Massachusetts

[Rothman]

I found a video on YouTube of someone driving from Foxborough to Malden along US 1, I-95, and I-93 in May 1989.  You can see the old Foxboro Stadium, the old elevated Central Artery, and even some old highway signs!  You can even see a "128 South Boston" pull-through around where I-93 meets MA 24!  I wonder if that confused any drivers back then...

At the time, US 1 had not been rerouted off the VFW Parkway, and MA 128 had not yet been truncated to Canton, since there were no US 1 reassurance shields along I-93 between Canton and Storrow Drive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3B_ylLdgc4

Love those videos and the memories they bring back. Amazing how much has changed. Some also have old audio of Red Sox games and long-ago jungles (Star Market, See What Makes Us Shine!). Some others show what driving in through the city itself was like back in the pre-Big Dig, pre-gentrification days.

I'm pretty nostalgic about it, too, but let's be honest, the 1970s really sucked. My memories of driving around the Boston area included the pungent smell of diesel fumes, the scourge of graffiti, and the big middle finger through the city known as the Central Artery.

Being born in 1993, If I could time travel, I'd like to go back and drive around and see what that was like. I've seen videos of stuff like that. New York City Subway, pulling up completely covered in graffiti. I don't know why, but that just seems completely unbelievable to me that that is real.

Like I've mentioned before, I remember a PSA on the radio in the late 1980s or early 1990s of some official claiming New York was "winning the subways back."  My father laughed and quipped, "From who?"

[bob7374]

MassDOT has released the Final version of its Beyond Mobility: The Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan. It is available at:
https://www.mass.gov/beyond-mobility

The report links are under Plan Documents which breaks down the report by Full Plan, Executive Summary and the Report Appendices. Appendix E has the public comments. The last comment listed sounds like it could be someone on this forum:
"Change ˜Waltham' as a control city signed on 95/128 up in Peabody by the route 1 interchange. Waltham is a fine city, and is signed for US20, and the close proximity to the pike, but it is secondary signage worthy. Providence RI should be signed from that junction to avoid through traffic on 93 in the city. Providence is signed from over 80 miles up in Georgetown but gets no mention until passing route 2 when you're already in Waltham. Waltham being signed on 95S from 93 is good and makes sense since you'd be coming from Boston making Providence a bit of a stretch."

[SectorZ]

MassDOT has released the Final version of its Beyond Mobility: The Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan. It is available at:
https://www.mass.gov/beyond-mobility

The report links are under Plan Documents which breaks down the report by Full Plan, Executive Summary and the Report Appendices. Appendix E has the public comments. The last comment listed sounds like it could be someone on this forum:
"Change ˜Waltham' as a control city signed on 95/128 up in Peabody by the route 1 interchange. Waltham is a fine city, and is signed for US20, and the close proximity to the pike, but it is secondary signage worthy. Providence RI should be signed from that junction to avoid through traffic on 93 in the city. Providence is signed from over 80 miles up in Georgetown but gets no mention until passing route 2 when you're already in Waltham. Waltham being signed on 95S from 93 is good and makes sense since you'd be coming from Boston making Providence a bit of a stretch."

"This plan looks great you guys have all the right ideas. The only problem is it is too little too late. We need to change faster the climate crisis is here now, and children are being mowed down by f-150s now. 2050 is too late. We need radical change and we need it now. We need to do everything possible to reduce private vehicle usage and reclaim the space lost to cars"

The avg. stereotype of the Mass resident right here.

[bob7374]

MassDOT's ProjectInfo site indicates the US 3 sign replacement project from Burlington to Tyngsborough is complete, though earlier media reports indicated it would not be finished until the fall. I am planning a road trip soon to check out whether this is true or not.

Meanwhile, the site also reports that the I-495 sign replacement project between Wareham and Raynham was given the notice to proceed on July 1. This project, unlike other recent sign replacements, "will replace and update the existing guide and traffic signs, including support structures and posts, along Interstate 495 between I-195/Route 25 in Wareham and Route 24 in Raynham, with new signs and supports/posts." Therefore it will probably take around 2 years to complete.

Not only not complete you can still see a pile of uninstalled signs off the side of 3 N/B in Tyngsboro. Still have all the old (and off by 3/4 mile) mileposts as well that apparently aren't being replaced.

Took a road trip along US 3 on Sunday and can confirm the project is not done. They have replaced all the overhead signs, except one, for MA 129:


But still have not replaced most of the gore signs or the ground mounted signs south of I-495. Photos of the new signs can be found at: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/miscsigns.html

[kramie13]

But still have not replaced most of the gore signs or the ground mounted signs north of I-495. Photos of the news signs can be found at: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/miscsigns.html

I was on US 3 north of Boston a few weeks ago.  I'm pretty sure all, if not most, of the overhead and gore signs have been replaced north of I-495.  New gore signs no longer have "old exit XX" banners underneath them, but the mileposts are still WAY off.  The MA 129 exit is at milepost 80.8 but it is signed as exit 79!

[shadyjay]

I drove up I-495 over the weekend and noticed the Chelmsford, MA rest area NB appeared to have no portable toilets in the parking lot.  Did the building reopen?  I didn't have a chance to stop and see so I'm not positive if what I saw was correct.  Anyone on the ground have any knowledge?

Also drove US 3 from Rt 128 up to the Lowell Connector.  Also observed several overheads yet to be installed.  Pics are over on my FLICKR page, link in the sig.

[SectorZ]

I drove up I-495 over the weekend and noticed the Chelmsford, MA rest area NB appeared to have no portable toilets in the parking lot.  Did the building reopen?  I didn't have a chance to stop and see so I'm not positive if what I saw was correct.  Anyone on the ground have any knowledge?

Also drove US 3 from Rt 128 up to the Lowell Connector.  Also observed several overheads yet to be installed.  Pics are over on my FLICKR page, link in the sig.

It's still closed per MassDOT's site. Last GSV shows 2 porta-potties where as prior ones show about 10. Possible you just didn't see the 2 since it would be easier to miss?

Next time I go back I'll check it out.

[DJStephens]

MassDOT has released the Final version of its Beyond Mobility: The Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan. It is available at:
https://www.mass.gov/beyond-mobility

The report links are under Plan Documents which breaks down the report by Full Plan, Executive Summary and the Report Appendices. Appendix E has the public comments. The last comment listed sounds like it could be someone on this forum:
"Change ˜Waltham' as a control city signed on 95/128 up in Peabody by the route 1 interchange. Waltham is a fine city, and is signed for US20, and the close proximity to the pike, but it is secondary signage worthy. Providence RI should be signed from that junction to avoid through traffic on 93 in the city. Providence is signed from over 80 miles up in Georgetown but gets no mention until passing route 2 when you're already in Waltham. Waltham being signed on 95S from 93 is good and makes sense since you'd be coming from Boston making Providence a bit of a stretch."

"This plan looks great you guys have all the right ideas. The only problem is it is too little too late. We need to change faster the climate crisis is here now, and children are being mowed down by f-150s now. 2050 is too late. We need radical change and we need it now. We need to do everything possible to reduce private vehicle usage and reclaim the space lost to cars"

The avg. stereotype of the Mass resident right here.

Left 30 years ago.  The region is simply not affordable to those of modest means.   

[Rothman]

MassDOT has released the Final version of its Beyond Mobility: The Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan. It is available at:
https://www.mass.gov/beyond-mobility

The report links are under Plan Documents which breaks down the report by Full Plan, Executive Summary and the Report Appendices. Appendix E has the public comments. The last comment listed sounds like it could be someone on this forum:
"Change ˜Waltham' as a control city signed on 95/128 up in Peabody by the route 1 interchange. Waltham is a fine city, and is signed for US20, and the close proximity to the pike, but it is secondary signage worthy. Providence RI should be signed from that junction to avoid through traffic on 93 in the city. Providence is signed from over 80 miles up in Georgetown but gets no mention until passing route 2 when you're already in Waltham. Waltham being signed on 95S from 93 is good and makes sense since you'd be coming from Boston making Providence a bit of a stretch."

"This plan looks great you guys have all the right ideas. The only problem is it is too little too late. We need to change faster the climate crisis is here now, and children are being mowed down by f-150s now. 2050 is too late. We need radical change and we need it now. We need to do everything possible to reduce private vehicle usage and reclaim the space lost to cars"

The avg. stereotype of the Mass resident right here.

Left 30 years ago.  The region is simply not affordable to those of modest means.   

The region?  Lots of affordable places in Massachusetts as a whole.

[CapeCodder]

When the "C" Routes existed within Boston how well were they signed?

[kramie13]

"Change ˜Waltham' as a control city signed on 95/128 up in Peabody by the route 1 interchange. Waltham is a fine city, and is signed for US20, and the close proximity to the pike, but it is secondary signage worthy. Providence RI should be signed from that junction to avoid through traffic on 93 in the city. Providence is signed from over 80 miles up in Georgetown but gets no mention until passing route 2 when you're already in Waltham. Waltham being signed on 95S from 93 is good and makes sense since you'd be coming from Boston making Providence a bit of a stretch."

I agree, Waltham should not be signed on I-95 south as a primary control destination.  It should be Providence from exit 66 onwards.

While we're on the topic of control cities, is there a reason why on the Mass Pike EB, I-84 is signed for New York City?  It makes total sense WB, but going east you would have exited on I-91 or stayed on I-87 (NY Thruway) to go to NYC!

[shadyjay]

My guess is that Waltham is a throwback control city for Route 128.  It used to be, IIRC, Braintree, Dedham, Waltham, Peabody, Gloucester.  Peabody still appears as a secondary control in spots on the onramps, as well as from I-93 NB/SB. 

Funny thing is Providence doesn't appear on a pull-through of any sort until you hit the "exit from 128" down in Canton/Dedham.  Of course there's only 1 or 2 and they don't have any controls. 

[kramie13]

My guess is that Waltham is a throwback control city for Route 128.  It used to be, IIRC, Braintree, Dedham, Waltham, Peabody, Gloucester.  Peabody still appears as a secondary control in spots on the onramps, as well as from I-93 NB/SB. 

Funny thing is Providence doesn't appear on a pull-through of any sort until you hit the "exit from 128" down in Canton/Dedham.  Of course there's only 1 or 2 and they don't have any controls. 

I agree that Waltham as a control destination is probably a holdover from teh standalone MA 128 days, but I-95 south is signed for Providence from on-ramps as far north as exit 61 in Lynnfield.  So it's baffling that a pull-through before exit 63 just says "Waltham".

The on-ramps at Highland Ave just sign Waltham NB and Canton SB, while I-93 in Woburn signs Peabody NB and Waltham SB.  They should be Portsmouth and Providence.

[Ted$8roadFan]

My guess is that Waltham is a throwback control city for Route 128.  It used to be, IIRC, Braintree, Dedham, Waltham, Peabody, Gloucester.  Peabody still appears as a secondary control in spots on the onramps, as well as from I-93 NB/SB. 

Funny thing is Providence doesn't appear on a pull-through of any sort until you hit the "exit from 128" down in Canton/Dedham.  Of course there's only 1 or 2 and they don't have any controls. 

I agree that Waltham as a control destination is probably a holdover from teh standalone MA 128 days, but I-95 south is signed for Providence from on-ramps as far north as exit 61 in Lynnfield.  So it's baffling that a pull-through before exit 63 just says "Waltham".

The on-ramps at Highland Ave just sign Waltham NB and Canton SB, while I-93 in Woburn signs Peabody NB and Waltham SB.  They should be Portsmouth and Providence.

I think the "Waltham" designation (and those for other local cities) are for local/regional traffic. Waltham in particular does have a large number of commercial businesses and other institutions relative to its neighbors, so it makes sense for those purposes. But the state should add Providence, Portsmouth, etc. which they have done at some interchanges.

[CapeCodder]

Question: had the Inner Belt been built and Interstate 95 routed along the SW Expressway, what designation would the Southeast Expressway have been given south of where 95 were to have come in? I would assume MA 3 or an x95 variant as far as the Braintree Split?

[The Ghostbuster]

I think the Southeast Expressway would have stayed MA 3. I doubt either MA 3 or MA 128 that are co-designated with Interstates 93 and 95 would have been part of the Interstate System if 95 and 695 had been completed as originally proposed.

[bob7374]

I think the Southeast Expressway would have stayed MA 3. I doubt either MA 3 or MA 128 that are co-designated with Interstates 93 and 95 would have been part of the Interstate System if 95 and 695 had been completed as originally proposed.

Or, because the the roadway design deficiencies of the Central Artery to begin with their might have been some effort in the decades after to encourage I-95 traffic to avoid downtown Boston. Creating a 3di route using MA 128 might have been one of those ideas. So you would have ended up with an interstate concurrency on 128 anyway.

[fwydriver405]

Since ground signage at the ends of ramps are being replaced, I hope the new one at the end of this ramp doesn't erroneously state that MA 3A goes north from the ramp, when it's on the other side of the Merrimack River, since the current one does.

A bit late to this, but the new signs off of the Exit 91 ramps do not have any mention of MA 3A, which now mentions the DW Highway in its place. Taken Sept 8, 2024, but think the signage has been up during the summer.

[shadyjay]

I passed by the I-495 NB rest area in Chelmsford this morning.  There were no portolets in the parking lot, which leads me to believe now that the building has been reopened (finally).  I can't find any official information online, but I did see a project posted back in 2022 to make the repairs to open the building:
https://hwy.massdot.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=608076

Now if only they'd do something with I-95 NB/Mansfield's rest area.

[Ted$8roadFan]

I passed by the I-495 NB rest area in Chelmsford this morning.  There were no portolets in the parking lot, which leads me to believe now that the building has been reopened (finally).  I can't find any official information online, but I did see a project posted back in 2022 to make the repairs to open the building:
https://hwy.massdot.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=608076

Now if only they'd do something with I-95 NB/Mansfield's rest area.

Massachusetts is stingy when it comes to rest areas.

[RobbieL2415]

I passed by the I-495 NB rest area in Chelmsford this morning.  There were no portolets in the parking lot, which leads me to believe now that the building has been reopened (finally).  I can't find any official information online, but I did see a project posted back in 2022 to make the repairs to open the building:
https://hwy.massdot.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=608076

Now if only they'd do something with I-95 NB/Mansfield's rest area.

Or I-195s in Seekonk.

[SectorZ]

I don't know if there have been issues on US 3 southbound in Lowell, but before the exit 81 c/d ramp, the state has a portable VMS off to the side stating "Exit 81C Rt 110", "Exit 81 A/B Rt 495". Perhaps there have been some lane change accidents due to some sort of confusion. The exit numbers by this point have been updated for a couple of years so weird to see now.

[kramie13]

While we're on the topic of exit numbers, why did Cape Cod residents oppose the exit renumbering on US 6?  Does it really make a difference if the exits are numbered 1, 2, 3, etc. vs 55, 59, 61, etc?  Yes, starting the exit numbers at 55 seems weird but if you pass by exit 61 and know you're getting off at exit 72, you're 11 miles away!

[RyanB06]

I found a video on YouTube of someone driving from Foxborough to Malden along US 1, I-95, and I-93 in May 1989.  You can see the old Foxboro Stadium, the old elevated Central Artery, and even some old highway signs!  You can even see a "128 South Boston" pull-through around where I-93 meets MA 24!  I wonder if that confused any drivers back then...

At the time, US 1 had not been rerouted off the VFW Parkway, and MA 128 had not yet been truncated to Canton, since there were no US 1 reassurance shields along I-93 between Canton and Storrow Drive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3B_ylLdgc4

This video also confirmed a *very* fuzzy memory of mine from my childhood: the sign for Route 37 at 7:20 with the big-ass route marker on the left-hand side, the right-justified control cities and the standard-sized arrow. I'm glad I wasn't imagining it!

[Rothman]

While we're on the topic of exit numbers, why did Cape Cod residents oppose the exit renumbering on US 6?  Does it really make a difference if the exits are numbered 1, 2, 3, etc. vs 55, 59, 61, etc?  Yes, starting the exit numbers at 55 seems weird but if you pass by exit 61 and know you're getting off at exit 72, you're 11 miles away!

Because of tradition and marketing.  They didn't see the value added.

My mother has complained about her I-91 exit number change after decades of it being just fine.

But, for me and my house, we want the change.