Interstate 93 Signing Work

[spooky]

Second, unlike the old MassDPW days where the PR folks were engineers who were given PR training, the current breed of MassDOT PR people, although good at what they do, were mostly brought in from outside media companies.  Not only are they "generalists", but they also have a reporter's mindset which instinctively tells them "The public calls it 128, so we'll call it 128" - irrespective of the fact that, with one exception (a lone trailblazer sign on the S.E. Expressway south at the Braintree split), all traces of the 128 designation (signs, etc) have long since been removed from the highway between Braintree and Canton.

Make that two exceptions.

https://www.google.com/maps?ll=42.228228,-71.015052&spn=0.348793,0.721664&cbp=12,263.21,,0,6.37&layer=c&panoid=DxJZ6xzQdmiaQFuTUR26xA&cbll=42.228228,-71.015052&t=h&z=11

[PHLBOS]

Second, unlike the old MassDPW days where the PR folks were engineers who were given PR training, the current breed of MassDOT PR people, although good at what they do, were mostly brought in from outside media companies.  Not only are they "generalists", but they also have a reporter's mindset which instinctively tells them "The public calls it 128, so we'll call it 128" - irrespective of the fact that, with one exception (a lone trailblazer sign on the S.E. Expressway south at the Braintree split), all traces of the 128 designation (signs, etc) have long since been removed from the highway between Braintree and Canton.

Make that two exceptions.

https://www.google.com/maps?ll=42.228228,-71.015052&spn=0.348793,0.721664&cbp=12,263.21,,0,6.37&layer=c&panoid=DxJZ6xzQdmiaQFuTUR26xA&cbll=42.228228,-71.015052&t=h&z=11

I believe that NORTH 128 trailblazer sign is a left-over from the mid-to-late 1980s, when the road still was designated as MA 128 along w/I-93.

[spooky]

Second, unlike the old MassDPW days where the PR folks were engineers who were given PR training, the current breed of MassDOT PR people, although good at what they do, were mostly brought in from outside media companies.  Not only are they "generalists", but they also have a reporter's mindset which instinctively tells them "The public calls it 128, so we'll call it 128" - irrespective of the fact that, with one exception (a lone trailblazer sign on the S.E. Expressway south at the Braintree split), all traces of the 128 designation (signs, etc) have long since been removed from the highway between Braintree and Canton.

Make that two exceptions.

https://www.google.com/maps?ll=42.228228,-71.015052&spn=0.348793,0.721664&cbp=12,263.21,,0,6.37&layer=c&panoid=DxJZ6xzQdmiaQFuTUR26xA&cbll=42.228228,-71.015052&t=h&z=11

I believe that NORTH 128 trailblazer sign is a left-over from the mid-to-late 1980s, when the road still was designated as MA 128 along w/I-93.

It absolutely is, as is the other sign that roadman mentioned.

[PHLBOS]

Second, unlike the old MassDPW days where the PR folks were engineers who were given PR training, the current breed of MassDOT PR people, although good at what they do, were mostly brought in from outside media companies.  Not only are they "generalists", but they also have a reporter's mindset which instinctively tells them "The public calls it 128, so we'll call it 128" - irrespective of the fact that, with one exception (a lone trailblazer sign on the S.E. Expressway south at the Braintree split), all traces of the 128 designation (signs, etc) have long since been removed from the highway between Braintree and Canton.

Make that two exceptions.

https://www.google.com/maps?ll=42.228228,-71.015052&spn=0.348793,0.721664&cbp=12,263.21,,0,6.37&layer=c&panoid=DxJZ6xzQdmiaQFuTUR26xA&cbll=42.228228,-71.015052&t=h&z=11

I believe that NORTH 128 trailblazer sign is a left-over from the mid-to-late 1980s, when the road still was designated as MA 128 along w/I-93.

It absolutely is, as is the other sign that roadman mentioned.

Doing a quick check on Google Earth StreetView, the only two 128 trailblazer signs along I-93 South approaching the Braintree Split do include the word TO in them above the NORTH 128 listing.  He may indeed be refering to the sign you just posted, which is actually located at at a split ramp for I-93 North & South from Burgin Parkway (Exit 19 off MA 3).  While it's located south of the Braintree Split; it's not along the Southeast Expressway per say*.

*Some old Universal Street Maps still list MA 3 south of Braintree as the Southeast Expressway; but it's commonly-referred-to street name, I believe is Pilgrim's Highway. 

[roadman]

I had forgotten about that sign on the service road, and the sign I mentioned on the S. E. Expressway was referring to the trailblazer sign prior to the Braintree split.  Although the sign is a trailblazer, instead of a junction or confirmatory marker, MassHighway/MassDOT policy has been that NO references to Route 128 should occur east of Canton.

These particular signs should have been removed as part of the "clean-sweep" that occurred as part of the early 1990s Canton to Braintree I-93 sign replacement project - not sure why they still remain.

[PHLBOS]

It should be noted that the fore-mentioned TO NORTH 128 trailblazer sign with the arrow along I-93 South appears not to be completely state-spec'd (the numerals & letters appear too bold).  It might been designed (& erected) by a private contractor doing a state project.

OTOH, the service road sign is clearly MassDPW-spec'd.

[bob7374]

According to MassDOT, the I-93 project is now 30% complete, still trailing the later-started I-95 Project at 32%, however. Nothing new on I-93 between Braintree and Randolph based on a trip through there Monday night.

[mass_citizen]

According to MassDOT, the I-93 project is now 30% complete, still trailing the later-started I-95 Project at 32%, however. Nothing new on I-93 between Braintree and Randolph based on a trip through there Monday night.

I observed work on the traffic cameras this past week mostly on the SE expressway portion of I-93. It would appear they are progressing North and hopefully will eventually start erecting signs once they finish the Expressway foundations?

[bob7374]

I checked out I-93 in the Braintree and Randolph area this morning. It appears most, if not all, the supports for the new overhead signs have been placed. Nothing else new as far as on-road signage. However, when I was exiting at MA 37 in Braintree I saw something curious sign-wise along Forbes Road which parallels the NB side of I-93. These were two new looking Mass Guide Signs which had a few problems. This is a photo of the first one:

The second one is identical and can be found at http://www.gribblenation.net/i93us3sign2.jpg. From what was listed on the back of the sign (photo can be seen at http://www.gribblenation.net/i93us3sign1b.jpg) the 2 were installed last October. If you look closely at the US shield on both signs, it appears the number was originally 6 and changed to 3. Not quite US 1 which is supposed to be signed, but getting closer. The US shields again have the border not found in typical MassDOT signage. Were they trying to get both US 1 and MA 3 on the sign and ended up with this combination?   

AFAIK, these installs were not part of the current Randolph to Boston project.  Private developer perhaps?

I was back in the Braintree area this afternoon. The signs along Forbes Road have been fixed.
This was the only new sign I saw along the I-93 corridor from Braintree to Randolph. No sign related work has been done along I-93 itself for at least the past month. I'll post my SE Expressway observations below.

[bob7374]

I traveled up the I-93 / Southeast Expressway north to Morrissey Blvd and back this afternoon. While no new signs have been posted in the past month. I did take some photos of the new guide/paddle signs installed in the Neponset Circle area back in October. Here's the one at the ramp to the Expressway North:

There has been work on placing foundations for the future overhead signs. It appears most of the foundations have been placed northbound, while heading south there is still a lot to be done between Exits 12 (MA 3A) and 8 (Furnace Brook Parkway), which now will probably have to wait for spring. So far, no support poles have been placed on top of the new foundations in either direction. I did not notice any new ground mounted signs.

[PHLBOS]

I was back in the Braintree area this afternoon. The signs along Forbes Road have been fixed.

The font on that MA 3 shield (series E) reminds me of the old 70s-era MA 3 shields that were once all along the Southeast Expressway.

It's equally more interesting that the erroneous US 3 shield (which showed traces of a numeral 6 that was whited out) wasn't replaced with a US 1 shield to match the rest of the newer LGS paddles.  I guess the MA 3 shield replacement came from a private contractor rather than Mass DOT perhaps?

[mass_citizen]

since the interchange that sign is directing to you is just prior to the 93/3 split, I'd say the MA 3 shield is more appropriate than US 1. 

[roadman]

mass_citizen is correct.  The principal rationale for using I-93 and MA 3 on the Route 37 signs is the fact that much of the traffic at this location heading for I-93 and MA 3 is coming out of the South Shore Plaza.  I've also been told that the Town of Braintree has had issues with this traffic using local streets as a cut-through to get to Union Street and MA 3 south.

[PHLBOS]

mass_citizen is correct.  The principal rationale for using I-93 and MA 3 on the Route 37 signs is the fact that much of the traffic at this location heading for I-93 and MA 3 is coming out of the South Shore Plaza.  I've also been told that the Town of Braintree has had issues with this traffic using local streets as a cut-through to get to Union Street and MA 3 south.

My bad, I thought that particular LGS was located further north along I-93 (the Southeast Expressway).  I must've been mixing Granite St. up w/Granite Ave. (Exit 11).

[bob7374]

I spotted on one of the MassDOT traffic cameras last night what appeared to be work to place a new overhead sign along I-93/US 1 South between Exits 5 and 6. I drove through there earlier this afternoon and spotted 3 new overheads. Two advance signs for the MA 37 Exit (1 Mile, 1/2 Mile) heading northbound, here's the 1/2 mile advance sign:


and a new overhead left-side auxiliary sign indicating for Brockton and New Bedford use MA 24 Exit 5, going south. A photo of that, and the other new MA 37 sign are here:
http://www.gribblenation.net/mass21/i93photos.html

[mass_citizen]

very good news. glad they seem to be making forward progress finally

[southshore720]

I don't know whether to faint or applaud! 

I've always wondered why Holbrook was never acknowledged for Rte 37 (Exit 6) on the Northbound side.  (Even a secondary "Holbrook, Exit 6" would've done the trick.)  Since 37 technically ends at I-93, why the need to address W. Quincy?  It's easier to access W. Quincy at Exit 8.

[mass_citizen]

It's easier to access W. Quincy at Exit 8.

true but not when 93 NB traffic is backed up 8-12 hours a day.

[southshore720]

I continued my thoughts about this snubbing on a new thread because I didn't want to go completely off-topic on the I-93 Signage updates.

[PHLBOS]

I've always wondered why Holbrook was never acknowledged for Rte 37 (Exit 6) on the Northbound side.  (Even a secondary "Holbrook, Exit 6" would've done the trick.)  Since 37 technically ends at I-93, why the need to address W. Quincy?  It's easier to access W. Quincy at Exit 8.

Short and sweet answer: MA 37 didn't always end at I-93 (old MA 128).  W. Quincy was a carry-over from when it was originally a northbound MA 37 destination.  At least that was the case for the I-93 Northbound (old 128 Southbound) exit signage.

The only reason why MassDOT changed the I-93 Southbound exit signage (W. Quincy replacing Holbrook) was to mimic the northbound sigange; guess on my part.  Nonetheless that one surprises me as well.

When the current BGS' for the Braintree Split were erected in the mid-1980s, the old 60s-era BGS' for this exit (from I-93 North/MA 128 South) actually had the W. eliminated from the BGS'.  The likely reason may have been due to Quincy was no longer listed for the then-new I-93 northbound signage; the old 60s-era BGS had Quincy/Boston listed as North 3 destinations.

[southshore720]

The only reason why MassDOT changed the I-93 Southbound exit signage (W. Quincy replacing Holbrook) was to mimic the northbound sigange; guess on my part.  Nonetheless that one surprises me as well.

I'm pretty sure the Braintree/Holbrook pair is being retained SB...was there a change in the plans?

[PHLBOS]

The only reason why MassDOT changed the I-93 Southbound exit signage (W. Quincy replacing Holbrook) was to mimic the northbound sigange; guess on my part.  Nonetheless that one surprises me as well.

I'm pretty sure the Braintree/Holbrook pair is being retained SB...was there a change in the plans?

My bad, I misread Bob7374's caption.  My earlier post has since been modified to delete the error.

[bob7374]

The only reason why MassDOT changed the I-93 Southbound exit signage (W. Quincy replacing Holbrook) was to mimic the northbound sigange; guess on my part.  Nonetheless that one surprises me as well.

I'm pretty sure the Braintree/Holbrook pair is being retained SB...was there a change in the plans?

It is, both the plans and the new overhead sign they've put up tonight retain the Braintree/Holbrook text. The new sign is visible on MassDOT's I-93 SB Exit 7 traffic camera for those who can't wait until I get an official photo.

[PHLBOS]

Bob7374, you recent post came a tad late; well after I acknowledged and corrected my erroneous comment.

For those on FB, Bob posted the MassDOT traffic-cam shot there as well.

[bob7374]

The only reason why MassDOT changed the I-93 Southbound exit signage (W. Quincy replacing Holbrook) was to mimic the northbound sigange; guess on my part.  Nonetheless that one surprises me as well.

I'm pretty sure the Braintree/Holbrook pair is being retained SB...was there a change in the plans?

It is, both the plans and the new overhead sign they've put up tonight retain the Braintree/Holbrook text. The new sign is visible on MassDOT's I-93 SB Exit 7 traffic camera for those who can't wait until I get an official photo.

Here's one of the three new MA 37 overheads put up last night:
The others can be found on my I-93 photo page:
http://www.gribblenation.net/mass21/i93photos.html