Exit Gores in Connecticut

[abqtraveler]

It's been more than 15 years since I lived in Connecticut, but from what I recall during the 1980s and 1990s, Connecticut did not paint their ramp gores with any sort of hatching or chevrons, like you see here in New Mexico and other states.

Looking at Google Maps recently I've noticed that Connecticut has been striping more if its ramp gores on freeways with chevrons.  Anyone know if CONNDOT has changed its policy toward striping ramp gores recently?

The link below is an example of a ramp gore striped with chevrons on the Connecticut Turnpike at the Fairfield Rest Stop.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1461971,-73.2579353,418m/data=!3m1!1e3

[shadyjay]

I'm guessing that one was marked/striped that way since it splits into two ramps prior to the actual gore point.  The SB counterpart doesn't have the same striping, most likely because its just one offramp into the service plaza. 

There may be a few others kicking around, but not a wide scale restriping from what I've seen.  What I have seen is more hashed lane markings where acceleration/decelleration lanes end/begin, as they fade into or come out of the breakdown lane.  Same for when a lane ends.  Prior to this, lane markings would appear/reappear magically.  And every now and then, a few painted-on-roadway Interstate shields.

[abqtraveler]

The marked gore area at the Fairfield Rest Stop was just one example.  Looking on Google Maps you'll find more around Hartford on I-84 and I-91, and a few on the interstates around New Haven, and interestingly enough US-7 northbound in Norwalk has the gore areas painted with chevrons as well.  I'm curious to see where CONNDOT will ultimately go with outlining its ramp gores in the future, but right now it doesn't seem like there's any consistency in how they are being marked.




2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 35, 39, 40, 43, 44, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 74, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(E), 87, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 110 (MS), 195 (RI/MA), 238, 240 (TN), 280 (NJ), 287, 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 305 (CA), 384, 465 (IN), 469 (IN), 610 (TX), 678, 680 (CA), 684, 691, 880 (CA)

[MikeTheActuary]

Here's a nice example of inconsistency: https://goo.gl/maps/9yQUeR4dm1t

[wytout]

New pavement preservation and resurfacing projects are generally including chevrons in the exit gores. I 84 between exit 71 and 74 to MA line. All striped with chevrons after 2015 pavement preservation. Same in Hartford on I 91 from exit 30 to 36 nb and sb.  All exit AND ENTRANCE (previously unheard of in this state) gores in this project have Chevron markings at the completion of this project a couple months ago. Each new project being completed seems to be more consistently applying them.

I don't see them being added on simple restriping  projects though. Only resurfacing projects

[Alps]

I think gore striping has gotten more pronounced in the MUTCD recently vs. back then, and also the MUTCD has gotten more mandate-y. (I can't thesaurus tonight, apparently.)

[doogie1303]

It's been more than 15 years since I lived in Connecticut, but from what I recall during the 1980s and 1990s, Connecticut did not paint their ramp gores with any sort of hatching or chevrons, like you see here in New Mexico and other states.

Looking at Google Maps recently I've noticed that Connecticut has been striping more if its ramp gores on freeways with chevrons.  Anyone know if CONNDOT has changed its policy toward striping ramp gores recently?

The link below is an example of a ramp gore striped with chevrons on the Connecticut Turnpike at the Fairfield Rest Stop.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1461971,-73.2579353,418m/data=!3m1!1e3

I think it's kind of a crap shoot whether Chevrons are used or not.

I just find it hilarious that the google shot shows the designation "Connecticut Turnpike" on the northbound lanes and "Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike" on the southbound lanes. I-95 hasn't been the "Connecticut Turnpike" for over 30 years.

[jp the roadgeek]

Here's a nice example of inconsistency: https://goo.gl/maps/9yQUeR4dm1t

The only reason they put the gores on the I-691 E to I-91 N exit ramp is because a truck overturned on the sharp (25 MPH) curve causing a fatality. Otherwise, they wouldn't be there

[abqtraveler]

It's been more than 15 years since I lived in Connecticut, but from what I recall during the 1980s and 1990s, Connecticut did not paint their ramp gores with any sort of hatching or chevrons, like you see here in New Mexico and other states.

Looking at Google Maps recently I've noticed that Connecticut has been striping more if its ramp gores on freeways with chevrons.  Anyone know if CONNDOT has changed its policy toward striping ramp gores recently?

The link below is an example of a ramp gore striped with chevrons on the Connecticut Turnpike at the Fairfield Rest Stop.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1461971,-73.2579353,418m/data=!3m1!1e3

I think it's kind of a crap shoot whether Chevrons are used or not.

I just find it hilarious that the google shot shows the designation "Connecticut Turnpike" on the northbound lanes and "Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike" on the southbound lanes. I-95 hasn't been the "Connecticut Turnpike" for over 30 years.

Most people still refer to I-95 as the Connecticut Turnpike, even through it's officially the John Davis Lodge Turnpike.  On a side note, John Davis Lodge was governor of Connecticut when the Turnpike was built, and supposedly it was construction of the Connecticut Turnpike that ultimately got him voted out of office.  And then the named the highway after him when the tolls came down in 1985.

[Duke87]

Most people still refer to I-95 as the Connecticut Turnpike

Huh? Nobody calls it that. People in Connecticut refer to it as simply "95" or "I-95".

[Rothman]

Most people still refer to I-95 as the Connecticut Turnpike

Huh? Nobody calls it that. People in Connecticut refer to it as simply "95" or "I-95".

I was wondering about that.  I think when I was a kid in the 1980s, some people did still call it the Connecticut Turnpike, but I think Duke's right now that "I-95" is pretty ubiquitous.

[abqtraveler]

Most people still refer to I-95 as the Connecticut Turnpike

Huh? Nobody calls it that. People in Connecticut refer to it as simply "95" or "I-95".

I was wondering about that.  I think when I was a kid in the 1980s, some people did still call it the Connecticut Turnpike, but I think Duke's right now that "I-95" is pretty ubiquitous.

Once again, my recollection is from about 15-20 years ago, so it may be the case that most folks now just call it 95.

[Duke87]

People have been calling it "95" for as long as I can recall, which admittedly is only back to the early 90s. Hagstrom maps at the time quite clearly labeled it as the Connecticut Turnpike, but it wasn't typically called that when speaking.

What's interesting is that I know of exactly three signs still standing today that use the name "Connecticut Turnpike". All three of them are in New York!

[shadyjay]

Yup... I know those three signs... all on I-287.  And all (relatively) new, meaning they aren't button copy, like some other 287 signs.

Traffic reports (especially 99.1 WPLR-New Haven) used to refer to the "turnpike" and the "parkway".  Not sure if they still do, or if they even still do traffic reports.  My dad calls every highway a "turnpike".  I've always referred to I-95 as the turnpike, at least up to East Lyme/Exit 76, that is.

[roadman65]

Most people still refer to I-95 as the Connecticut Turnpike

Huh? Nobody calls it that. People in Connecticut refer to it as simply "95" or "I-95".

I was wondering about that.  I think when I was a kid in the 1980s, some people did still call it the Connecticut Turnpike, but I think Duke's right now that "I-95" is pretty ubiquitous.

Once again, my recollection is from about 15-20 years ago, so it may be the case that most folks now just call it 95.

Now if we could get the people of Massachusetts to get them to refer to MA 128 as I-95 just like those in their neighbor we will be in business.  Heck the I-93 section which got stripped of the MA 128 moniker altogether, should be called 93 or I-93 and that is still called by its old number.  I should really say for that one more than 95, as at least they are concurrent.

[Duke87]

Yup... I know those three signs... all on I-287.  And all (relatively) new, meaning they aren't button copy, like some other 287 signs.

Nope. Only two of them are on 287. The third is a surviving Connecticut Turnpike shield, not text on a guide sign.

[wytout]

It's been more than 15 years since I lived in Connecticut, but from what I recall during the 1980s and 1990s, Connecticut did not paint their ramp gores with any sort of hatching or chevrons, like you see here in New Mexico and other states.

Looking at Google Maps recently I've noticed that Connecticut has been striping more if its ramp gores on freeways with chevrons.  Anyone know if CONNDOT has changed its policy toward striping ramp gores recently?

The link below is an example of a ramp gore striped with chevrons on the Connecticut Turnpike at the Fairfield Rest Stop.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1461971,-73.2579353,418m/data=!3m1!1e3

Back to exit gores. If you look closely this is an example of what I was talking about in my prior reply.  The nb side has been recently paved and has nice new chevrons at the mainline gore. The sb side has not been repaved, and has no chevrons at the mainline gore, only the split between car side and truck side once you've exited the mainline.

[roadman]

It's been more than 15 years since I lived in Connecticut, but from what I recall during the 1980s and 1990s, Connecticut did not paint their ramp gores with any sort of hatching or chevrons, like you see here in New Mexico and other states.

Looking at Google Maps recently I've noticed that Connecticut has been striping more if its ramp gores on freeways with chevrons.  Anyone know if CONNDOT has changed its policy toward striping ramp gores recently?

The link below is an example of a ramp gore striped with chevrons on the Connecticut Turnpike at the Fairfield Rest Stop.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1461971,-73.2579353,418m/data=!3m1!1e3

Back to exit gores. If you look closely this is an example of what I was talking about in my prior reply.  The nb side has been recently paved and has nice new chevrons at the mainline gore. The sb side has not been repaved, and has no chevrons at the mainline gore, only the split between car side and truck side once you've exited the mainline.

Cheveron markings in gores are, and always have been optional.  The only change with the 2009 Manual is that, it an agency chooses to use markings within the gore lines, tranverse lines are no longer an acceptable option to chevrons.

[wytout]

Optional, certainly. It just seems the engineers are definitely adding them more universally to the project plans lately

[abqtraveler]

I think gore striping has gotten more pronounced in the MUTCD recently vs. back then, and also the MUTCD has gotten more mandate-y. (I can't thesaurus tonight, apparently.)

Before 2009, many states either had a state supplement to the MUTCD or a local MUTCD that was specific to that state, while other states adopted the MUTCD outright with no state supplement.  I do know that California and Indiana were two states that had created their own state MUTCD, which explains why there exists some "non-standard" signage in these states.  Connecticut at the time had a state supplement to the MUTCD, but my understanding is ConnDOT adopted the 2009 MUTCD without adding a state supplement.

[roadman]

Optional, certainly. It just seems the engineers are definitely adding them more universally to the project plans lately

One reason might be is that earlier versions of the MUTCD referenced chevrons as an option, but didn't show them in their illustrations.  This is also a likely reason that many states opted for transverse lines instead of chevrons.

[abqtraveler]

Optional, certainly. It just seems the engineers are definitely adding them more universally to the project plans lately

One reason might be is that earlier versions of the MUTCD referenced chevrons as an option, but didn't show them in their illustrations.  This is also a likely reason that many states opted for transverse lines instead of chevrons.

Just downloaded ConnDOT's plans for Project 96-200, which entails resurfacing amd safety improvements to I-84 through Newtown. One thing of note is the plans specify that exit gores will be striped with chevrons when paving is complete.

On a related note, recent resurfacing projects on I-95 through Bridgeport and Old Lyme and Route 8 in Waterbury have resulted in several more interchanges having exit gores striped with chevrons.

Still seems the jury is out as to whether striping the exit gores is a new ConnDOT standard, as exit gores have not been striped with chevrons with a few recent paving projects on I-84 and I-91 around Hartford.

[connroadgeek]

The most recent repaving of 95 in Stratford introduced gore chevrons, so it seems they are being put in as repaving projects take place. Also during the Stratford job they replaced all the signs, so it seems on some of these smaller jobs you get a couple of miles of pavement, plus gore chevrons, and spot sign replacement. Also plenty of people still refer to 95 as "the turnpike," especially older folks living in some of the smaller towns east of New Haven. Hell you hear people occasionally call it east and westbound too.

[roadman]

Most people still refer to I-95 as the Connecticut Turnpike

Huh? Nobody calls it that. People in Connecticut refer to it as simply "95" or "I-95".

I was wondering about that.  I think when I was a kid in the 1980s, some people did still call it the Connecticut Turnpike, but I think Duke's right now that "I-95" is pretty ubiquitous.

Once again, my recollection is from about 15-20 years ago, so it may be the case that most folks now just call it 95.

Now if we could get the people of Massachusetts to get them to refer to MA 128 as I-95 just like those in their neighbor we will be in business.  Heck the I-93 section which got stripped of the MA 128 moniker altogether, should be called 93 or I-93 and that is still called by its old number.  I should really say for that one more than 95, as at least they are concurrent.

The problem is with the traffic reporters, and the media in general (especially the Boston Globe), who continue to have this delusion that the world will suddenly end in a great fireball should the Route 128 designation go away south of Peabody.  The irony is that, were the media sports entertainment reporters to refer to the current stadium in Foxborough as Schafer Stadiumconcert venue in Mansfield as Great Woods, they'd probably be fired.  And I'd wager that none of the people who insist on keeping the 128 designation south of Peabody (despite the BGSes, exit numbers, and mileposts now all reflecting I-95 and I-93) don't refer to their grocery store as First National or their telephone provider as New England Telephone.

[PHLBOS]

The irony is that, were the media sports reporters to refer to the current stadium in Foxborough as Schafer Stadium, they'd probably be fired.

In that particular case, Gillette Stadium was an entirely new facility that just happened to be adjacent to the old Shafer/Sullivan/Foxboro Stadium.  A more applicable example would've been the successor names to the old stadiums.