Massachusetts

[pderocco]

Major truck stops (which obviously serve more cars than trucks) usually have signs high enough to be seen from the freeway well in advance of their exit. There are many brands that are exclusively truck stops, so when you see a Love's sign, you know it's a place you can eat, get gas, and pee, whether you're driving a Toyota or a Mack. But I don't recall anything resembling that where I grew up in Massachusetts. The brands in roadside service areas were the same as on local roads, so if it was off an exit, you couldn't be sure it was full service.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Major truck stops (which obviously serve more cars than trucks) usually have signs high enough to be seen from the freeway well in advance of their exit. There are many brands that are exclusively truck stops, so when you see a Love's sign, you know it's a place you can eat, get gas, and pee, whether you're driving a Toyota or a Mack. But I don't recall anything resembling that where I grew up in Massachusetts. The brands in roadside service areas were the same as on local roads, so if it was off an exit, you couldn't be sure it was full service.

The state could definitely use more truck stops. Of course, high land costs and (likely) community opposition make them hard to build.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Major truck stops (which obviously serve more cars than trucks) usually have signs high enough to be seen from the freeway well in advance of their exit. There are many brands that are exclusively truck stops, so when you see a Love's sign, you know it's a place you can eat, get gas, and pee, whether you're driving a Toyota or a Mack. But I don't recall anything resembling that where I grew up in Massachusetts. The brands in roadside service areas were the same as on local roads, so if it was off an exit, you couldn't be sure it was full service.

The state could definitely benefit from some well-located truck stops. However, high real estate costs and (likely) community opposition make them hard to construct. 

[shadyjay]

I had an idea for back when CT was thinking of closing all their non-commercial rest areas on I-84, I-91 and I-95... build slightly-off-highway "travel plazas" that are similar to a service plaza, but just off the highway.  Multiple food vendors, convenience store, and fuel services.  You wouldn't have to rely 100% on interstate traffic to bring business in, as they'd be accessible from the surface road.  This would've filled some gaps on I-91 and I-95. 

As far as Mass, I'd fix Chelmsford-NB, rebuild Mansfield-NB, do something with one of the ones by the Cape (there's one on I-195 just before I-495/MA 25 and there's one a few miles away on MA 25), and have something for I-91 in the Greenfield area.  Bernardston-SB is too small for a welcome center.  There's more than enough room at Sturbridge-EB but that's just a few miles from both Sturbridge Isle and the Charlton plaza.  But obviously if they wanted a welcome center in the area, they'd reopen that house at the entrance to Charlton-EB.

[bob7374]

Took a road trip this past weekend to check out new signage along US 3 between Burlington and the NH border and along US 1 South between Lynnfield and Chelsea.  For US 3, here's another one of the APL signs for I-95:


For US 1, here's the new signage at the exit of MA 99 South:


All photos can be found, first for US 3, at: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/miscsigns.html
or go to the US 1 signs directly at https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/miscsigns.html#us1signs

[bob7374]

Massachusetts has advertised its next two sign replacement projects, winning bid to be announced on April 30:

Location: BEVERLY - DANVERS - GLOUCESTER - MANCHESTER BY THE SEA - PEABODY - WENHAM
Description: Guide and Traffic Sign Replacement on Route 128
District: 4 Ad Date: 3/16/2024 Section Response: Const Project Value: $2,258,825.00
CDs, Plans & Specs Available: No
Federal Aid No.: HSI-003S(724)X Project Number: 609058 Project Type: Signing - Structural
No. of Addendums: 0 Date of Last Addendum: N/A

Location: DARTMOUTH - FAIRHAVEN - MARION - MATTAPOISETT - NEW BEDFORD - WAREHAM
Description: Guide and Traffic Sign Replacement on a Section of Interstate 195
District: 5 Ad Date: 3/16/2024 Section Response: Const Project Value: $6,763,675.50
CDs, Plans & Specs Available: No
Federal Aid No.: HSI-1955(261)X Project Number: 613193 Project Type: Signing - Structural
No. of Addendums: 0 Date of Last Addendum: N/A

[mariethefoxy]

Massachusetts has advertised its next two sign replacement projects, winning bid to be announced on April 30:

Location: BEVERLY - DANVERS - GLOUCESTER - MANCHESTER BY THE SEA - PEABODY - WENHAM
Description: Guide and Traffic Sign Replacement on Route 128
District: 4 Ad Date: 3/16/2024 Section Response: Const Project Value: $2,258,825.00
CDs, Plans & Specs Available: No
Federal Aid No.: HSI-003S(724)X Project Number: 609058 Project Type: Signing - Structural
No. of Addendums: 0 Date of Last Addendum: N/A

Location: DARTMOUTH - FAIRHAVEN - MARION - MATTAPOISETT - NEW BEDFORD - WAREHAM
Description: Guide and Traffic Sign Replacement on a Section of Interstate 195
District: 5 Ad Date: 3/16/2024 Section Response: Const Project Value: $6,763,675.50
CDs, Plans & Specs Available: No
Federal Aid No.: HSI-1955(261)X Project Number: 613193 Project Type: Signing - Structural
No. of Addendums: 0 Date of Last Addendum: N/A

Doesn't both of those sections already have the new gen signs with the bigger exit tabs?

[shadyjay]

Yup... we're repeating now!

Only integrated exit tabs left in Mass on the mainlines are I-195 in Fall River (still).

[southshore720]

Yup... we're repeating now!

Only integrated exit tabs left in Mass on the mainlines are I-195 in Fall River (still).

And I-95 NB approaching I-93 in Canton.  Apparently waiting for the new I-93/I-95 flyovers that we will never see in our lifetimes.

[SectorZ]

https://www.wcvb.com/article/massachusetts-structurally-deficient-bridges/60245711

A new story with map of all the structurally deficient bridges in the state. All the ones along 495 in the Merrimack Valley are pretty self-evident with the eyeball test. The overpass over MA 38 has emergency repairs going on right now.

[shadyjay]

Yup... we're repeating now!

Only integrated exit tabs left in Mass on the mainlines are I-195 in Fall River (still).

And I-95 NB approaching I-93 in Canton.  Apparently waiting for the new I-93/I-95 flyovers that we will never see in our lifetimes.

Yup, there's those... and a couple on Rt 128 portions of I-95 and [I-93].  And one at the beginning of I-395 SB in Auburn. 

Which brings me to my next question....

Is there/what is there for a plan for the I-90/I-290/I-395 interchange in Auburn?  Sure its low on the priority list (when you look at I-90 Allston, I-95/I-93 interchanges, etc), but one which needs some work.  Not sure how to exactly fix it, as space is really tight around it.  You may be able to sneak in a direct I-395 North to I-90 East ramp, and perhaps make the I-290 WB exit to I-90 2 lanes (getting rid of the exit ramps to MA 12 in the process).   But wonder if there's ever been a plan to help out this entanglement of ramps, and what it would be.

[Beeper1]

I'm not aware of any plans to re-design that giant knot of an interchange.   Yes, 395 NB to 90 EB might be do-able, but that connection is not really your main issue.  The long, winding connections and weaving needed for 90 EB to 290 and for 290 to 90 WB are the main problem, traffic-wise.  And I don't really know what you could do about that without taking tons of extra real estate that is already heavily developed.

[pderocco]

https://www.wcvb.com/article/massachusetts-structurally-deficient-bridges/60245711

A new story with map of all the structurally deficient bridges in the state. All the ones along 495 in the Merrimack Valley are pretty self-evident with the eyeball test. The overpass over MA 38 has emergency repairs going on right now.

Wow. Practically every bridge over the Mass Pike Extension in downtown is deficient. I hope the Pru doesn't fall over.

[bob7374]

MassDOT has advertised another sign replacement contract, this at the southern end of I-495:

Bid Opening: 5/21/2024 2:00PM
Location: MIDDLEBOROUGH - RAYNHAM - WAREHAM
Description: Guide and Traffic Sign Replacement on a Section of Interstate 495
District: 5 Ad Date: 3/30/2024 Section Response: Const Project Value: $5,394,153.00
CDs, Plans & Specs Available: No
Federal Aid No.: HSI-4955(085)X Project Number: 613194 Project Type: Signing - Structural
No. of Addendums: 0 Date of Last Addendum: N/A

Meanwhile, according to the project progress listings, they have started installing ground level signage on MA 25 and overhead signage on I-295 North.

[bob7374]

MassDOT has published its Draft 2050 Transportation Plan "Beyond Mobility." It is available at:
https://www.mass.gov/beyond-mobility

The site includes a public comment link, open through May 5.

[pderocco]

MassDOT has published its Draft 2050 Transportation Plan "Beyond Mobility." It is available at:
https://www.mass.gov/beyond-mobility

The site includes a public comment link, open through May 5.

All I can say, after reading the Executive Summary, is sell your car while you can still get decent money for it. They're imagining a world of public transit, bicycles, and pedestrians, and that's about it.

[bmitchelf]

MassDOT has published its Draft 2050 Transportation Plan "Beyond Mobility." It is available at:
https://www.mass.gov/beyond-mobility

The site includes a public comment link, open through May 5.

All I can say, after reading the Executive Summary, is sell your car while you can still get decent money for it. They're imagining a world of public transit, bicycles, and pedestrians, and that's about it.

It's unrealistic outside of large population centers.

[Stephane Dumas]

I saw then MA-116 bypass partially the town of Amherst and that bypass ended at MA-9. Did MASS Dot have some plans to extent that bypass once and being cancelled by Nimbys and/or lack of funds?

[Rothman]

I saw then MA-116 bypass partially the town of Amherst and that bypass ended at MA-9. Did MASS Dot have some plans to extent that bypass once and being cancelled by Nimbys and/or lack of funds?

No.

[Plutonic Panda]

That is absolutely hilarious that the Department designed to facilitate mobility initiates of program called beyond mobility. We are moving towards the cyberpunk type society.

[SectorZ]

That is absolutely hilarious that the Department designed to facilitate mobility initiates of program called beyond mobility. We are moving towards the cyberpunk type society.

The state's government is just stuck in a perpetual loop of using nonsense buzzwords for anything. At this point they're not even attempting to govern for everyone, it's just whatever special interest groups they want to pander to, and in some cases (like cyclists) they give stuff they don't even want because they only cater to the extremist subset within them.

[Ted$8roadFan]

I saw then MA-116 bypass partially the town of Amherst and that bypass ended at MA-9. Did MASS Dot have some plans to extent that bypass once and being cancelled by Nimbys and/or lack of funds?

No.

IIRC, the MA-116 bypass was actually constructed before the anti-highway backlash of the late-1960s, I think even before UMass's massive expansion. So if MassDOT actually had expansion plans, they could have done so with impunity.

[Rothman]

I saw then MA-116 bypass partially the town of Amherst and that bypass ended at MA-9. Did MASS Dot have some plans to extent that bypass once and being cancelled by Nimbys and/or lack of funds?

No.

IIRC, the MA-116 bypass was actually constructed before the anti-highway backlash of the late-1960s, I think even before UMass's massive expansion. So if MassDOT actually had expansion plans, they could have done so with impunity.

Meh.  It was built to try to get UMass traffic to quit clogging up University Drive and downtown Amherst by providing another way into campus.  Still mixed results on that one, especially with the parclo. 

[Ted$8roadFan]

I saw then MA-116 bypass partially the town of Amherst and that bypass ended at MA-9. Did MASS Dot have some plans to extent that bypass once and being cancelled by Nimbys and/or lack of funds?

No.

IIRC, the MA-116 bypass was actually constructed before the anti-highway backlash of the late-1960s, I think even before UMass's massive expansion. So if MassDOT actually had expansion plans, they could have done so with impunity.

Meh.  It was built to try to get UMass traffic to quit clogging up University Drive and downtown Amherst by providing another way into campus.  Still mixed results on that one, especially with the parclo. 

Indeed. As a UMass alum, I always found the 116 didn't really prevent congestion in and around Amherst and even on MA-9. Knowing the back roads in Hadley and Amherst were key to getting around, especially during moving days and big events.

[Rothman]

The 116?

But yeah, everyone knows the Rocky Hill route.

At least the Coolidge Bridge isn't the bottleneck it used to be and Route 9 has more lanes between it and Hadley Center.