Interstate 93 Signing Work

[shadyjay]

It is current MassDOT policy to place all major guide signs on Interstates and freeways overhead (the only exception right now is Route 146 between Millbury and the RI line, which had its signs last updated just before the policy change).  This is to insure adequate visibilty for the life of the sign, and eliminates the need for eventual clearing and grubbing of brush - which has been in an issue on previous ground-mount installations.  The ground-mount signs on I-95 south prior to 4/225 in Lexington were put in as a temporary measure under the US 3 widening project, and are scheduled to be replaced with overhead signs on cantilever supports as part of the Wellesley to Lexington sign update project presently under construction.

Hmmm... interesting.  It'll be strange to see all overhead signs on I-91 north of Northampton when they are up for replacement. 

As a side, CT has moved several signs from overhead to mounted on the side in recent years.  But then again, they don't bother replacing their gantries with any regularity during a sign replacement project.... just "spot" replacements here n' there. 

[KEVIN_224]

Did ConnDOT ever replace the sign which was ruined on I-84 West in Manchester a few years ago? A dump truck or something hit it. There was a small guide sign installed near that spot for the given exit.

[roadman]

Did ConnDOT ever replace the sign which was ruined on I-84 West in Manchester a few years ago? A dump truck or something hit it. There was a small guide sign installed near that spot for the given exit.

As of three weeks ago, the "temporary" ground-mount sign was still there.  Saw an overhead sign upright adjacent to the sign, but I couldn't tell from the angle if it was the old one that was struck, or a new one awaiting the installation of the cantilever arm.

[shadyjay]

Well according to here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/hbelkins/sets/72157634544716285/page4/ there is a brand new 3/4 mile advance sign for Exit 63, and the temporary sign (shown on page 3 of that site) is a 1 mile advance sign, so I would think eventually the 1 mile temp sign would come down.

[roadman]

Well according to here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/hbelkins/sets/72157634544716285/page4/ there is a brand new 3/4 mile advance sign for Exit 63, and the temporary sign (shown on page 3 of that site) is a 1 mile advance sign, so I would think eventually the 1 mile temp sign would come down.

My bad.  I mistook the location for the eastbound Corbins Corner sign that got hit awhile back.

[AMLNet49]

There are complete provisions in place at the south end of I-93 to number both exits.  The large pull through panels have the border in the top-left corner squared off to allow for a potential exit tab.  This is in addition to a covered up "S"  in the word "Exits"  on the first advance sign, and spaces for the letters "A"  and "B"  on all existing tabs.  It seems from all of this that the intent is certainly to do this, thus I cannot figure out why MassDOT would not install them — it is badly needed if they really want to eradicate "128 Syndrome" .

[hotdogPi]

There are complete provisions in place at the south end of I-93 to number both exits.  The large pull through panels have the border in the top-left corner squared off to allow for a potential exit tab.  This is in addition to a covered up "S"  in the word "Exits"  on the first advance sign, and spaces for the letters "A"  and "B"  on all existing tabs.  It seems from all of this that the intent is certainly to do this, thus I cannot figure out why MassDOT would not install them — it is badly needed if they really want to eradicate "128 Syndrome" .

Is "128 Syndrome" the fact that they won't put 95 and 128 on the same sign, or is it that 128 goes too far?

[roadman]

There are complete provisions in place at the south end of I-93 to number both exits.  The large pull through panels have the border in the top-left corner squared off to allow for a potential exit tab.  This is in addition to a covered up "S"  in the word "Exits"  on the first advance sign, and spaces for the letters "A"  and "B"  on all existing tabs.  It seems from all of this that the intent is certainly to do this, thus I cannot figure out why MassDOT would not install them — it is badly needed if they really want to eradicate "128 Syndrome" .

Is "128 Syndrome" the fact that they won't put 95 and 128 on the same sign, or is it that 128 goes too far?

In this case, "128 Syndrome" refers to the fact that traffic reporters continue to refer to the section of I-93 between Canton and Braintree as Route 128, even though the 128 designation was officially removed from that section of highway in 1989.  Adding exit numbers for both 'legs" of I-95 from I-93 south is expected to emphasize that the 128 overlap ends in Canton.  And, I don't know why the full numbers haven't yet been applied to the I-95 signs yet.

The reason 128 does not appear on BGS or LGS panels along the I-95/128 overlap between Canton and Peabody is because, in the early 1990s, when MassHighway was beginning to do sign updates (with Federal money), FHWA specifically dictated that 128 shields not be added to signs.

And, yes, I am aware that some recently-installed LGS panels in Lynnfield and Wakefield have both I-95 and 128 shields.  It is my understanding that these signs were installed as part of private development projects, and that the panels will eventually be corrected by MassDOT District 4 forces.

[NE2]

Keep chasing that white whale.

[bob7374]

The I-93 Signing Project south of Boston has reached a minor milestone. Now being reported on the MassDOT project listing as being 25% complete. I have not had a chance to check out any recent progress, but hope to remedy this by next weekend.

I do find it interesting that this project has been going on since the Fall of 2011, is only 1/4 complete  and only in the past few months have workers gotten to putting in the new overhead foundations. Meanwhile, the I-95 sign project from MA 9 to MA 4/MA 225 started by the end of summer 2012 and the project listing says that it is now 20% complete and contractors are already planning the placement of foundations for their overheads.

[bob7374]

I was able to a take a Sunday morning drive along I-93 South of Boston and have some progress to report. Photos and commentary can be found here: http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2013/09/september-i-93-signage-update-plus-mass.html

[southshore720]

"There has been no activity seen to replace the first advance sign for the next exit on I-93 South (Ponkapaug Rd), however this is probably under the domain of the I-93 Add-A-Lane contractors than the folks responsible for sign replacements down to Exit 4."

Is it possible that the Ponkapaug Rd 1-mile advance sign will be included in the Exit 4 overhead assembly?

[spooky]

But back to I-93 between Braintree and Randolph. Though no new overhead signs have appeared there has been progress with the ground level signage. New town/city line signs have been installed that are bigger than past ones MassDOT has put up, but are mounted on one centered post. There are now 'Entering Quincy' and 'Entering Randolph' southbound and 'Entering Quincy' northbound. There still needs one more NB for the Braintree town line.

The NB 'Entering Braintree' sign is still missing. As a Braintree resident, I wonder what the signing contractor has against us.

[mass_citizen]

I was able to a take a Sunday morning drive along I-93 South of Boston and have some progress to report. Photos and commentary can be found here: http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2013/09/september-i-93-signage-update-plus-mass.html

Nice detailed report. I'm curious to see how much work gets done before the winter slowdown.

[ATLRedSoxFan]

It's coming along, but the street lighting really needs to be re-thought and upgraded, at least to 24. It can be bad interchange at times, and everyone speeds on it(southbound) until you get to 24, and then slam on the brakes! Sucks! The ramps are dark and deceiving, could really use some advanced warning signs and some high mast lighting could help..Going to Canton, not so bad..

[spooky]

In this case, "128 Syndrome" refers to the fact that traffic reporters continue to refer to the section of I-93 between Canton and Braintree as Route 128, even though the 128 designation was officially removed from that section of highway in 1989.  Adding exit numbers for both 'legs" of I-95 from I-93 south is expected to emphasize that the 128 overlap ends in Canton.  And, I don't know why the full numbers haven't yet been applied to the I-95 signs yet.

I heard on the radio this morning that there was a crash on 128 in Attleboro...no amount of exit renumbering is going to fix that!

[roadman]

It's coming along, but the street lighting really needs to be re-thought and upgraded! Rather have a root-canal and tooth extraction sometimes..bad interchange and everyone speeds on it until you get 24 and then slam on the brakes! Sucks!

My understanding is MassDOT has a project to redo the lighting on the Braintree to Boston portion of I-93 (SE Expressway) in preliminary design.

[bob7374]

On my way up to the Road Meet in NH this weekend I did a quick detour to check out progress in the signing project along I-93 between Randolph and Braintree. Saw no changes since last week. From my trip further north up the Expressway into Boston it would appear most of the effort recently has been concentrated on placing foundations for the new overhead signs. Perhaps so the concrete can cure before the real cold weather kicks in. In addition to the several foundations southbound I saw before, there were new foundations northbound in the Neponset Ave to Morrissey Blvd area. No new ground-mounted signage of any type since my last trip.

[mass_citizen]

On my way up to the Road Meet in NH this weekend I did a quick detour to check out progress in the signing project along I-93 between Randolph and Braintree. Saw no changes since last week. From my trip further north up the Expressway into Boston it would appear most of the effort recently has been concentrated on placing foundations for the new overhead signs. Perhaps so the concrete can cure before the real cold weather kicks in. In addition to the several foundations southbound I saw before, there were new foundations northbound in the Neponset Ave to Morrissey Blvd area. No new ground-mounted signage of any type since my last trip.

Hopefully they can mount signs on the new foundations during the winter as that is not temperature sensitive.

[roadman]

Hopefully they can mount signs on the new foundations during the winter as that is not temperature sensitive.

Just as long as we don't have an excessively snowy winter, that may be likely.

[southshore720]

This project is taking forever...other sign projects seem to be moving a lot quicker.  Is a crappy contractor to blame?   

[mass_citizen]

This project is taking forever...other sign projects seem to be moving a lot quicker.  Is a crappy contractor to blame?   

don't expect it to ramp up anytime soon with the winter settling in.

[ATLRedSoxFan]

*Glacial Pace*.. Just sayin' this could have been long done, by now...

[bob7374]

This project is taking forever...other sign projects seem to be moving a lot quicker.  Is a crappy contractor to blame?   

don't expect it to ramp up anytime soon with the winter settling in.

It appears, IMHO that the contractor has some resource problems. This view is based on work on the current project not really starting until the other I-93 signing projects it was working on north of Boston were largely finished (a few months behind schedule) a year after the current project was let. Also, you see lots of work done for a week or two and then nothing for a month of more, implying the company needs to pull its assets from one project to another one or more. Lastly, the work stoppages occur randomly, often with not all work on a current phase being completed. Along the Randolph to Braintree stretch not all the sign foundations were put in before work stopped for a while. Then the foundations and most of the support posts were put up southbound but not northbound. A few weeks later most of the northbound posts, but not all, were put up. They still haven't completed that work.

Hopefully they can get around to putting up overhead signs soon where the posts have been placed, cold weather is not as much an issue with that. I was told in June that the new signs along the southern stretch were to be placed in September. Needless to say October will be over soon. The project has been listed as 26% complete since late August.

[roadman]

I drove through the Randolph to Boston project (southbound) on my way to Rhode Island on Sunday (10-20) and noted that nearly all the uprights for the new overhead signs south of the Braintree split are in place, but without the horizontal arms (for cantilever supports) or members (for full span supports).

Not entirely sure I agree with the process, but this is obviously the contractor's preferred way to stage their work, as they used a similar method for installing the overhead signs and supports on the I-93 Somerville to Wilmington and Wilmington to Methuen sign replacement projects.