Route 128 vs. I-95

[John F. Carr]

This article mentions the federal government's demand that
I-95 take precedence over Mass. Route 128 on highway signs:

http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_166001110.html

[David Z Maze]

Post by John F. Carr
This article mentions the federal government's demand that
http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_166001110.html

A lot of the article talks about funding. Meanwhile, approximately
every highway in Massachusetts is being repaved, and I think there's a
sign on a road I'll stubbornly refer to as MA-128 in Reading crediting
Congress's efforts to throw money at states that have
"infrastructure-related" projects.

I wonder if replacing BGSes counted as a "shovel-ready" project, and is
being paid for with federal stimulus money?

(MA-9 eastbound in Wellesley has one of the last signs I can think of
that only shows the "128" number on the dual-numbered road. The first
time I saw it, somewhat embarrassingly, I missed its significance, and
almost failed to get on to the highway.)

--dzm

[John F. Carr]

Post by David Z Maze
(MA-9 eastbound in Wellesley has one of the last signs I can think of
that only shows the "128" number on the dual-numbered road. The first
time I saw it, somewhat embarrassingly, I missed its significance, and
almost failed to get on to the highway.)

When I got my first job outside of Cambridge I took the wrong way to
work my first day because I did not know that I-95 and Route 128 were
the same road. I only saw a sign for the wrong one.

[KML271]

That's the one thing that has always irritated me about Boston area
traffic reporting and signage. I can see referring by a popular
roadway by it's name, such as the Southeast Expressway or the Pike.
However, many of those people on these same roadways don't live in
Massachusetts. If I'm taking trip notes as a passenger on a bus, I'll
label my notes as "EXIT 15 TAKEN: I-95/MA 128 SOUTH" if I'm exiting
I-90 in Weston, to head towards the MBTA Riverside station. Sorry for
being so technical. Here in Connecticut, we have the Connecticut
Turnpike. If I'm on it, I'll only call it I-95 or I-395 if on it while
on the way towards Mohegan Sun in New London County.

[roadman]

Post by David Z Maze
I wonder if replacing BGSes counted as a "shovel-ready" project, and is
being paid for with federal stimulus money?

The current BGS replacement project on I-95 between MA 4/225 in
Lexington and MA 28 in Reading is being paid for with federal stimulus
money. That's the reason for the ARRA signs installed at the project
limits.

[Paul Anderson]

Post by John F. Carr
This article mentions the federal government's demand that
http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_166001110.html

Isn't it time to cut back 128 to the section between Peabody and
Gloucester and settle this whole thing? Having small "128" signs along
the side of the road is ridiculous and confusing. Either give them
equal billing on all signs or just get rid of 128 on the duplex section.

Paul

[Joe Fineman]

Post by Paul Anderson
Isn't it time to cut back 128 to the section between Peabody and
Gloucester and settle this whole thing? Having small "128" signs
along the side of the road is ridiculous and confusing. Either give
them equal billing on all signs or just get rid of 128 on the duplex
section.

I suspect sentimentality is at work. That particular power of 2 was
once a symbol of economic & technological prowess.

[roadman]

Post by Paul Anderson
Isn't it time to cut back 128 to the section between Peabody and
Gloucester and settle this whole thing?  Having small "128" signs along
the side of the road is ridiculous and confusing.  Either give them
equal billing on all signs or just get rid of 128 on the duplex section.

The last time MassHighway tried to get rid of 128 on the duplex
section (IIRC, it was 2004), they were so villified in the press that
Governor Romney issued an official statement to the effect that the
Route 128 designation would never be removed south of Peabody.

Unfortunately, it appears that this issue will not be resolved until
the day somebody dies in a car wreck because the emergency responders
were sent to "Route 128 Exit 14" in Dedham instead "Route 128 Exit 14"
in Manchester BS (By the Sea).

[William Baldwin]

Either give them equal billing on all signs or just get rid
of 128 on the duplex section.

Or raise the speed limit to 128 mph.

[Elmer]

Post by John F. Carr
This article mentions the federal government's demand that
http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_166001110.html

But we all (here at least) know that I-95 ends in Canton and doesn't
pick up again until Danvers, whereas 128 goes from Braintree to
Gloucester. It doesn't matter how many signs they put up, people will
always think of the Yankee Division Highway as simply "128".

On a related note, I can't believe how huge the new mile marker signs
are that were recently installed on I-195 and I-495. They are as big
as speed limit signs and appear every 2/10ths of a mile. The ones at
the full mile increments are even bigger and also sport the full red,
white and blue Interstate shield. In addition, gigantic new
reassurance signs were installed at the same time. They're the biggest
I've ever seen anywhere and appear quite frequently, even multiple
times between exits!

There are so many more important repairs and improvements needed that
this new signage seems a real waste of money. Obviously some well-
connected sign company had influence in this contract. At least the
new shields are the correct shape. Elsewhere in Massachusetts, I've
noticed various out-of-shape "bloated" Interstate shields; they're
hideous!

Elmer

[Al Sherman]

"Elmer" wrote...

Post by Elmer
But we all (here at least) know that I-95 ends in Canton and
doesn't pick up again until Danvers, whereas 128 goes from
Braintree to Gloucester. .....

Do you mean that 128 doesn't still go to Nantasket? ;-)


(It did many years ago. Now renumbered 228.)

[Bob Malme]

Post by Elmer

Post by John F. Carr
This article mentions the federal government's demand that
http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_166001110.html

But we all (here at least) know that I-95 ends in Canton and doesn't
pick up again until Danvers, whereas 128 goes from Braintree to
Gloucester. It doesn't matter how many signs they put up, people will
always think of the Yankee Division Highway as simply "128".
On a related note, I can't believe how huge the new mile marker signs
are that were recently installed on I-195 and I-495. They are as big
as speed limit signs and appear every 2/10ths of a mile. The ones at
the full mile increments are even bigger and also sport the full red,
white and blue Interstate shield. In addition, gigantic new
reassurance signs were installed at the same time. They're the biggest
I've ever seen anywhere and appear quite frequently, even multiple
times between exits!

The mile markers are part of the 'Enhanced Mile Marker' program. There
is an article on the reasons for the program in the July 18, 2008
MassHighway Scorecard Newsletter, available as a PDF file here:
http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/downloads/ScoreCard/ScoreCard071808.pdf
There were 4 different contracts and the goal is to place these mile
markers on all 775 miles of interstates and controlled access highways
by this November. (I know, but when we'll they really finish...) The
giant reassurance signs seem to be unique to Massachusetts, at least in
my travels along the East Coast. I now live in NC the 'good roads
state.' Maybe MA wants to be known as the 'Big Sign State.'

[Marc Dashevsky]

Post by Bob Malme

Post by Elmer

Post by John F. Carr
This article mentions the federal government's demand that
http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_166001110.html

But we all (here at least) know that I-95 ends in Canton and doesn't
pick up again until Danvers, whereas 128 goes from Braintree to
Gloucester. It doesn't matter how many signs they put up, people will
always think of the Yankee Division Highway as simply "128".
On a related note, I can't believe how huge the new mile marker signs
are that were recently installed on I-195 and I-495. They are as big
as speed limit signs and appear every 2/10ths of a mile. The ones at
the full mile increments are even bigger and also sport the full red,
white and blue Interstate shield. In addition, gigantic new
reassurance signs were installed at the same time. They're the biggest
I've ever seen anywhere and appear quite frequently, even multiple
times between exits!

The mile markers are part of the 'Enhanced Mile Marker' program. There
is an article on the reasons for the program in the July 18, 2008
http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/downloads/ScoreCard/ScoreCard071808.pdf
There were 4 different contracts and the goal is to place these mile
markers on all 775 miles of interstates and controlled access highways
by this November. (I know, but when we'll they really finish...) The
giant reassurance signs seem to be unique to Massachusetts, at least in
my travels along the East Coast. I now live in NC the 'good roads
state.' Maybe MA wants to be known as the 'Big Sign State.'

I-89 in New Hampshire has large, frequent signs, but I do not know
how they compare to the Massachusetts signs.

[Pete]

Post by Elmer

Post by John F. Carr
This article mentions the federal government's demand that
http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_166001110.html

But we all (here at least) know that I-95 ends in Canton and doesn't
pick up again until Danvers, whereas 128 goes from Braintree to
Gloucester. It doesn't matter how many signs they put up, people will
always think of the Yankee Division Highway as simply "128".

They may, they may not. Some people will. I find more people over
the years look at me funny when I say "Connecticut Turnpike." Some
say, "No, I took 95." I agree that it's an uphill battle to thwart
the popular consciousness, and nevertheless a time-honored tradition
among engineers and bureaucrats. The point is, and I feel like I post
this on this group once a year, that identifying the circumferential
road running at a roughly ten-mile radius around Boston has a real
usefulness to people around here, and they want to be able to do
that. In the mind of someone in Washington, this desire is simply
popular error.

The name people know is 128. If it's not going to be that, come up
with something else, but stop denying the need.

Post by Elmer
There are so many more important repairs and improvements needed that
this new signage seems a real waste of money. Obviously some well-
connected sign company had influence in this contract. At least the
new shields are the correct shape. Elsewhere in Massachusetts, I've
noticed various out-of-shape "bloated" Interstate shields; they're
hideous!

While we're at it, let's be sure to tally up the cost of adding and
replacing the "Eisenhower Interstate System" signs that sprouted up
everywhere a few years ago. Those give us *so* much value for our
precious transportation dollars. I'm sure Ike himself would shake his
head.

[Philip Busch]

Post by John F. Carr
This article mentions the federal government's demand that
http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_166001110.html
--

Why not cut down I-95 and keep most of 128 instead?

I-95 (N) could travel via the Southeast Expressway through Boston (via
Tip O'Neil Tunnel)
then sharing I-93 until Reading. In this scenario, 128 would only have
to share I-95 designation
from Canton to Braintree and from Reading to Peabody.

Boston would finally be part of I-95 as the post WWII highway planners
originally envisioned.

Besides, aren't Boston and DC the only major east coast cities that
I-95 doesn't go through?

-Phil B.

[KML271]

As for Washington DC? Sort of. I-95 nicks the extreme southeast corner
of DC over the Potomac for 100 feet or more. It's not signed that way
on the bridge though.