Massachusetts

[shadyjay]

CT did something very similar recently when they replaced signs on I-691/CT 66 in Meriden.  Not only did they use the Mass style outline route shield, but they have two exits that are meant to match their opposite direction counterparts, even though they don't go to the same destination. 

EB, Exit 1 is signed as "East Main St" even though the street off the ramp is Preston Ave.  WB Exit 1, however, leads you to East Main St.

WB, Exit 3 is signed as "71/Chamberlain Hwy".  The street off the ramp is Lewis Ave.  Reaching CT 71 requires you to navigate local streets for a couple miles.  Once you're on CT 71, that's Chamberlain Hwy.  EB, Exit 3 street off the ramp is CT 71/Chamberlain Hwy. 

And there are two signs remaining on I-91 in CT referencing NY City... both in Meriden at Exit 17 and both most likely to have that designation removed in favor of just "New Haven". 


Back to the Mass Pike...

There is one sign, a secondary sign, sending EB traffic to Hartford off at I-91/US 5 exit (old Exit 3).  Hartford CT used to get more promience on I-91 too, as I do remember control cities on pull-throughs which said "Hartford CT" in Holyoke. 

And yes, that Seabrook example on I-495 SB... that is equally as ridiculous, if not moreso.  I mean, you just came from Seabrook. 

I really have to wonder who is designing these sign projects at times.  Logic has gone out the window.

And, why can't they make an interstate shield where the red doesn't fade? 

[PColumbus73]

Concrete falls in Prudential Tunnel

I saw this earlier, and thought it was in the I-93 Central Artery tunnel. One article called it a 'partial tunnel collapse', pretty sensationalized for what happened.

[vdeane]

Weird that people have a problem with the "NY City" control city for I-84 from I-90 E/B.

This from the state that recently put "Seabrook NH" for MA 150 on I-495 S/B when turning around from whence you came would be a much better idea. Even from 495 N/B it's a dumb idea.

How many people know NYC, I-90, and I-84 compared to Seabrook, MA 150, and I-495?  I had to think about Seabrook a bit and have no clue where MA 150 is or where it goes.

[Dougtone]

Did you know that the first divided highway (or in this case, "divided highway") is believed to be located on Savery Avenue in Carver, Massachusetts?

Read an entirely too long explanation at: https://www.gribblenation.org/2025/02/first-divided-highway-in-america.html

[SectorZ]

Weird that people have a problem with the "NY City" control city for I-84 from I-90 E/B.

This from the state that recently put "Seabrook NH" for MA 150 on I-495 S/B when turning around from whence you came would be a much better idea. Even from 495 N/B it's a dumb idea.

How many people know NYC, I-90, and I-84 compared to Seabrook, MA 150, and I-495?  I had to think about Seabrook a bit and have no clue where MA 150 is or where it goes.

Are you asking about the public or asking about this forum?

[vdeane]

Weird that people have a problem with the "NY City" control city for I-84 from I-90 E/B.

This from the state that recently put "Seabrook NH" for MA 150 on I-495 S/B when turning around from whence you came would be a much better idea. Even from 495 N/B it's a dumb idea.

How many people know NYC, I-90, and I-84 compared to Seabrook, MA 150, and I-495?  I had to think about Seabrook a bit and have no clue where MA 150 is or where it goes.

Are you asking about the public or asking about this forum?

Honestly, either.  With Seabrook, my thought process went along the lines of "No idea where that is; wait, it sounds familiar... is it the town off exit 1?  From context, it sounds like the town off exit 1" (I just looked on a map and verified that it is indeed the town off exit 1).  For MA 150, it's "not sure where that is, but guessing northeast MA from context; is that the route that has the Five Guys from when I was looking for potential restaurants on one of my drives, or one of the routes we drove on the Newburyport Meet tour?  It seems vaguely familiar, even if I can't place it" (looking at a map, it might have been on the Newburyport Meet tour; the Five Guys was thinking of was MA 125).

And I'm from a state bordering MA and have a really good memory for routes.

[kramie13]

I could go on and on about some questionable control destination signage in Massachusetts, but fortunately there's a YouTube channel called Control City Freak that evaluates where each Interstate highway's signage to the next destination. 

[kramie13]

All lanes on I-90/Mass Pike westbound are closed near I-495, and it could last into tomorrow.  I wonder if this is related to the interchange overhaul project?
https://www.wcvb.com/article/mass-pike-westbound-emergency-repair/63973058

[RobbieL2415]

All lanes on I-90/Mass Pike westbound are closed near I-495, and it could last into tomorrow.  I wonder if this is related to the interchange overhaul project?
https://www.wcvb.com/article/mass-pike-westbound-emergency-repair/63973058

According to MassDOT, the emergency repairs are necessary "after a construction trench settlement formed in the low-speed lane due to nearby construction."



Related, but not part of the project itself.

Best bet out of Boston would be I-95NB to MA 2 WB to I-190 SB.

[roadman]

All lanes on I-90/Mass Pike westbound are closed near I-495, and it could last into tomorrow.  I wonder if this is related to the interchange overhaul project?
https://www.wcvb.com/article/mass-pike-westbound-emergency-repair/63973058

MassDOT just held a press conference.  They anticipate having a single lane open in about one hour, and the remaining lanes opened by 8 pm.  Gonna be a rough afternoon commute.

[kramie13]

Another Friday, another Mass Pike incident.  This time going east near exit 131 (Allston/Brighton interchange):
https://www.wcvb.com/article/massachusetts-turnpike-overturned-tractor-trailer-march-7/64084206

[RobbieL2415]

Stupid question: Why not sign I-93 onto MA 24?

[The Ghostbuster]

There have been proposals to make MA 24 an Interstate. However, it would require major upgrades to the corridor, as well as high costs in doing so. So, making MA 24 into Interstate 93 or any other Interstate designation is a pipe dream.

[RobbieL2415]

There have been proposals to make MA 24 an Interstate. However, it would require major upgrades to the corridor, as well as high costs in doing so. So, making MA 24 into Interstate 93 or any other Interstate designation is a pipe dream.

Aside from the asinine interchange with I-195 in Fall River, where is it not built to Interstate standards?

[Ted$8roadFan]

It's not just 24 and 195, tho it is horrible. Most of the interchanges would need to be revamped. The only one that's even seen some work is at US 44 in Raynham.

[pderocco]

It's not just 24 and 195, tho it is horrible. Most of the interchanges would need to be revamped. The only one that's even seen some work is at US 44 in Raynham.

What did they ever do there? That looks unchanged since I learned to drive in that area 55 years ago. Are you sure you don't mean 140? That's currently undergoing a pretty ambitious upgrade to both roads.

To reach Interstate standards, I believe they'd need to widen the inner shoulders pretty much everywhere. North, there's plenty of room, although bridges would have to be widened. But further south, the whole roadbed would need widening. Since none of that would improve the road significantly, it would be a waste just to get red white and blue shields. I'd rather they spend money widening it to 6 lanes down to 140.

[Ted$8roadFan]

It's not just 24 and 195, tho it is horrible. Most of the interchanges would need to be revamped. The only one that's even seen some work is at US 44 in Raynham.

What did they ever do there? That looks unchanged since I learned to drive in that area 55 years ago. Are you sure you don't mean 140? That's currently undergoing a pretty ambitious upgrade to both roads.

To reach Interstate standards, I believe they'd need to widen the inner shoulders pretty much everywhere. North, there's plenty of room, although bridges would have to be widened. But further south, the whole roadbed would need widening. Since none of that would improve the road significantly, it would be a waste just to get red white and blue shields. I'd rather they spend money widening it to 6 lanes down to 140.

MassDOT eliminated one of the loop ramps from MA-24 south to US-44 east. Not much, but slightly better by 24 standards. And I'd forgotten about 140; the highway does need six lanes rom 495 ro 140.

[bob7374]

It's not just 24 and 195, tho it is horrible. Most of the interchanges would need to be revamped. The only one that's even seen some work is at US 44 in Raynham.

What did they ever do there? That looks unchanged since I learned to drive in that area 55 years ago. Are you sure you don't mean 140? That's currently undergoing a pretty ambitious upgrade to both roads.

To reach Interstate standards, I believe they'd need to widen the inner shoulders pretty much everywhere. North, there's plenty of room, although bridges would have to be widened. But further south, the whole roadbed would need widening. Since none of that would improve the road significantly, it would be a waste just to get red white and blue shields. I'd rather they spend money widening it to 6 lanes down to 140.

MassDOT eliminated one of the loop ramps from MA-24 south to US-44 east. Not much, but slightly better by 24 standards. And I'd forgotten about 140; the highway does need six lanes rom 495 ro 140.

For all these reasons, IMO upgrading MA 3 to an interstate from Braintree to the Cape makes more sense. You would need upgrades as well, but with both Plymouth and the Cape being major tourist destinations, as well as commercial centers, it makes the route more of a priority corridor deserving of an interstate designation that MA 24 does.

[The Ghostbuster]

I like your idea of making MA 3 into Interstate 193 and making MA 3A mainline MA 3 again (even though it would never happen). Needless to say, I don't think there will ever be any new Interstate Highway designations in the state of Massachusetts.

[pderocco]

MassDOT eliminated one of the loop ramps from MA-24 south to US-44 east. Not much, but slightly better by 24 standards. And I'd forgotten about 140; the highway does need six lanes rom 495 ro 140.

You're right. How could I miss that change?

That looks like it was done to improve the flow on 24, by eliminating weaving. But looking at the really long ramp between 44E and 24N, I wonder why they didn't just elongate the ramps connecting 44W and 24S.

[SectorZ]

I like your idea of making MA 3 into Interstate 193 and making MA 3A mainline MA 3 again (even though it would never happen). Needless to say, I don't think there will ever be any new Interstate Highway designations in the state of Massachusetts.

A lot of 3's south shore routing was turned into 53, not 3A. The 3A stretch between the ends of 53 has been 3A well before the 3 freeway was built.

North of Boston 3A was an old routing of US 3, at least up to Tyngsboro.

[hotdogPi]

North of Boston 3A was an old routing of US 3, at least up to Tyngsboro.

I can confirm it doesn't go further, at least in 1937 and 1945. These 1937 and 1945 maps New Hampshire map shows US 3 entirely west of the Merrimack River (until it lines up with current surface road US 3 again), while current NH 3A is shown as "US 3 Alt" in 1937 and NH 3A in 1945.

Essentially, current US 3 on the Everett Turnpike used to be the road that parallels it, not NH 3A.

https://ftp.granit.unh.edu/NHDOT/Early%20Trunk%20Line%20maps/1937_Trunk%20Lines%20map.pdf
https://ftp.granit.unh.edu/NHDOT/Early%20Trunk%20Line%20maps/1945_Trunk%20Lines%20map.pdf

[SectorZ]

North of Boston 3A was an old routing of US 3, at least up to Tyngsboro.

I can confirm it doesn't go further, at least in 1937 and 1945. These 1937 and 1945 maps New Hampshire map shows US 3 entirely west of the Merrimack River (until it lines up with current surface road US 3 again), while current NH 3A is shown as "US 3 Alt" in 1937 and NH 3A in 1945.

Essentially, current US 3 on the Everett Turnpike used to be the road that parallels it, not NH 3A.

https://ftp.granit.unh.edu/NHDOT/Early%20Trunk%20Line%20maps/1937_Trunk%20Lines%20map.pdf
https://ftp.granit.unh.edu/NHDOT/Early%20Trunk%20Line%20maps/1945_Trunk%20Lines%20map.pdf

Some of the old maps I have confirm the same, that the MA/NH 3A stretch from Tyngsboro MA to Manchester NH vastly predates any freeway buildout.

(I also still want to know if that NH 132 from Pelham to Derry in the 1945 map really existed, given its the only map I've ever seen that on)

[Ted$8roadFan]

In the wake of last year's Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, more scrutiny is being urged for nspc4ting several bridges across the country, including Massachusetts.

https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/baltimore-bridge-collapse-investigation-leads-recommendations-cape-cod-tobin-bridges/5VLMUE3VI5EKNOFCNRZ653WD7A/

[Ted$8roadFan]

After 65 years, South Coast Commuter Rail (from New Bedford and Fall River to Boston's South Station) returns today.