Connecticut sign updates

[jon daly]

Just drove I-95 from Old Saybrook out to the RI state line to check on the progress of the sign replacement project from Exits 86-93.  New ground-mount BGS to report, mostly from Exits 89-93.  New speed limits and reassurance shields (using the smaller numerals, no state name, and proper color on the directionals).  Only mile marker replacements are SB.  Limited work on new foundations for the overheads.  No new primary BGSs for Exit 88 yet (those are going overhead).

A few pics here, more on my FLICKR page...

One place the signs haven't been replaced yet is the North Stonington Welcome Center. I have no idea if they are part of the plan, but those signs are old.

[shadyjay]

The contract plans for the project omitted any signs within the welcome center/rest area itself.  For some reason, recent signing contracts haven't touched any rest area signage, hence why button copy brown signage remains on I-84 and I-91 at those rest areas.

[jon daly]

North Stonington is no longer a control point (proper term?) on the mileage sign in Stonington. It now gives the mileage to Providence and the RI state line.

[abqtraveler]

Lack of proofreading strikes again....

Framington

Aside from the erroneous town spelling, it appears the new signs include plenty of room on the exit tabs to accommodate mile-based exit numbers, if and when that conversion occurs.

[shadyjay]

North Stonington is no longer a control point (proper term?) on the mileage sign in Stonington. It now gives the mileage to Providence and the RI state line.

Having North Stonington as a control point on a mileage sign made little sense.  In CT, the signs are quite arbitrarily placed and only feature the major cities (on I-95, NY City, Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, New London, Providence, and now RI state line are used).  In VT, we get a mileage sign after each exit that lists the distances to the next exit's primary city and the road's control city.  So for I-95, east of New Haven, there would be mileage signs for "Branford #/New London ##", "Guilford #/New London ##", etc.  That's kind of like the "N. Stonington #/Providence ##" sign of old.  But without any consistency, again, it made little sense.

[zzyzx]

I'm back in my hometown and have some updates from SE CT:

New blank Attractions signs are installed in advance of nearly every exit from 86-93 on I-95.  The one for Exit 86 is located on the left (not sure if a LEFT EXIT tab is required?) right after the Gold Star Bridge.



There are still a few leftover button copy signs from 88-90, but are going quickly.

No new updates on SR 349 other than the Exit 3A/B signs installed earlier.

Also, new gantries are being installed heading southbound on the Gold Star Bridge:





iPhone

[Mergingtraffic]

Funny thing is CT keeps changing the style of gantries they use.  It was pipe for a little but and now it's the type you see in zzyzx's photo. 

Some of the overhead ones are similar to the pipe kind like this: (I don't care for this style)
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1902313,-73.1942861,3a,75y,171.99h,96.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s868Ynly5zWQUDvXAJMbElQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D868Ynly5zWQUDvXAJMbElQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D72.10818%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I prefer this: (it's closer to the kind that were used in the 1960s)
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0737837,-73.4703784,3a,75y,251.22h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sH4L7g598T0wGTZszbtp0eQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
or
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0729762,-73.4733208,3a,75y,224.91h,92.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX1rUahQTn-myyRZ9r7AEIg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656


I hate this!  It seems like CT added a bunch in the 80s of this.  ugh
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0678399,-73.4937753,3a,75y,120.26h,102.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRlJBiaHgCu-Z7SEon6gDwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[shadyjay]

According to recent sign contract plans, the types indicated above are:

Monotube Bridge (first link), primarily being used for single-carriageway full spans
4-Chord Truss (second and third links), primarily being used for full carriageway full spans (over both directions of travel)
4-Chord Cantilever (not linked), single-sided, holding one or two signs over 1 or 2 lanes

I have yet to find an official designation for the 1980s style (fourth link).  I've just been calling them "angled supports".  And available in a variety of colors, too!

There's still a few older slim cantilevers left (I-95 in Norwalk has a couple, I-84 Hartford as well) and some regular trusses as well.  But when CT went button copy en'masse in the 1980s, they also went angled-support happy.  The turnpike needed something, as the slim older supports (no longer extant) weren't going to support anything more than a blue all-text sign or two.

[RobbieL2415]

CONNDOT used the angled mast arms until 1993 at the very latest with the opening of I-291.

Four-chord trusses were also in use in the late 70s early 80's for the I-84 "Great Rebuild" east of Hartford.

[Mergingtraffic]

Button copy from 1985 on it's way out as the I-84 widening winds down soon and the new signage comes in.

Will this sign survive the mixmaster rehab?  Time will tell.

[ipeters61]

Funny thing is CT keeps changing the style of gantries they use.  It was pipe for a little but and now it's the type you see in zzyzx's photo. 

Some of the overhead ones are similar to the pipe kind like this: (I don't care for this style)
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1902313,-73.1942861,3a,75y,171.99h,96.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s868Ynly5zWQUDvXAJMbElQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D868Ynly5zWQUDvXAJMbElQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D72.10818%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I prefer this: (it's closer to the kind that were used in the 1960s)
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0737837,-73.4703784,3a,75y,251.22h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sH4L7g598T0wGTZszbtp0eQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
or
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0729762,-73.4733208,3a,75y,224.91h,92.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX1rUahQTn-myyRZ9r7AEIg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656


I hate this!  It seems like CT added a bunch in the 80s of this.  ugh
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0678399,-73.4937753,3a,75y,120.26h,102.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRlJBiaHgCu-Z7SEon6gDwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Funny thing is I actually like the mast arm style in CT (the last one).  The second set was nice though.  But this style I don't care for at all, just looks so cheap: https://goo.gl/maps/EaQbq4os4XK2

[shadyjay]

Four-chord trusses were also in use in the late 70s early 80's for the I-84 "Great Rebuild" east of Hartford.

I think those are just regular trusses (and cantilevers).  The "4 chord" aspect makes them more beefier, probably to withstand the elements better. 

[kurumi]

Resuscitating the thread to post a CRCOG doc from Sept. 2019 with project numbers and dates for several exit renumbering projects: https://crcog.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Memo-2019-09-13-Exit-Renumbering.pdf

In brief, the following routes may be completely renumbered by:
CT 72: by end 2021
CT 9: by 2022
I-691: 2023
CT 2: early 2024
CT 8: 2024

Rough guesses for others from the doc:
I-291 = 2026
I-384 = 2026
I-91 = 2027
I-84 = 2028
I-95 = 2029
Route 20 = may be done with I-91, if not then likely 2032

[abqtraveler]

Will be interesting to see if the CT 72 project includes mileage based exits, since the project encompasses all of the CT 72 expressway.  Something to consider: CT 72 is signed east-west, but ConnDOT logs it as north-south, with mileage beginning at CT 9 in New Britain heading toward Bristol.  I'm assuming they'll sign it with mileage going eastbound, but we never know.  Once the 40-56 project on I-84 is complete, I-84 will almost be ready for renumbering, with the only portion needing replacement between Exits 57-65.

Route 72's exit numbers will be converted to mile-based with the upcoming sign replacement project.

[abqtraveler]

Clarence B. Sharp Highway (button copy at last check)

Signs on the Clarence B. Sharp Highway were replaced in 2018. The three exits now have mile-based numbers.

[jp the roadgeek]

Will be interesting to see if the CT 72 project includes mileage based exits, since the project encompasses all of the CT 72 expressway.  Something to consider: CT 72 is signed east-west, but ConnDOT logs it as north-south, with mileage beginning at CT 9 in New Britain heading toward Bristol.  I'm assuming they'll sign it with mileage going eastbound, but we never know.  Once the 40-56 project on I-84 is complete, I-84 will almost be ready for renumbering, with the only portion needing replacement between Exits 57-65.

Route 72's exit numbers will be converted to mile-based with the upcoming sign replacement project.

Funny thing is I mentioned that almost 2 years ago, and the exits will indeed be East to West starting at CT 9 in accordance with the CT highway log. 

[bob7374]

Will be interesting to see if the CT 72 project includes mileage based exits, since the project encompasses all of the CT 72 expressway.  Something to consider: CT 72 is signed east-west, but ConnDOT logs it as north-south, with mileage beginning at CT 9 in New Britain heading toward Bristol.  I'm assuming they'll sign it with mileage going eastbound, but we never know.  Once the 40-56 project on I-84 is complete, I-84 will almost be ready for renumbering, with the only portion needing replacement between Exits 57-65.

Route 72's exit numbers will be converted to mile-based with the upcoming sign replacement project.

Funny thing is I mentioned that almost 2 years ago, and the exits will indeed be East to West starting at CT 9 in accordance with the CT highway log. 

Some CT 72 sign plans for the new Exits 1 A/B:

[KEVIN_224]

The downtown exit (eastbound), I think, from CT Route 72, is the ramp up to Cedar Street and the beginning of Columbus Boulevard.

[shadyjay]

Correct, as seen here, and is currently signed as "Columbus Blvd/Downtown New Britain"
https://www.google.com/maps/place/41%C2%B011'11.0%22N+73%C2%B011'44.0%22W/@41.6678088,-72.7876006,344m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d41.186389!4d-73.195556?hl=en

The CT 71 exit to Main St is adjacent to Columbus Blvd, but there is no direct access since CT 71 is the Harry Truman Overpass at that point, passing over Columbus Blvd, the rail line, and CTFasTrak.

[KEVIN_224]

It also looks like the city is narrowing a section of East Main Street right now, between Main Street and the on-ramp for CT Route 72 West (across from Newbrite Plaza). It looks to be a part of the Beehive Bridge project (Main Street bridge over CT Route 72).

[jp the roadgeek]

The exit numbers will be

1A (EB ONLY): CT 71 Main St
1B (EB ONLY): Downtown New Britain
2: CT 372 Corbin Ave
3 (WB ONLY): I-84 East Hartford (apparently, Farmington will be dropped as a control)
4A (EB ONLY): I-84 West Waterbury
4B (EB ONLY): Woodford Ave
6: CT 177 North Washington St (wish they would add Unionville Ave here since it begins a few feet north)

The WB exit to CT 372 (New Britain Ave) will retain an I-84 exit number (33B, future 49B)