Massachusetts milepost exit numbering conversion contract

[Roadgeekteen]

Will the I-290 numbers be a continuation of the I-395 numbers?

[Great Lakes Roads]

Will the I-290 numbers be a continuation of the I-395 numbers?

Yes.

[Roadgeekteen]

Will the I-290 numbers be a continuation of the I-395 numbers?

Yes.

Not a surprise.

[bob7374]

Guess the tentative start of August 1 in yesterday's email was really that. They released a new email tonight and moved the start of I-395 exit renumbering to August 8, and added a sentence about the dual mile marker installation, which will take place after the exits numbers are changed:
"Please be advised that MassDOT is in the process of converting all exit numbers on freeways to a milepost-based numbering system, per Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements. The final two corridors, Interstate 290 and Interstate 395, will begin in approximately one week:
Corridors: Interstate 290 and Interstate 395
Approximate start date: Sunday, August 8, 2021
Approximate construction duration: 2 weeks
Location: Marlborough to Webster
Hours of operation: 8:00 PM - 5:00 AM
As part of this project, the existing mileposts on I-290 will be replaced with 'dual' mile markers showing mileage for both I-395 and I-290. This work will be done following the completion of the exit renumbering conversion."

[Roadgeekteen]

Guess the tentative start of August 1 in yesterday's email was really that. They released a new email tonight and moved the start of I-395 exit renumbering to August 8, and added a paragraph about the dual mile marker installation, which will take place after the exits numbers are changed:
"Please be advised that MassDOT is in the process of converting all exit numbers on freeways to a milepost-based numbering system, per Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements. The final two corridors, Interstate 290 and Interstate 395, will begin in approximately one week:
Corridors: Interstate 290 and Interstate 395
Approximate start date: Sunday, August 8, 2021
Approximate construction duration: 2 weeks
Location: Marlborough to Webster
Hours of operation: 8:00 PM - 5:00 AM
As part of this project, the existing mileposts on I-290 will be replaced with 'dual' mile markers showing mileage for both I-395 and I-290. This work will be done following the completion of the exit renumbering conversion."

Dual mile markers huh. Is this used anywhere else?

[DJ Particle]

As part of this project, the existing mileposts on I-290 will be replaced with 'dual' mile markers showing mileage for both I-395 and I-290. This work will be done following the completion of the exit renumbering conversion."

Does this officially make I-395 a "semi-silent" multiplex with I-290?

[Roadgeekteen]

As part of this project, the existing mileposts on I-290 will be replaced with 'dual' mile markers showing mileage for both I-395 and I-290. This work will be done following the completion of the exit renumbering conversion."

Does this officially make I-395 a "semi-silent" multiplex with I-290?

I-395 won't be signed on I-290?

[jp the roadgeek]

Guess the tentative start of August 1 in yesterday's email was really that. They released a new email tonight and moved the start of I-395 exit renumbering to August 8, and added a paragraph about the dual mile marker installation, which will take place after the exits numbers are changed:
"Please be advised that MassDOT is in the process of converting all exit numbers on freeways to a milepost-based numbering system, per Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements. The final two corridors, Interstate 290 and Interstate 395, will begin in approximately one week:
Corridors: Interstate 290 and Interstate 395
Approximate start date: Sunday, August 8, 2021
Approximate construction duration: 2 weeks
Location: Marlborough to Webster
Hours of operation: 8:00 PM - 5:00 AM
As part of this project, the existing mileposts on I-290 will be replaced with 'dual' mile markers showing mileage for both I-395 and I-290. This work will be done following the completion of the exit renumbering conversion."

Dual mile markers huh. Is this used anywhere else?

I believe the US 22/322 concurrency in PA uses dual markers

[Roadgeekteen]

Guess the tentative start of August 1 in yesterday's email was really that. They released a new email tonight and moved the start of I-395 exit renumbering to August 8, and added a paragraph about the dual mile marker installation, which will take place after the exits numbers are changed:
"Please be advised that MassDOT is in the process of converting all exit numbers on freeways to a milepost-based numbering system, per Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements. The final two corridors, Interstate 290 and Interstate 395, will begin in approximately one week:
Corridors: Interstate 290 and Interstate 395
Approximate start date: Sunday, August 8, 2021
Approximate construction duration: 2 weeks
Location: Marlborough to Webster
Hours of operation: 8:00 PM - 5:00 AM
As part of this project, the existing mileposts on I-290 will be replaced with 'dual' mile markers showing mileage for both I-395 and I-290. This work will be done following the completion of the exit renumbering conversion."

Dual mile markers huh. Is this used anywhere else?

I believe the US 22/322 concurrency in PA uses dual markers

That's a bit different since there is an actual concurrency here.

[SectorZ]

I don't get the need for the dual mile marker thing for 290. Just keep the regular mile markers up and have the exit numbers be the continuation of 395. A better idea would have been to not continue them from 395 but as we learned the "feedback" the state wanted from us was for show.

It's like their excuse of not changing the Lowell Connector's exit numbers because it doesn't have mile markers. Notwithstanding that the Lowell Connector shouldn't change, that is the lamest of reasons out there to say it shouldn't. You still know what the distances are between exits.

It's just weird how I've spent 40 years watching this state strive, with road-related stuff, to be ultra-specific and on-point only to in practice screw up simple things like the difference between a US route and a state route in signage.

[kramie13]

I also agree that "dual mile markers" along I-290 are stupid.  Just re-number I-290 and I-395 based on the existing mile markers.  If they're going to spend money to re-mile post highways, they should have re-posted I-295 and I-195, continuing the mile markers that started in Rhode Island.

You have exits 1-alphabet soup, 2-alphabet soup, then back to 1 along I-195 going east, and you have exit numbers that go 2-22-20-18 along I-295 going south.

Also, wouldn't it make more sense to sign I-295 as east-west in Massachusetts?

[hotdogPi]

Also, wouldn't it make more sense to sign I-295 as east-west in Massachusetts?

Only if it's east-west east of RI 146. The state line means nothing.

[bob7374]

I also agree that "dual mile markers" along I-290 are stupid.  Just re-number I-290 and I-395 based on the existing mile markers.  If they're going to spend money to re-mile post highways, they should have re-posted I-295 and I-195, continuing the mile markers that started in Rhode Island.

You have exits 1-alphabet soup, 2-alphabet soup, then back to 1 along I-195 going east, and you have exit numbers that go 2-22-20-18 along I-295 going south.

Also, wouldn't it make more sense to sign I-295 as east-west in Massachusetts?

MassDOT's response to comments regarding both the decision in keeping the continuous exit numbers for I-395/I-290 and for not continuing the RI exit numbering into MA was that would be too confusing for drivers. Here's the text of MassDOT's answer to my comment about I-290's proposed exit numbers:
"To minimize potential driver confusion, we are continuing the I-395 numbering along I-290 to replicate the present exit numbering, which is continuous from Webster to Marlborough.   As part of this project, the existing mileposts on I-290 will be replaced with ‘dual’ mile markers showing mileage for both I-395 and I-290.

MassDOT may consider re-designating I-290 as an extension of I-395 at a later date based on driver response to the new exit numbering and the ‘dual’ mile markers.  However, any such re-designation would have to be reviewed by AASHTO and approved by FHWA before it could actually be implemented."

and their response to whether the continuation of RI's exit numbers was considered for I-295:
"MassDOT has considered this option for these routes.  Resetting the exit numbers at the Massachusetts border, as occurs now, provides travelers with an additional cue that they’ve crossed over into a different state.  It is our judgement [sic] that this will aid driver navigation better than continuing the adjacent state’s exit number sequences into Massachusetts will."

As others have pointed out, it would have been simpler just use separate exit number systems for I-395 and I-290, this was the proposal in the postponed 2016 exit renumbering project.

[vdeane]

Between the MA exit renumbering differences between 2016 and now, and the evolution of I-81 in Syracuase, why does it seem to be a trend that projects evolve in ways that become more annoying to roadgeeks?

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe because they want to "own us roadgeeks" by making idiotic proposals that annoy us.

[DrSmith]

Maybe it's much more work than I realize, couldn't the mileposts on 290 be changed so that the start is a continuation of 395, similar to how I-17 works. Not perfect and still seems easier than two sets.

[Roadgeekteen]

Maybe because they want to "own us roadgeeks" by making idiotic proposals that annoy us.

I doubt they care

[vdeane]

Maybe it's much more work than I realize, couldn't the mileposts on 290 be changed so that the start is a continuation of 395, similar to how I-17 works. Not perfect and still seems easier than two sets.

That would be the logical thing to do.  Sometimes it feels like government entities can be allergic to the logical option, though.

[DJ Particle]

MassDOT may consider re-designating I-290 as an extension of I-395 at a later date based on driver response to the new exit numbering and the "˜dual' mile markers.  However, any such re-designation would have to be reviewed by AASHTO and approved by FHWA before it could actually be implemented."

At that point, wouldn't it be more appropriate for it to be named I-695 or I-895 since it basically becomes a Providence bypass of I-95?

[Roadgeekteen]

MassDOT may consider re-designating I-290 as an extension of I-395 at a later date based on driver response to the new exit numbering and the "˜dual' mile markers.  However, any such re-designation would have to be reviewed by AASHTO and approved by FHWA before it could actually be implemented."

At that point, wouldn't it be more appropriate for it to be named I-695 or I-895 since it basically becomes a Providence bypass of I-95?

It would, but the government doesn't like renumbering. I hope that they at least renumber I-190.

[hotdogPi]

It would, but the government doesn't like renumbering. I hope that they at least renumber I-190.

What do you want I-190 renumbered to? If your problem is that it doesn't touch I-90, there's no number that will fix it.

[Rothman]

Getting into fictional territory when you're discussing changes not being officially proposed.

[vdeane]

It would, but the government doesn't like renumbering. I hope that they at least renumber I-190.

What do you want I-190 renumbered to? If your problem is that it doesn't touch I-90, there's no number that will fix it.

Basically, if I-290 gets renumbered to I-395 (something MassDOT is actually considering), he'd like I-190 renumbered (no official proposal) because it would be orphaned if I-290 gets renumbered.

I'm pretty sure there's already been a long discussion on this thread speculating on potential fictional renumberings of I-190.

[Roadgeekteen]

It would, but the government doesn't like renumbering. I hope that they at least renumber I-190.

What do you want I-190 renumbered to? If your problem is that it doesn't touch I-90, there's no number that will fix it.

Basically, if I-290 gets renumbered to I-395 (something MassDOT is actually considering), he'd like I-190 renumbered (no official proposal) because it would be orphaned if I-290 gets renumbered.

I'm pretty sure there's already been a long discussion on this thread speculating on potential fictional renumberings of I-190.

Yes, true. I doubt they would because normal people don't care about the rules, but they should.

[abqtraveler]

It would, but the government doesn't like renumbering. I hope that they at least renumber I-190.

What do you want I-190 renumbered to? If your problem is that it doesn't touch I-90, there's no number that will fix it.

Basically, if I-290 gets renumbered to I-395 (something MassDOT is actually considering), he'd like I-190 renumbered (no official proposal) because it would be orphaned if I-290 gets renumbered.

I'm pretty sure there's already been a long discussion on this thread speculating on potential fictional renumberings of I-190.

Yes, true. I doubt they would because normal people don't care about the rules, but they should.

If that were the case, I would have I-395 take over I-190, and re-designate the east-west section of I-290 between I-190 and I-495 as an I-x95. I think 695 and 895 are available for assignment.