Interstate 93 Signing Work

[hbelkins]

Wait till I get home. I drove all of I-93 all the way from I-91 at St. Johnsbury to I-95 south of Boston today.

[bob7374]

I checked out I-93 in the Braintree and Randolph area this morning. It appears most, if not all, the supports for the new overhead signs have been placed. Nothing else new as far as on-road signage. However, when I was exiting at MA 37 in Braintree I saw something curious sign-wise along Forbes Road which parallels the NB side of I-93. These were two new looking Mass Guide Signs which had a few problems. This is a photo of the first one:

The second one is identical and can be found at http://www.gribblenation.net/i93us3sign2.jpg. From what was listed on the back of the sign (photo can be seen at http://www.gribblenation.net/i93us3sign1b.jpg) the 2 were installed last October. If you look closely at the US shield on both signs, it appears the number was originally 6 and changed to 3. Not quite US 1 which is supposed to be signed, but getting closer. The US shields again have the border not found in typical MassDOT signage. Were they trying to get both US 1 and MA 3 on the sign and ended up with this combination?   

[Beeper1]

Many newer mass Paddle Signs installed in the last two years or so have the black outline on both US and MA route shields.

[PHLBOS]

Many newer mass Paddle Signs installed in the last two years or so have the black outline on both US and MA route shields.

I think one of the issue(s) with those BGS' that Bob7374 is referring to is that fact that the BGS' feature US 3 shields (which appear to be corrected/recycled US 6 shields).  In all likelihood, it's supposed to be a US 1 shield next to the I-93 shield... based on MassDOT's current signing protocol. 

If Route 3 was intended to be included in the BGS', it should be State Route 3 (aka MA 3).

[roadman]

I checked out I-93 in the Braintree and Randolph area this morning. It appears most, if not all, the supports for the new overhead signs have been placed. Nothing else new as far as on-road signage. However, when I was exiting at MA 37 in Braintree I saw something curious sign-wise along Forbes Road which parallels the NB side of I-93. These were two new looking Mass Guide Signs which had a few problems. This is a photo of the first one:

The second one is identical and can be found at http://www.gribblenation.net/i93us3sign2.jpg. From what was listed on the back of the sign (photo can be seen at http://www.gribblenation.net/i93us3sign1b.jpg) the 2 were installed last October. If you look closely at the US shield on both signs, it appears the number was originally 6 and changed to 3. Not quite US 1 which is supposed to be signed, but getting closer. The US shields again have the border not found in typical MassDOT signage. Were they trying to get both US 1 and MA 3 on the sign and ended up with this combination?   

AFAIK, these installs were not part of the current Randoplh to Boston project.  Private developer perhaps?

[KEVIN_224]

A private contractor would make a Massachusetts paddle sign like that?

As for I-93 and US Route 3, do those two roads ever intersect north of Boston?

[agentsteel53]

A private contractor would make a Massachusetts paddle sign like that?

As for I-93 and US Route 3, do those two roads ever intersect north of Boston?

Granite St. is well-known to be in Randolph.

there are many US-3/I-93 junctions but the southernmost one is in the northern parts of Manchester, NH. 

[PurdueBill]

A private contractor would make a Massachusetts paddle sign like that?

I do recall that in the late 80s, several paddle signs were erected on Northshore Mall property as part of the reconstruction of route 114; a couple were even put up for the ramp to 128 south from the parking lot.  They were all cut to usual state specs and probably were put up by crews working on the overall project with permission from the mall ownership.  Some of them went away when the mall driveway changed over time, but the 128 ones lasted a lot longer.

Never seen a paddle sign that appeared to be designed and erected on public ROW by private concerns, though.  US shield interior outlines being rare anyway, I wonder what would cause the outline to appear on an otherwise standard-looking sign?

[agentsteel53]

Never seen a paddle sign that appeared to be designed and erected on public ROW by private concerns, though.  US shield interior outlines being rare anyway, I wonder what would cause the outline to appear on an otherwise standard-looking sign?

I was just in MA a month ago, and I noted lots of new signs appearing with double-outlined US and state shields.

I think it's officially a new standard for US routes, but not state routes.  it seems more prevalent on the US shields, but - this being Massachusetts - both variants appear for both types of route. 

[PHLBOS]

I do recall that in the late 80s, several paddle signs were erected on Northshore Mall property as part of the reconstruction of route 114; a couple were even put up for the ramp to 128 south from the parking lot.  They were all cut to usual state specs and probably were put up by crews working on the overall project with permission from the mall ownership.  Some of them went away when the mall driveway changed over time, but the 128 ones lasted a lot longer.

Those were the LGS' that listed the southbound 128 destinations as BURLINGTON - WALTHAM.

[roadman]

Some of the LGSes on North SHore Mall property were put up under the Route 114 reconstruction, others were put up under the last 128 Peabody to Gloucester sign update project.

[PurdueBill]

The ones I recall were all from the same time--strangely 128 paddles inside the property for the ramp to 128 by Sears Auto, while not really related to 114, went up with the 114-related ones.  The old, old signs on 128 itself were all still there then--the ones that were changed from E-W to A-B exit numbers despite not adding EAST or WEST text to the main panels.  (I worked right in that neighborhood for some time and saw those signs very frequently.) 

[PHLBOS]

The old-old 128 South signs inside the North Shore (then-Shopping Center) that you speak of listed BOSTON as its control destination (with no TO RTE. 1 reference) were not DPW-spec'd and were likley erected when the shopping center first opened in the 50s.  IIRC, the 114/128 cloverleaf was expanded to its current configuration around the same time-frame. 

You're right, one or two of them indeed survived into the 1990s.  The 128 South paddles near Sears Auto (I remember when those were erected in the 80s) were indeed DPW-spec'd.  Those were placed at an entrance ramp to 128 South that merged with the 128 South ramp from 114 East.  Since that ramp was part of the overall cloverleaf interchange, the DPW saw fit to replace all the signs at once.

[PurdueBill]

What's funny about the old North Shore Shopping Center green signage was that it was better than most of the signage that the City of Peabody came up with itself!  Square signal ahead symbol signs? Tiny directional signs with more information than a DPW paddle sign crammed in? Peabody could make those! 

[roadman]

What's funny about the old North Shore Shopping Center green signage was that it was better than most of the signage that the City of Peabody came up with itself!  Square signal ahead symbol signs? Tiny directional signs with more information than a DPW paddle sign crammed in? Peabody could make those! 

The goal of most cities and towns in Massachusetts is to make their signs as small as possible, to minimize the "negative" asthetic impacts.  MDC/DCR is much the same way, especially in regards to truck restriction and low clearance signs.

[agentsteel53]

The old-old 128 South signs inside the North Shore (then-Shopping Center) that you speak of listed BOSTON as its control destination (with no TO RTE. 1 reference) were not DPW-spec'd and were likley erected when the shopping center first opened in the 50s.  IIRC, the 114/128 cloverleaf was expanded to its current configuration around the same time-frame. 

what color were these?

I know Mass DPW was using white signs in 1959, and green signs by 1962. 

[roadman]

The old-old 128 South signs inside the North Shore (then-Shopping Center) that you speak of listed BOSTON as its control destination (with no TO RTE. 1 reference) were not DPW-spec'd and were likley erected when the shopping center first opened in the 50s.  IIRC, the 114/128 cloverleaf was expanded to its current configuration around the same time-frame. 

what color were these?

I know Mass DPW was using white signs in 1959, and green signs by 1962. 

My earliest memories of the North Shore Shopping Center are from about 1964 (long before it was expanded and converted to an indoor mall).  I remember the "on-site" (i.e. non-MassDPW) directional signs to Route 128 as always being green.

[PHLBOS]

The old-old 128 South signs inside the North Shore (then-Shopping Center) that you speak of listed BOSTON as its control destination (with no TO RTE. 1 reference) were not DPW-spec'd and were likley erected when the shopping center first opened in the 50s.  IIRC, the 114/128 cloverleaf was expanded to its current configuration around the same time-frame. 

what color were these?

I know Mass DPW was using white signs in 1959, and green signs by 1962. 

My earliest memories of the North Shore Shopping Center are from about 1964 (long before it was expanded and converted to an indoor mall).  I remember the "on-site" (i.e. non-MassDPW) directional signs to Route 128 as always being green.

Correct, although the shade of green used (granted they may have been faded during the early 70s when I first saw them) was a lighter & paler shade than what the DPW used on their LGS'.

While the DPW may have still used white w/black lettering on their paddle signs; the original large 128 signage along 114 itself (at least dating back to the North Shore Shopping Center opening) were wooden, dark-green w/button-copy lettering (in all caps) with non-button copy shields located in the upper-center of each BGS panel.

The layout of the old BGS' were similar to layout of their paddle signs.

Examples of the original BGS legends (sorry no vintage photos):

------ 128 ---->
      BEVERLY
   GLOUCESTER

------ 128 ---->
     TO RTE. 1
      BOSTON

Exit signage from southbound 128:

     EXIT 25N         (later changed to 25W)
------ 114 ---->
  NO. ANDOVER
    LAWRENCE
(supplemental SHOPPING CENTER plaque was placed below the BGS)

     EXIT 25S         (later changed to 25E)
------ 114 ---->
   MARBLEHEAD
  SWAMPSCOTT

Exit signage from northbound 128:

     EXIT 25S         (later changed to 25E)
------ 114 ---->
       SALEM
   MARBLEHEAD
(supplemental SHOPPING CENTER plaque was placed below the BGS)

     EXIT 25N         (later changed to 25W)
------ 114 ---->
    MIDDLETON
  NO. ANDOVER     

[roadman]

You are correct - the "off-site" signs at North Shore Shopping Center were always a different shade of green than MDPW signs were.

[bob7374]

I've posted a blog entry about my quick trip to VT this week that includes photos of I-93 signage in both MA and NH:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2013/07/vermont-road-trip-day-one.html

I mention in the post that there has been no activity along the SE Expressway portion of I-93 with regard to the signage replacement project. This info is now out-of-date as I saw on one of the MassDOT traffic cameras tonight workers putting up a new exit gore sign for Columbia Road on I-93 South. They had placed the support posts and were directing a crane lifting the new shiny Exit 4 left arrow sign when someone realized that sign belonged at the other end of the project at MA 24. They put that sign back and lifted what I assume was the sign with the correct number and right arrow (could only see the back) for placement on the support poles.

Would this crew be only putting up gore signs tonight, or might there be other regulatory or route signage going up as well? Maybe I'll have to have another road trip this weekend along that portion of I-93.

[Pete from Boston]

Thursday night (7/11) there were crews out doing gore signs as well.

[bob7374]

Thursday night (7/11) there were crews out doing gore signs as well.

Did a quick trip along I-93 tonight from MA 24 to Exit 11 NB then back south to MA 3 (Exit 7). It appeared most of the gore signs had been replaced along this stretch, though I'll have to take another trip during the day to better confirm signs in the opposite direction. There were no gore signs at all for Exits 10 and 9 southbound.

[roadman]

Standard practice for the contractor that is doing the I-93 Randolph to Boston sign project has been to install signs and supports in groups based on sign type.  On a typical project, the installation sequence is: warning, regulatory and route marker signs and posts; then secondary road LGS(i.e. "paddle" signs) and posts; then mainlne gore signs and posts; followed by mainline ground-mount BGS and posts; and lastly, overhead BGS signs and supports.  Plus, this project has an extra component - overhead changeable message sign (CMS) panels and support structures.

As has been noted in other posts on this subject, for construction purposes, work on the Randolph to Boston project has been split into two sections - MA 24 in Randolph to MA 3 in Braintree, and MA 3 in Braintree to Southampton Street in Boston.

[bob7374]

Standard practice for the contractor that is doing the I-93 Randolph to Boston sign project has been to install signs and supports in groups based on sign type.  On a typical project, the installation sequence is: warning, regulatory and route marker signs and posts; then secondary road LGS(i.e. "paddle" signs) and posts; then mainline gore signs and posts; followed by mainline ground-mount BGS and posts; and lastly, overhead BGS signs and supports.  Plus, this project has an extra component - overhead changeable message sign (CMS) panels and support structures.

As has been noted in other posts on this subject, for construction purposes, work on the Randolph to Boston project has been split into two sections - MA 24 in Randolph to MA 3 in Braintree, and MA 3 in Braintree to Southampton Street in Boston.

The MassDOT project listing now has the I-93 project as 20% complete.

Funny how the contractor does not seem to following the standard order for this project. For Randolph to Braintree, it appears it has gone: putting up the ground mounted blue (Series E ) service signs, putting up regulatory signage, putting in foundations for new overhead signage, putting up new gore signs. For the SE Expressway section, putting in regulatory signage (though many of the new speed limit signs were placed on the existing overhead sign support poles, so they will have to be put up again), putting in most of the secondary road LGS (paddle signs), then putting up new gore signs. In neither section has new route signage been placed along the mainline, this type of signage is severely lacking on the Expressway portion since most of the shield assemblies put up in the 1980s (I-93/MA 3 early '80s, US 1 in 1989) are now missing. There is only one set remaining northbound, after the Columbia Road exit, and southbound there are usually just 1 or 2 of the route shields left, if there are any at all.

[bob7374]

Took a trip to Bridgewater to meet a friend for dinner. Took I-93 from Braintree to MA 24 to MA 106 and back. The MA 24 paving project between MA 139 and I-93/US 1 is almost complete. Work was still going on in the left lanes in the evening.

But back to I-93 between Braintree and Randolph. Though no new overhead signs have appeared there has been progress with the ground level signage. New town/city line signs have been installed that are bigger than past ones MassDOT has put up, but are mounted on one centered post. There are now 'Entering Quincy' and 'Entering Randolph' southbound and 'Entering Quincy' northbound. There still needs one more NB for the Braintree town line. A new sign has been placed northbound beyond the MA 37/Granite St bridge indicating that those heading for the Quincy Adams T Station (no logo) should use the Burgin Parkway exit. Is the T station info to be removed from the MA 3 Exit 19 overhead signage? New interchange signage has appeared for all ramps to I-93/US 1 from MA 28 (Exit 5). The sign information is not new but the signs are larger with bigger route shields.

It was raining heading down and dark heading back so I didn't take any photos. Hopefully, I will get back to the area in the next week or two to more fully document what's been going on.