Massachusetts

[pderocco]

I have a memory from my youth that Eastern had an even earlier terminal, which had an inverted arch to its roof. Or was that just an interior feature of the terminal that was demolished in 2002? I always liked that building a lot.

(Yes, I know this isn't road-related, but someone here might know the answer.)

[southshore720]

Shifting back to road-related, I noticed that the "LEFT" exit tabs approaching the 93/95 Canton junction (on both I-93 SB and I-95 SB) were recently neutered.  This has created smaller tabs akin to the last BGS generation with the "sunken" tabs.  Any explanation?

[hotdogPi]

Shifting back to road-related, I noticed that the "LEFT" exit tabs approaching the 93/95 Canton junction (on both I-93 SB and I-95 SB) were recently neutered.  This has created smaller tabs akin to the last BGS generation with the "sunken" tabs.  Any explanation?

Maybe too many people were photographing the sign (and not paying attention to the road) because of the left exit 12 meme?

[bob7374]

Shifting back to road-related, I noticed that the "LEFT" exit tabs approaching the 93/95 Canton junction (on both I-93 SB and I-95 SB) were recently neutered.  This has created smaller tabs akin to the last BGS generation with the "sunken" tabs.  Any explanation?

Two of the advance signs for the MA 128 North exit in Peabody, below being the second, were also recently changed, truncated at the bottom with no yellow Left Tab included either, wonder if there's any connection?

[pderocco]

I think the yellow LEFT was probably causing problems. They were trying to get us to visualize the roads as defined by their numbers and not their physical configurations. The tab probably prompted people unfamiliar with the road to crowd over to the left, expecting that there would be a left ramp coming up.

I don't even think it's right to call 128 an "exit", because before that point the road was every bit as much 128 as I-95. It's just two multiplexed roads demultiplexing. However, the I-95 is clearly a "ramp", and looks like an "exit", while 128 isn't and doesn't. This is an effort to make signs conform to exit numbers on the DPW books. There's no reason to number this, because no one would ever describe the route as "Take I-95 to exit 64, then take 128 to..."

[bob7374]

Was able to take photos of the (mostly) Left Exit tab-less signs in the Canton area last weekend, on I-93 South:


and on I-95 South:


Full set of photos at: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/i95photos.html

[5foot14]

I didn't really notice if the left tabs were removed previously, but with the sign replacement project going on on I-95 all 4 exit signs currently have the left tab ...

SM-A515U

[SectorZ]

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/05/25/provincetown-plans-to-carve-up-its-freeway-for-a-new-bike-path

This is an interesting one (to me at least). US 6 in Provincetown, one of the rare roads in the state the was built well beyond its needed capacity, is having one half turned into a mutli-use path for its "eastern" final mile, knocking it down to a two-lane roadway.

[PurdueBill]

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/05/25/provincetown-plans-to-carve-up-its-freeway-for-a-new-bike-path

This is an interesting one (to me at least). US 6 in Provincetown, one of the rare roads in the state the was built well beyond its needed capacity, is having one half turned into a mutli-use path for its "eastern" final mile, knocking it down to a two-lane roadway.

Interesting that the 2-lane road would take over the current "westbound" side of US 6 (which faces east at this point) while about 15 years ago they narrowed down the end of US 6 near Herring Cove to 2 lanes on that side.  Maybe the abandoned, still-there eastbound side will be revived?  They would have to realign the intersection at the end of US 6 as well--not really a big deal in the big picture.

[SectorZ]

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/05/25/provincetown-plans-to-carve-up-its-freeway-for-a-new-bike-path

This is an interesting one (to me at least). US 6 in Provincetown, one of the rare roads in the state the was built well beyond its needed capacity, is having one half turned into a mutli-use path for its "eastern" final mile, knocking it down to a two-lane roadway.

Interesting that the 2-lane road would take over the current "westbound" side of US 6 (which faces east at this point) while about 15 years ago they narrowed down the end of US 6 near Herring Cove to 2 lanes on that side.  Maybe the abandoned, still-there eastbound side will be revived?  They would have to realign the intersection at the end of US 6 as well--not really a big deal in the big picture.

Given some of the pavement is still there, that's certainly possible.

Also, would anyone with wikipedia editing experience help out on this, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Route_6A

Appears someone went and made edits that did God knows what to most of the route numbers.

[mariethefoxy]

There appears to be some confusion in the way US 202 is signed through Holyoke.

Coming from South Hadley, there's a sign that tells you to turn right onto Hampden St, then it becomes Lincoln St which is signed with a 202 reassurance shield. At US 5 there's a sign saying to go left for 5/202 south. Then a few 5/202 reassurance shields down Northampton St till the right turn onto Cherry St towards 91. Going the other way there is no signs or shields on Northampton St north, only US 5 ones until you get to Lincoln St where there are signs to turn right on Lincoln St, and North 202 shields on Lincoln and Hampden St, then the sign to turn left onto the bridge into South Hadley. However there are also shields on Beech St for 202 North and for 202 south. Plus the intersection with Resnic Blvd has paddle signs for 202 north to turn right onto Beech St. At Route 141 and Beech St there are signs to go to 202 north onto Beech St. However its one-way couplet Linden St does not.

So my question is, Does north 202 use Beech St to get across Holyoke, or does it turn on 5 to Lincoln St and goes that way? 

[Rothman]

Ha!  Holyoke's had terrible signage for decades; I've pointed out how you can't follow the routes through the city at all over the years multiple times on here.

The answer is no one knows.  I'd wager you'd get different answers from MassDOT depending on who answers the phone.

[SectorZ]

There appears to be some confusion in the way US 202 is signed through Holyoke.

Coming from South Hadley, there's a sign that tells you to turn right onto Hampden St, then it becomes Lincoln St which is signed with a 202 reassurance shield. At US 5 there's a sign saying to go left for 5/202 south. Then a few 5/202 reassurance shields down Northampton St till the right turn onto Cherry St towards 91. Going the other way there is no signs or shields on Northampton St north, only US 5 ones until you get to Lincoln St where there are signs to turn right on Lincoln St, and North 202 shields on Lincoln and Hampden St, then the sign to turn left onto the bridge into South Hadley. However there are also shields on Beech St for 202 North and for 202 south. Plus the intersection with Resnic Blvd has paddle signs for 202 north to turn right onto Beech St. At Route 141 and Beech St there are signs to go to 202 north onto Beech St. However its one-way couplet Linden St does not.

So my question is, Does north 202 use Beech St to get across Holyoke, or does it turn on 5 to Lincoln St and goes that way?

At the end of Resnic Blvd 202 is apparently on and not on Beech St, https://goo.gl/maps/dM7FvBrii88wTW5W7

[jp the roadgeek]

At the end of Resnic Blvd 202 is apparently on and not on Beech St, https://goo.gl/maps/dM7FvBrii88wTW5W7

So, it turns out the portal to that place is and isn't in downtown Holyoke?  Who knew?

[pderocco]

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/05/25/provincetown-plans-to-carve-up-its-freeway-for-a-new-bike-path

This is an interesting one (to me at least). US 6 in Provincetown, one of the rare roads in the state the was built well beyond its needed capacity, is having one half turned into a mutli-use path for its "eastern" final mile, knocking it down to a two-lane roadway.

My Grandfather put me in his lap a couple of times when I was about 10, and let me steer his 1962 Chrysler down that lane toward "New Beach". Once, he got it up to 100mph on that stretch. I always liked that empty bit of expressway.

I'm very familiar with all the bike paths out there, having biked and rollerbladed them, and turning this piece of road into another bike path would make it by far the most boring part of the system. The other paths are hilly, curvy, with dangerous corners that get sand on them, sometimes out in the open and sometimes going through scrub pine and oak chaparral. They're exciting rides. I'd much rather take Bradford St (6A) out to the end, in order to get to the bike paths than to bike along that expressway. I think they should leave it as a road.

[5foot14]

There appears to be some confusion in the way US 202 is signed through Holyoke.

Coming from South Hadley, there's a sign that tells you to turn right onto Hampden St, then it becomes Lincoln St which is signed with a 202 reassurance shield. At US 5 there's a sign saying to go left for 5/202 south. Then a few 5/202 reassurance shields down Northampton St till the right turn onto Cherry St towards 91. Going the other way there is no signs or shields on Northampton St north, only US 5 ones until you get to Lincoln St where there are signs to turn right on Lincoln St, and North 202 shields on Lincoln and Hampden St, then the sign to turn left onto the bridge into South Hadley. However there are also shields on Beech St for 202 North and for 202 south. Plus the intersection with Resnic Blvd has paddle signs for 202 north to turn right onto Beech St. At Route 141 and Beech St there are signs to go to 202 north onto Beech St. However its one-way couplet Linden St does not.

So my question is, Does north 202 use Beech St to get across Holyoke, or does it turn on 5 to Lincoln St and goes that way?

At the end of Resnic Blvd 202 is apparently on and not on Beech St, https://goo.gl/maps/dM7FvBrii88wTW5W7

The signs on Resnic are technically accurate... According to the MassDOT Route Log Application, US 202 splits in Holyoke. SB uses Hampden, Lincoln, and US 5 around Holyoke. NB uses Beech through Holyoke. Though it looks like there are some leftover reassurance shields from before this change. Of note is that 202 SB on Hampden and Lincoln as well as NB Between US 5 and Hampden St is not State Maintained but town maintained.

[Rothman]

There appears to be some confusion in the way US 202 is signed through Holyoke.

Coming from South Hadley, there's a sign that tells you to turn right onto Hampden St, then it becomes Lincoln St which is signed with a 202 reassurance shield. At US 5 there's a sign saying to go left for 5/202 south. Then a few 5/202 reassurance shields down Northampton St till the right turn onto Cherry St towards 91. Going the other way there is no signs or shields on Northampton St north, only US 5 ones until you get to Lincoln St where there are signs to turn right on Lincoln St, and North 202 shields on Lincoln and Hampden St, then the sign to turn left onto the bridge into South Hadley. However there are also shields on Beech St for 202 North and for 202 south. Plus the intersection with Resnic Blvd has paddle signs for 202 north to turn right onto Beech St. At Route 141 and Beech St there are signs to go to 202 north onto Beech St. However its one-way couplet Linden St does not.

So my question is, Does north 202 use Beech St to get across Holyoke, or does it turn on 5 to Lincoln St and goes that way?

At the end of Resnic Blvd 202 is apparently on and not on Beech St, https://goo.gl/maps/dM7FvBrii88wTW5W7

The signs on Resnic are technically accurate... According to the MassDOT Route Log Application, US 202 splits in Holyoke. SB uses Hampden, Lincoln, and US 5 around Holyoke. NB uses Beech through Holyoke. Though it looks like there are some leftover reassurance shields from before this change. Of note is that 202 SB on Hampden and Lincoln as well as NB Between US 5 and Hampden St is not State Maintained but town maintained.

My bet is MassDOT put up the erroneous shields after the official change, whenever that was.

[RobbieL2415]

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/05/25/provincetown-plans-to-carve-up-its-freeway-for-a-new-bike-path

This is an interesting one (to me at least). US 6 in Provincetown, one of the rare roads in the state the was built well beyond its needed capacity, is having one half turned into a mutli-use path for its "eastern" final mile, knocking it down to a two-lane roadway.

If there's so little traffic past Shank Painter Rd., why not just get rid of both sides of of US 6 west of there and sign it down Shank Painter and onto Bradford St.?

[odditude]

Was able to take photos of the (mostly) Left Exit tab-less signs in the Canton area last weekend, on I-93 South:

(snip)

if you look closely, the upper border is missing - i'd say the LEFT tab was present but damaged during or prior to installation, and nobody noticed/cared.

[shadyjay]

Was able to take photos of the (mostly) Left Exit tab-less signs in the Canton area last weekend, on I-93 South:

(snip)

if you look closely, the upper border is missing - i'd say the LEFT tab was present but damaged during or prior to installation, and nobody noticed/cared.

I took a picture of this sign 2 years ago and the LEFT was indeed there.  The fact that all of the "LEFTs" went missing at the same time leads me to believe it was an intentional removal on advance signs as of recently.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Per MassDOT, there will soon be a new pattern at Mass Pike I-90 East interchange with I-495 (Exit 106). A new ramp will be opening soon, presumably so that those heading to 495 north will no longer have to cross over against those heading from I-90 west to I-495 south.

[SectorZ]

The left exit tabs have been removed from (at least the first) sign on the Lowell Connector just off US 3 N/B.

https://goo.gl/maps/BU6LagPkquAg4QSU6

Like others shown above, it looks a tad janky with it removed.

[Mergingtraffic]

When did new signage for I-391 come through?
My photo doesn't do it justice, but this sign is huge for the typ of road it's on.

[shadyjay]

I discovered the new signage back in March 2023, so my guess would have to be sometime in 2022.  Ironically, I got the new NB signage this past Saturday (6/17).  And they still never put in an exit now sign for NB Exit 3... it was missing under the old signage, and still is missing.

The album is here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shadyjay/albums/72157710678881407/with/52741269011/

And interesting to note the 3-lane expressway narrows to only letting traffic by in the shoulder due to viaduct reconstruction on the last 1/2 mile or so of the expressway.  You can see it in the photo above, on the top level in the distance (where there appears to be a "rooftop" outhouse.

[Mergingtraffic]

I discovered the new signage back in March 2023, so my guess would have to be sometime in 2022.  Ironically, I got the new NB signage this past Saturday (6/17).  And they still never put in an exit now sign for NB Exit 3... it was missing under the old signage, and still is missing.

The album is here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shadyjay/albums/72157710678881407/with/52741269011/

And interesting to note the 3-lane expressway narrows to only letting traffic by in the shoulder due to viaduct reconstruction on the last 1/2 mile or so of the expressway.  You can see it in the photo above, on the top level in the distance (where there appears to be a "rooftop" outhouse.

That's hilarious Jay, you were on the same street I was on today taking the on-ramp pic for I-391. Ha

That ending is quite interesting. I thought about getting a pic of the overheads between the barrels.

In other news:
MA-33 button copy is gone except the last one that says Indian Fuller Rd. All replaced by paddle signs.

The button copy in the Mass Pike/US-5 connector are gone too