Massachusetts milepost exit numbering conversion contract

[bob7374]

Anyone have pics of the new exit numbers on I-91?

Here's the one photo I have on my site courtesy of Doug Kerr:


Meanwhile, I have posted photos taken by Paul Schlichtman of the exit renumbering on MA 2 West, which includes exits for I-95:


The rest at:
https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#photos

[bob7374]

Exit renumbering along I-95 South has made it as far as MA 9. Here's a photo of the newly renumbered MA 30 and I-90/Mass Pike exits, courtesy of Paul Schlichtman:


and the still wrong exit tab, with a new number, for MA 9:


Other of his photos are at: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#i95signs2

[kernals12]

Exit 22 on 128, which is the one I use, is now Exit 37. But someone screwed up with the signs on Quinobequin, with the "7" being made of what looks like Tape.

[jp the roadgeek]

Don't understand why MassDOT still uses Attleboro as a control in Lexington for I-95.  Seems so random considering there's other options that would have been better (Waltham, Canton, Providence).  Too bad they couldn't have used Exit 128 for the number for the "128 is 128" effect.

[paul02474]

Don't understand why MassDOT still uses Attleboro as a control in Lexington for I-95.  Seems so random considering there's other options that would have been better (Waltham, Canton, Providence).  Too bad they couldn't have used Exit 128 for the number for the "128 is 128" effect.

Absolutely absurd to use Attleboro as a control city in Lexington. Waltham is a half mile away, so it wouldn't be a good control city for I-95 south. Canton would be better, but Providence is most frequently used as the control city on this stretch of I-95. Here's a list of control cities for onramps, listed by exit number.
https://alewifeinstitute.org/I-95entrance.html

And yes, it would have been much better if MassDOT made this Exit 128.

[bluecountry]

Why doesn't all of New England just adopt mile based exit numbering? 40+ states have done this, why are the other ten or so still behind?

Maine went to milepost numbering in 2004.
Massachusetts in the process of an aggressive conversion, with two contracts running simultaneously.
Rhode Island began the process, but is slow in implementation.
Vermont posted Milepost Exit numbers beneath their signs.
The governor of New Hampshire has an emotional attachment to his exit number on I-93, so he is blocking the whole project.
Connecticut will replace numbers when they get around to replacing signs. They are moving at the pace of New York, where the conversion schedule is about as fast as traffic on the Cross Bronx Expressway. They have lots of work to do, as I-87 has THREE different sets of exit numbers (Bronx, NY Thruway, Northway). New Jersey also has some work to do with the Turnpike and I-95.

1.  When is the MassPike changing?
2.  When is NY changing?
3.  When is NJ?

[paul02474]

1.  When is the MassPike changing?
2.  When is NY changing?
3.  When is NJ?

MassPike changed several weeks ago.
NY is changing, one highway every decade or so.
NJ had one of the first milepost-based exits on the Garden State Parkway. Most of the state is numbered based on mileage, the only exception is the NJ Turnpike.

[bluecountry]

1.  When is the MassPike changing?
2.  When is NY changing?
3.  When is NJ?

MassPike changed several weeks ago.
NY is changing, one highway every decade or so.
NJ had one of the first milepost-based exits on the Garden State Parkway. Most of the state is numbered based on mileage, the only exception is the NJ Turnpike.

Any pics of I-90?

[bob7374]

1.  When is the MassPike changing?
2.  When is NY changing?
3.  When is NJ?

MassPike changed several weeks ago.
NY is changing, one highway every decade or so.
NJ had one of the first milepost-based exits on the Garden State Parkway. Most of the state is numbered based on mileage, the only exception is the NJ Turnpike.

Any pics of I-90?

Go to https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#i90signs2
Scroll up for exits east of Auburn, down for I-84.

I have also posted photos taken this last weekend along I-84, direct link: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#i84signs

[RobbieL2415]

One of the three highways (the others being the Interstate 90 Massachusetts Turnpike and Interstate 495) in Massachusetts that will have exit numbers in the 100s. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Massachusetts is a small but mighty state.

It's actually larger than NJ.

[abqtraveler]

1.  When is the MassPike changing?
2.  When is NY changing?
3.  When is NJ?

MassPike changed several weeks ago.
NY is changing, one highway every decade or so.
NJ had one of the first milepost-based exits on the Garden State Parkway. Most of the state is numbered based on mileage, the only exception is the NJ Turnpike.

Any pics of I-90?

Go to https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#i90signs2
Scroll up for exits east of Auburn, down for I-84.

I have also posted photos taken this last weekend along I-84, direct link: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#i84signs

They'll never change exit numbers on the New Jersey Turnpike, nor do they have to since the Turnpike is funded by toll collections, and no money from the feds.

[The Ghostbuster]

Why is it that Massachusetts was able to renumber its exits to mileage-based so quickly, but the other states (Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island) have moved at such a snail's pace renumbering their exits to mileage-based? I'd also like to see how prompt Vermont and New Hampshire move when/if they also convert their exits to mileage-based. I'm excluding Vermont's new "milepoint" signs as those don't count as a conversion in my eyes.

[SectorZ]

Why is it that Massachusetts was able to renumber its exits to mileage-based so quickly, but the other states (Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island) have moved at such a snail's pace renumbering their exits to mileage-based? I'd also like to see how prompt Vermont and New Hampshire move when/if they also convert their exits to mileage-based. I'm excluding Vermont's new "milepoint" signs as those don't count as a conversion in my eyes.

Will. Mass wanted to get it done all at once and quickly. They've exceeded my expectations on the speed of getting it done.

[Rothman]

Why is it that Massachusetts was able to renumber its exits to mileage-based so quickly, but the other states (Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island) have moved at such a snail's pace renumbering their exits to mileage-based? I'd also like to see how prompt Vermont and New Hampshire move when/if they also convert their exits to mileage-based. I'm excluding Vermont's new "milepoint" signs as those don't count as a conversion in my eyes.

Will. Mass wanted to get it done all at once and quickly. They've exceeded my expectations on the speed of getting it done.

Mass Pike was also consolidated under Mass DOT.  NYSDOT and NYSTA are separate entities.  NY also has vocal opposition to the idea statewide.

[abqtraveler]

Why is it that Massachusetts was able to renumber its exits to mileage-based so quickly, but the other states (Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island) have moved at such a snail's pace renumbering their exits to mileage-based? I'd also like to see how prompt Vermont and New Hampshire move when/if they also convert their exits to mileage-based. I'm excluding Vermont's new "milepoint" signs as those don't count as a conversion in my eyes.

Will. Mass wanted to get it done all at once and quickly. They've exceeded my expectations on the speed of getting it done.

Mass Pike was also consolidated under Mass DOT.  NYSDOT and NYSTA are separate entities.  NY also has vocal opposition to the idea statewide.

Same is the case in Connecticut. There's a lot of local opposition to renumbering exits, so both New York and Connecticut are taking advantage of the fact that the FHWA is mandating the conversion to mile-based exits when all signs along a given route are due for replacement. I think such is the case for Vermont also.

So for Connecticut, it'll be no earlier than 2030 that the state is fully converted to mile-based exit numbers. In New York, it'll probably be a lot longer with all of the highways it has. I would suspect the Thruway would be exempt from adopting mile-based exit numbering since it's construction and upkeep was not federally funded, and the FHWA's exit numbering mandate only applies to routes that receive federal funds for construction and upkeep.

In New Hampshire, the governor has pretty much told the feds they're not going to convert to mile-based exit numbering. I'm looking forward to seeing how that fight will go down.

[Rothman]

NY tried fighting FHWA on mileage-based exit numbering and its I Love NY signage.  In both cases NY technically lost, but was still able to negotiate some leniency.  The I Love NY signs were altered and the conversion of exit numbering is now going to be long and drawn out.

I'd expect a similar evolution in NH.  They're taking a strong stance now, but will have to retract to a similar arrangement as there has been in other states.

That said, I am sympathetic to the idea that the conversion is an unfunded mandate.  FHWA/Congress could have easily set up a separate program code for this purpose -- even carving it out of NHPP or HSIP apportionments.

[bob7374]

I've posted photos taken of exit renumbering along MA 146 this past weekend


at my New England Exit Renumbering Central page: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#ma146signs

As well of exit renumbering along I-190:


Located at: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#i190exits

[Alps]

I would expect NH to go the VT route when required.

[kramie13]

I-95 renumbering update:

Going south, exits are renumbered through the I-93 split in Canton.

Going north, new exit numbers start with University Ave and continue through Highland Ave.  But from Rte. 9 up to Rte. 20 the sequential numbers still remain.  We've had at least 2 weeks now with the Rte. 20 exit being exit 41 SB but exit 26 NB.

I expect I-95 will be completed in the next 2 weeks, with I-93 work starting no later than April 25.

[abqtraveler]

I-95 renumbering update:

Going south, exits are renumbered through the I-93 split in Canton.

Going north, new exit numbers start with University Ave and continue through Highland Ave.  But from Rte. 9 up to Rte. 20 the sequential numbers still remain.  We've had at least 2 weeks now with the Rte. 20 exit being exit 41 SB but exit 26 NB.

I expect I-95 will be completed in the next 2 weeks, with I-93 work starting no later than April 25.

So after I-93 is finished, that would leave just I-495. Correct?

[Great Lakes Roads]

I-95 renumbering update:

Going south, exits are renumbered through the I-93 split in Canton.

Going north, new exit numbers start with University Ave and continue through Highland Ave.  But from Rte. 9 up to Rte. 20 the sequential numbers still remain.  We've had at least 2 weeks now with the Rte. 20 exit being exit 41 SB but exit 26 NB.

I expect I-95 will be completed in the next 2 weeks, with I-93 work starting no later than April 25.

So after I-93 is finished, that would leave just I-495. Correct?

Within that contract? Yes, but there's I-290/395 in the other contract.

[shadyjay]

Contract 2 remaining (after I-95 is finished):  I-93

Contract 1 remaining (after MA 2 is finished):  I-290/I-395, I-495

[BridgesToIdealism]

I noticed the other day while riding the Framingham/Worcester MBTA Commuter Rail line (which parallels the Mass Pike) that in some cases, it seems that MassDOT didn't bother to actually replace the gore point exit signs when converting a two digit exit number to a three digit exit number. Unfortunately didn't get any photos (train windows are always so dirty); however the result of not actually replacing the signs means that the new 3-digit exit numbers seems crammed onto the original signs that were designed only for 2-digits. I have no idea if this is temporary or permanent, but if this is intended to be permanent, it would seem that someone or something fell short somewhere.

[bob7374]

I noticed the other day while riding the Framingham/Worcester MBTA Commuter Rail line (which parallels the Mass Pike) that in some cases, it seems that MassDOT didn't bother to actually replace the gore point exit signs when converting a two digit exit number to a three digit exit number. Unfortunately didn't get any photos (train windows are always so dirty); however the result of not actually replacing the signs means that the new 3-digit exit numbers seems crammed onto the original signs that were designed only for 2-digits. I have no idea if this is temporary or permanent, but if this is intended to be permanent, it would seem that someone or something fell short somewhere.

Such as this?


They've put up numbers like this on some of the wider gore signs too:

[bob7374]

I took photos over the weekend of recent exit renumbering along I-95/MA 128 between Needham and I-93 in Canton, here's one SB at the US 1 interchange in Dedham:


The rest are at: https://malmeroads.net/mass21c/neexitrenumbering.html#i95signs2