Massachusetts

[paul02474]

For a historical context, MassDOT posts historic state highway maps on its website. You can compare the late 1960s to early 1970s to see the changes discussed in recent threads.
https://massdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MinimalGallery/index.html?appid=643a9eb188d0439088646866bf5e9844
https://massdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MinimalGallery/index.html?appid=643a9eb188d0439088646866bf5e9844

[Pete from Boston]

Somehow I only just today I noticed these markers on I-95 south of 128. Presumably they're on other highways, but again, they just caught my attention today. What are they?

They count down by five going south, although many are missing. When they hit zero, they reset to a new number. One section starts over at like 370, another at 85, another at 130, etc.

[deathtopumpkins]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they're stationing. If you can give me a number matched to a specific location (not enough context to figure out location from that pic), I can confirm if this is the answer or not.

[Pete from Boston]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they're stationing. If you can give me a number matched to a specific location (not enough context to figure out location from that pic), I can confirm if this is the answer or not.

I don't know what stationing means.

This is the location, in Attleboro:

https://goo.gl/maps/obEBwEC7ySdLvUqPA

[hotdogPi]

I don't know what stationing means.

They're used by people who actually work on the roads. It's more of an engineering term than a roadgeek term. Basically, the start of a project will be 0, and it counts up from there.

[roadman]

I don't know what stationing means.

They're used by people who actually work on the roads. It's more of an engineering term than a roadgeek term. Basically, the start of a project will be 0, and it counts up from there.

Not exactly.  Stationing is roadway based, not project based, and often adjusts at city or town lines (a typical equation at a boundary would be STA. 130+40 (town) = STA 8+40 (city)).  Stations are normally measured in 100 foot increments.  They are used for design and construction purposes to identify various features such as the start and end of curves, guardrail runs, drainage pipes and structures, and the like.  Many agencies install station markers at about 500 foot injtervals, but they are located on or near the right of way line, and are normally mounted perpendicular to traffic so they aren't visible to drivers.

[Alps]

I don't know what stationing means.

They're used by people who actually work on the roads. It's more of an engineering term than a roadgeek term. Basically, the start of a project will be 0, and it counts up from there.

Not exactly.  Stationing is roadway based, not project based, and often adjusts at city or town lines (a typical equation at a boundary would be STA. 130+40 (town) = STA 8+40 (city)).  Stations are normally measured in 100 foot increments.  They are used for design and construction purposes to identify various features such as the start and end of curves, guardrail runs, drainage pipes and structures, and the like.  Many agencies install station markers at about 500 foot injtervals, but they are located on or near the right of way line, and are normally mounted perpendicular to traffic so they aren't visible to drivers.

It can go either way. Sometimes you have to establish stationing for a project and sometimes you inherit it from previous projects. Can depend on the agency as well.

[Pete from Boston]

I don't know what stationing means.

They're used by people who actually work on the roads. It's more of an engineering term than a roadgeek term. Basically, the start of a project will be 0, and it counts up from there.

Not exactly.  Stationing is roadway based, not project based, and often adjusts at city or town lines (a typical equation at a boundary would be STA. 130+40 (town) = STA 8+40 (city)).  Stations are normally measured in 100 foot increments.  They are used for design and construction purposes to identify various features such as the start and end of curves, guardrail runs, drainage pipes and structures, and the like.  Many agencies install station markers at about 500 foot injtervals, but they are located on or near the right of way line, and are normally mounted perpendicular to traffic so they aren't visible to drivers.

Yep. These are all facing perpendicular. Some are at the guardrail, some further out in the ROW.

[deathtopumpkins]

That is indeed stationing. The 1959 State Highway Layout for I-95 has the Read St overpass at approximately sta. 157+00.

[bob7374]

And are these signs going to include the renumbered exits like they are doing everywhere else in the state?

Given its still going to be at least a year (if not more) before new signs go up on US 3, and given the fact that the exit renumbering project is planning on being completed sometime late summer/fall 2021, then I'm guessing the old signs will get new numbers.  And most definitely the new signs, when fabricated for the US 3 sign replacement project, will have the new numbers. 

You are correct on both counts.

Update on the US 3 sign replacement contract. Apparently there was only one bidder, Liddell Bros., whose bid of $6.89 million announced on Jan. 26 was $1.1 million than MassDOT's estimate of $5.79 million. Is MassDOT going to have to accept it, or rebid the contract in the hopes of getting other competitors or a lower bid? Liddell was also the apparently only bidder for the I-95 exit renumbering contract in RI (still no word about when that will start). Lack of competition can only mean higher prices and more delays for sign projects in Mass. and neighboring states.

[maplou]

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

[SectorZ]

And are these signs going to include the renumbered exits like they are doing everywhere else in the state?

Given its still going to be at least a year (if not more) before new signs go up on US 3, and given the fact that the exit renumbering project is planning on being completed sometime late summer/fall 2021, then I'm guessing the old signs will get new numbers.  And most definitely the new signs, when fabricated for the US 3 sign replacement project, will have the new numbers. 

You are correct on both counts.

Update on the US 3 sign replacement contract. Apparently there was only one bidder, Liddell Bros., whose bid of $6.89 million announced on Jan. 26 was $1.1 million than MassDOT's estimate of $5.79 million. Is MassDOT going to have to accept it, or rebid the contract in the hopes of getting other competitors or a lower bid? Liddell was also the apparently only bidder for the I-95 exit renumbering contract in RI (still no word about when that will start). Lack of competition can only mean higher prices and more delays for sign projects in Mass. and neighboring states.

Is Liddell the only one bidding anymore? It's bad enough they're the only bidder but they don't seem interested in getting the jobs done with any speed.

[paul02474]

A first in Massachusetts: The Battle Road Scenic Byway — the route from Concord to Arlington, in which Colonials fought British Regulars, launching the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775 — is now an All-American Road.
https://www.yourarlington.com/arlington-archives/town-school/local-history/18391-byway-022021

[Pete from Boston]

Seen today in Quincy, directing traffic to Route 3. This sign doesn't look all that old.

[dkblake]

Seen today in Quincy, directing traffic to Route 3. This sign doesn't look all that old.

And the control city is Brockton??

[abqtraveler]

That is indeed stationing. The 1959 State Highway Layout for I-95 has the Read St overpass at approximately sta. 157+00.

New Mexico does the same thing. NMDOT mounts station placards on its right-of-way fences at regular intervals (I think every 500 or 1,000 feet).

[MinecraftNinja]

Just looked through the old maps - all the US routes (1, 3 and 20) used to meet. I thought that was fascinating.

[Alps]

Just looked through the old maps - all the US routes (1, 3 and 20) used to meet. I thought that was fascinating.

There used to be a concurrency - or at least junction, but I think concurrency - of 1, 2, and 3 along Mass Ave.

[PHLBOS]

Just looked through the old maps - all the US routes (1, 3 and 20) used to meet. I thought that was fascinating.

There used to be a concurrency - or at least junction, but I think concurrency - of 1, 2, and 3 along Mass Ave.

Junction at the intersection of Memorial Drive & Brookline Ave./B.U. Bridge is where such occurred prior to 1971.

[Alps]

Just looked through the old maps - all the US routes (1, 3 and 20) used to meet. I thought that was fascinating.

There used to be a concurrency - or at least junction, but I think concurrency - of 1, 2, and 3 along Mass Ave.

Junction at the intersection of Memorial Drive & Brookline Ave./B.U. Bridge is where such occurred prior to 1971.

I'm going way, way back for there to have been a concurrency. 20s or 30s.

[PHLBOS]

Just looked through the old maps - all the US routes (1, 3 and 20) used to meet. I thought that was fascinating.

There used to be a concurrency - or at least junction, but I think concurrency - of 1, 2, and 3 along Mass Ave.

Junction at the intersection of Memorial Drive & Brookline Ave./B.U. Bridge is where such occurred prior to 1971.

I'm going way, way back for there to have been a concurrency. 20s or 30s.

I just checked through the available historic state road maps from this site.  Based on the old maps (1929 seems to be the oldest available on the state's site), MA 2 was rerouted away from Mass Ave. in Cambridge onto Memorial Drive where it had separate concurrencies w/US 1 & US 3 circa 1935(?).
Mass Ave. (old MA 2) became MA 2A at that time.

Additionally, the old maps confirmed that US/MA 3 crossed the Charles River at the Brookline Ave./B.U. Bridge even back then.

[roadman]

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.

[yakra]

People (especially MassDOT) have to wake up and realize that the world isn't going to end if it goes away completely.

FTFY

[Pete from Boston]

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.

They're awake to the fact that the world hasn't ended because it's stayed.

It's been said a thousand times but if it has to be said again, there's clearly utility in having a name for the C-shaped ring of road ten miles out from Boston. We know this because there's a cultural "inside 128"  concept that doesn't make sense as "inside 95."  The ring is a discrete element.

You can call it "Circumferential Highway,"  you can call it "Yankee Division Highway,"  you can even call it "America's Technology Highway."  But inasmuch as it is referred to separately from the rest of 95, it is useful for it to have a name.

Rather than pay for a whole new set of signs and wait for people to embrace a new name, I say keeping "128"  is a lot easier. But I'm not an engineer, I just live and drive here.

[bluecountry]

Drove I-91 south from VT, was surprised at how much traffic there is on I-91 from Greenfield on south, any reason why so much volume?