2022, 01:12:19 PM

I’m kind of surprised it wasn’t an overhead VMS as MassDOT seems to be obsessed with overhead signs and VMSs. Could it be from when the Pike was still maintained by the former Turnpike Authority since most of the signs from before the 2015-2020 sign replacement project were pre-2009 ground mount?

Yes, this VMS panel was installed by the Turnpike Authority well before they were absorbed by MassDOT.  I believe it was provided as part of a RWIS (Roadway Weather Information System) installation, but I'm not 100% certain.  And, although they are few and far between, MassDOT has installed similar ground-mounted CMS panels on some highways (I-93 south just after the New Hampshire state line immediately comes to mind).  Such panels are provided in those locations where a full overhead CMS panel is deemed to not be practical because commercial power is not available, would not be cost effective to provide, or the installation would negatively impact environmental resource areas such as wetlands.
"And ninety-five is the route you were on.  It was not the speed limit sign."  - Jim Croce (from Speedball Tucker)

"My life has been a tapestry
Of years of roads and highway signs" (with apologies to Carole King and Tom Rush)

Roadgeekteen

Did they drop the speed limit on parts of MA 24 from 65 to 60. Was stunned when I saw 60 on MA 24, thought that was only on MA 3.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

Ted$8roadFan

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 06, 2022, 01:30:03 AM
Did they drop the speed limit on parts of MA 24 from 65 to 60. Was stunned when I saw 60 on MA 24, thought that was only on MA 3.

I hadn't heard of that. 60 MPH speed limits are uncommon in MA. I wonder if traffic volume and design of both MA-3 and MA-24 warrant 60 MPH instead of 55 or 65.

SectorZ

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 06, 2022, 01:30:03 AM
Did they drop the speed limit on parts of MA 24 from 65 to 60. Was stunned when I saw 60 on MA 24, thought that was only on MA 3.

Where on 24? I only recall 65 and maybe some southern portions are briefly 55. Did you check Street View?

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: SectorZ on August 06, 2022, 07:47:02 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 06, 2022, 01:30:03 AM
Did they drop the speed limit on parts of MA 24 from 65 to 60. Was stunned when I saw 60 on MA 24, thought that was only on MA 3.

Where on 24? I only recall 65 and maybe some southern portions are briefly 55. Did you check Street View?
Street view says 65, it was in Fall River just north of I-195. It was a couple of weeks ago. Might it have been a construction zone?
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

southshore720


The Ghostbuster

I wonder how the sign fell over on Interstate 190? I suppose it is too soon to know for sure. In an unrelated matter, according to the Interstate 190 (MA) page at bostonroads.com, there were conceptual plans in the 1970's to extend 190 to Manchester, NH (possibly to end at the Interstate 293/NH 101/Everett Turnpike interchange). Nothing ever came of this proposal, but if it had been constructed (details: http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/I-190_MA/), would it have been a boon or a boondoggle? If you ask me, it would have been a road extension worthy of Fictional Highways.

roadman65

Why was only the part of MA 25 between MA 24 and I-195 only upgraded to become I-495?

Wouldn't it have made more sense to extend I-495 the entire length of MA 25?
Every day is a winding road, you just got to get used to it.

Sheryl Crowe

spooky

Quote from: roadman65 on August 15, 2022, 11:16:10 AM
Why was only the part of MA 25 between MA 24 and I-195 only upgraded to become I-495?

Wouldn't it have made more sense to extend I-495 the entire length of MA 25?

I-495 begins and ends at an interstate. It would not if it extended to the Bourne Bridge.

roadman65

So?  Interstates can end at other roads. Look at I-195 in NJ.

I-190 in SD.
I-35 In Laredo, TX.


Every day is a winding road, you just got to get used to it.

Sheryl Crowe

PurdueBill

Quote from: roadman65 on August 15, 2022, 11:31:30 AM
So?  Interstates can end at other roads. Look at I-195 in NJ.

I-190 in SD.
I-35 In Laredo, TX.


I-190 in Mass, I-384 in CT, and I-393 in NH are other nearby examples of ending without meeting another Interstate.  If there was worry about 495 ending alone with an even first digit, they could have extended 195 to the bridge instead (although doing so would have it TOTSO westbound) but it would still be logical to extend an Interstate number instead of 25 still being left over.

The grand champion is probably I-495 NY which ends at a non-Interstate and probably always will.  Even with an even first digit.

spooky

Quote from: roadman65 on August 15, 2022, 11:31:30 AM
So?  Interstates can end at other roads. Look at I-195 in NJ.

I-190 in SD.
I-35 In Laredo, TX.




You asked why, that's probably the reason why. I do think it would make more sense to extend I-495 and eliminate MA 25.

jp the roadgeek

Quote from: PurdueBill on August 15, 2022, 12:40:41 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on August 15, 2022, 11:31:30 AM
So?  Interstates can end at other roads. Look at I-195 in NJ.

I-190 in SD.
I-35 In Laredo, TX.


I-190 in Mass, I-384 in CT, and I-393 in NH are other nearby examples of ending without meeting another Interstate.  If there was worry about 495 ending alone with an even first digit, they could have extended 195 to the bridge instead (although doing so would have it TOTSO westbound) but it would still be logical to extend an Interstate number instead of 25 still being left over.

The grand champion is probably I-495 NY which ends at a non-Interstate and probably always will.  Even with an even first digit.

Seems more odd 3di's are open ended than even ones, with I-495 being a lone exception.  It explains why I-691 ends at its parent rather than just extending to the end of the expressway.  Also explains why I-690 and I-890 become state routes at their western junctions with their parent; but I-390, I-790, I-990, each have an end that doesn't end at an interstate (or in the case of I-787, it ends at a non-interstate and becomes a state route).
Interstates I've clinched: 97, 290 (MA), 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 293, 295 (DE-NJ-PA), 295 (RI-MA), 384, 391, 395 (CT-MA), 395 (MD), 495 (DE), 610 (LA), 684, 691, 695 (MD), 695 (NY), 795 (MD)

74/171FAN

I-390 becomes NY 390 at I-490 so I-390 does end at an interstate on both ends.   :nod: 
I am now a PennDOT employee.  My opinions/views do not necessarily reflect the opinions/views of PennDOT.

kramie13

Is there a rule that a 3-digit Interstate starting with an even number *must* end at another Interstate highway?

And is there also a rule that a 3-digit Interstate starting with an odd number is *forbidden* from having both its ends at Interstate highways?

MATraveler128

Quote from: kramie13 on August 16, 2022, 01:08:29 PM
Is there a rule that a 3-digit Interstate starting with an even number *must* end at another Interstate highway?

And is there also a rule that a 3-digit Interstate starting with an odd number is *forbidden* from having both its ends at Interstate highways?

This is often the standard for 3dis yes. Although some do break the rules like I-520 in GA/SC or I-495 in New York.
Decommission 128 south of Peabody!

Lowest untraveled number: 56

The Ghostbuster

What about Interstate 540 in North Carolina? True, the portion from Exit 26 to Exit 69 is (or will be) NC 540, but I think this one applies to the situation.

kramie13

Quote from: BlueOutback7 on August 16, 2022, 01:14:51 PM
This is often the standard for 3dis yes. Although some do break the rules like I-520 in GA/SC or I-495 in New York.

Then I would extend I-195 to the Bourne Bridge, and have MA 25 replace MA 28 on the Cape from Falmouth to Orleans, signing it east-west.  Another route number could be used for MA 28 from Falmouth to the Bourne Bridge (signed north-south).

I would replace I-395 in CT/MA and I-290 with I-695, which would also eliminate the exit number/dual milepost confusion on I-290.  But what to do with I-190?  Give it a different route number, like I-595?  If it's a 3-di Interstate, it doesn't meet its parent.  Maybe assign it a new MA state route number.

PHLBOS

#1973
Quote from: roadman65 on August 15, 2022, 11:16:10 AM
Why was only the part of MA 25 between MA 24 and I-195 only upgraded to become I-495?

Wouldn't it have made more sense to extend I-495 the entire length of MA 25?
One thing to keep in mind.  Prior to 1988, MA 25 ended about 1 mile beyond I-195 in Wareham at US 6/MA 28.  When it was decided to have I-495 take over MA 25 from MA 24 to I-195 during the late 70s (after the extension between I-95 & MA 24 was completed circa 1982); many believed that the eastern extension of MA 25 to the Bourne Bridge would never happen.  How the extension would go through/around the cranberry bogs Grazing Fields Farm was the main issue that delayed the extension.  One early proposal that never came to fruition had MA 25 extend all the way to MA 3 in Plymouth.

Quote from: kramie13 on August 17, 2022, 02:53:59 PM
Then I would extend I-195 to the Bourne Bridge, and have MA 25 replace MA 28 on the Cape from Falmouth to Orleans, signing it east-west.  Another route number could be used for MA 28 from Falmouth to the Bourne Bridge (signed north-south).

I would replace I-395 in CT/MA and I-290 with I-695, which would also eliminate the exit number/dual milepost confusion on I-290.  But what to do with I-190?  Give it a different route number, like I-595?  If it's a 3-di Interstate, it doesn't meet its parent.  Maybe assign it a new MA state route number.
While noteworthy, the above is clearly Fictional territory.  :biggrin: Nonetheless, if I-290/395 became I-695; I would simply redesignate I-190 as I-395.
GPS does NOT equal GOD

Ted$8roadFan

Quote from: PHLBOS on August 17, 2022, 09:47:06 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on August 15, 2022, 11:16:10 AM
Why was only the part of MA 25 between MA 24 and I-195 only upgraded to become I-495?

Wouldn't it have made more sense to extend I-495 the entire length of MA 25?
One thing to keep in mind.  Prior to 1988, MA 25 ended about 1 mile beyond I-195 in Wareham at US 6/MA 28.  When it was decided to have I-495 take over MA 25 from MA 24 to I-195 during the late 70s (after the extension between I-95 & MA 24 was completed circa 1982); many believed that the eastern extension of MA 25 to the Bourne Bridge would never happen.  How the extension would go through/around the cranberry bogs was the main issue that delayed the extension.  One early proposal that never came to fruition had MA 25 extend all the way to MA 3 in Plymouth.

Quote from: kramie13 on August 17, 2022, 02:53:59 PM
Then I would extend I-195 to the Bourne Bridge, and have MA 25 replace MA 28 on the Cape from Falmouth to Orleans, signing it east-west.  Another route number could be used for MA 28 from Falmouth to the Bourne Bridge (signed north-south).

I would replace I-395 in CT/MA and I-290 with I-695, which would also eliminate the exit number/dual milepost confusion on I-290.  But what to do with I-190?  Give it a different route number, like I-595?  If it's a 3-di Interstate, it doesn't meet its parent.  Maybe assign it a new MA state route number.
While noteworthy, the above is clearly Fictional territory.  :biggrin: Nonetheless, if I-290/395 became I-695; I would simply redesignate I-190 as I-395.

This is one reason why it took so long:

https://www.wgbh.org/news/2017/10/02/local-news/how-grazing-fields-farm-changed-how-we-build-highways



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