Photo Gallery
Photos taken on and near Route 24 between
Randolph and Rhode Island.
A. Left Exit Tab Removal, July 2023 (NEW)
During the spring
and summer of 2023, MassDOT started removing yellow Left Exit tabs on
top of signs along major interchanges in the Boston area, these include
I-93 and I-95 in Canton and MA 128 in Gloucester (though the latter has
had the tabs reportedly put back). In late June tabs were removed from
the Route 24 exit signs on I-93/US 1 South in Randolph and soon after
disappeared from the I-93 exit signs along Route 24. Here are photos of
the signs as they now appear as of July 7, 2023:
The 2 Miles
advance APL sign with missing Left Exit tab.
The 1 Mile
advance APL sign and missing Left Exit tab.
The 2 Miles
advance APL sign with missing Left Exit tab.
Even the left
exit for I-93 South now has a missing Left Exit tab.
B. Route 24 Sign Replacement Project, 2018-2021
On January 24,
2018 MassDOT gave Roadsafe Systems, Inc. the Notice to Proceed on a
contract to replace the exit, regulatory and warning signs along Route
24 between I-195 in Fall River and I-93 in Randolph. This section of the
gallery will post photos of the new signage when placed on the roadway,
which didn't start until the fall of 2018. Work on ground mounted signs,
including exit gore signs, took place by mid-December 2018, along with
blue services and town line boundary signs. Preliminary work on overhead
signage began in the spring of 2019.
Starting in May
2019 the contractor started placing foundations for the future overhead
signs working south to north. By early October work was proceeding in
the Brockton/Stoughton area and northbound foundation placement had
gotten as far north as the overhead exit signage for the Harrison Avenue
exit in Avon. Starting in March 2020 new overhead signs started to go up
at first in the southern end of the project area in Freetown and Fall
River then moving north, by early mid- October about 80% of the signs
had been placed including all the signs for Exits 5, 10 to 12, and 16 to
20. Work stopped for the winter in December 2020 with several signs,
particularly at the north end at I-93, still needed to be replaced. Work
resumed in the spring of 2021, but there still remained at least 2 exit
signs that needed replacement northbound, for Route 104 and I-93, at the
end of June 2021. These were both replaced in July. MassDOT's Project
Info listing in late August 2021 indicated the project was complete.
This gallery will
track the progress of new sign installation by exit, starting in
Randolph and heading south to Fall River then back again. New photos
will be added as work continues. (^New photo 8/16/21)
A new Begin Route
24 South sign was placed just after ramps from I-93 in early September
2020:
I-93 (US 1) (NB)
Exits 41 B/A (Old Exit 21 B/A)
The exit signs
for I-93 were some of the last installed on the highway. The 2-Miles
advance was put up in December 2020, but the others did not start to go
up until early March 2021, after the Exit Renumbering Project had
changed the number from 21 to 41:
The 2-Miles
advance Arrow-per-Lane sign as seen after the exit numbers were changed
in mid-January 2021.
The 1-Mile
advance was put up in early March with the new exit numbers that had
been placed along the highway in early 2021.
^The placement of
the 1/2 mile advance would have to wait until the summer of 2021.
The overhead
signs at the ramp were put up in December behind the existing sign that
was not taken down until early March.The new exit numbers were placed on
both sets of signs (see below).
The new overhead
sign sitting behind the old gantry, prior to it being taken down in
March.
There was a new
'stacked' gore sign put up as well in mid-June at the split of I-93/US 1
ramps.
Route 139 Exits
20 B/A (38 B/A)*-New Exit number
The first new
sign southbound, the 1-Mile advance, put up in early June, along with:
The 1/2 mile
advance.
^But the
overheads at the Route 139 ramp were not installed until the second week
of October.
The second ramp
sign was placed the second half of June.
^Bonus photo of
South Route 24 reassurance marker after the Route 139 exit.
Central
Street/Harrison Blvd. Exits 19 B/A (35 B/A)*
The 1-Mile
advance sign was the only new overhead put up for this exit as of
Memorial Day weekend.
The 1/2 mile
advance went up a week or so later.
The signage at
the ramp to Central Street, completing the new sign placement for this
exit, went up in early September. The old gantry had not been taken down
as of yet, it disappeared a week later (also, unlike northbound the
gantry is not 2 signs on a cantilever post).
Again, the second
ramp sign was placed the second half of June, the first not as of August
9.
Route 27 Exits 18
B/A (33 B/A)*
This 1-Mile
advance sign is the first new sign to be placed as of May. The others
were placed in July including:
The 1/2 mile
advance for the Route 27 North exit.
And at the ramp
to Route 27 North in Brockton, along with...
The ramp sign for
Route 27 South.
Bonus photo of
the overhead ramp sign on Route 27 South, does the text look a little
small?:
Route 123 Exits
17 B/A (31 B/A)*
As with above the
1-Mile advance for the Route 123 exit was up before...
The 1/2 mile
advance which went up in mid-July, along with the...
First set of ramp
signs at the Route 123 West exit, and....
The overhead sign
at the Route 123 East exit in Brockton.
Route 106 Exits
16 B/A (28 B/A)
Most of the exit
signs went up in the last half of July, starting with the 1-Mile
Advance:
The 1/2 mile
advance sign was in place by mid-June:
Both ramp
overheads for the Route 106 West exit were up by August 2:
The signage at
the ramp to Route 106 East, and....
That at the ramp
to Route 106 East, some bonus photos:
New MassDOT spec
two post advance guide sign for Route 24 ramps heading east on Route
106.
New sign at the
on-ramp to Route 24 South, and that...
That for Route 24
North, notice Randolph as the control city, due to interchange with
I-93, not Brockton. Plus the new South Route 24 reassurance marker after
the Route 106 exit:
Route 104 Exit 15
(24)*
The new 1-Mile
advance sign for Route 104, about 1/10 mile south of previous sign.
Unlike for the previous exits, there's an additional sign:
The new 1/2 mile
advance is now behind the location of the former sign which shared the
gantry with the 1-Mile advance sign for I-495, to now be on a separate
gantry, this gantry was removed in the second half of June.
^The combination
ramp sign, and I-495 North 1/2 mile advance sign were placed in of mid-
October.
I-495 Exits 14
B/A (22 B/A)*
A new 2-Miles
advance sign was put up in early June. Notice it only refers to I-495
North, probably because the I-495 South exit is about a 1/2 mile further
south.
This overhead was
placed in late June has 2 advance signs for both I-495 exits, the 1-Mile
sign replaced that seen above near the new Route 104 1-Mile advance. The
1/2 mile advance was seen above along with the ramp sign for Route 104.
The ramp signs
for I-495 were placed during May, here's the first set at the ramp
for I-495 North, with new control city, Marlboro.
The service plaza
between the two I-495 ramps has a new mixed-case gore sign.
The overhead at
the I-495 South ramp includes a yellow exit only tab.
US 44 Exit 13
(due to bridge construction, signs may not all go up until project
completion in 2021) (20)*
A new overhead
gantry with one exit sign is up, perhaps this was designed for when
there were 2 exit ramps here, the second has been eliminated under the
bridge construction project.
Here's a closeup
of the current gore sign apparently designed for a 'B' that will no
longer be needed with the elimination of the second ramp during the
current construction project.
No other new exit
signage as of August 2. For more on the US 44 bridge replacement, visit
the MassDOT
project site.
Route 140 Exit 12
(17)*
A new 1-Mile
advance was put up in early June.
A new 1/2 mile
advance sign was placed as of the Memorial Day weekend, the previous one
is still in place just before it on July 4.
As well as the
overhead exit only sign at the Route 140 off-ramp.
Padelford Street
Exit 11 (16)*
The 1-Mile
advance is the first of three consecutive new overhead signs for this
exit.
The 1/2 mile
advance.
Lastly, the sign
at the exit ramp and gore sign.
North Main
Street, Dighton Exit 10 (13)*
As with the
previous exit, the 1-Mile advance is one of 3 consecutive new signs.
The 1/2 mile
advance.
The overhead ramp
sign, and a bonus:
The new
reassurance marker after the exit.
Route 79 North
Exit 9 (11)*
The 1-mile
advance for the Route 79 North exit, the next sign is new as well.
The 1/2 mile
advance sign.
The final exit
and pull through signs in this direction were put up by October.
Innovation Way
Exit 8B (10)
Signage already
up to current standards, as well as 1 1/2 mile advance sign for the next
exit, see photos below.
The existing
guide sign at the northbound exit ramp heading east:
Airport
Road/North Main Street, Fall River Exit 8A (8)
Besides a 1 1/2
mile advance, there this 1-mile advance about to cross the line into
Fall River, the 1/2 mile advance sign had not been put up by October 25.
The exit sign,
however, along with a new 1/2 mile advance sign for MA 79 South were put
up by October.
MA 79 South Exit
7 (Exits 1 to 7 to keep current numbers)
No 1-Mile advance
sign as of October 25, however signs have been placed approaching the
exit:
The overheads,
including a new pull through with an I-195 shield, at the ramp for Route
79 South. The To I-195 East trailblazer on the left formerly was paired
with an I-195 West on the right, this has been removed, and I-195 added
to the pull through, probably due to the removal of the Route 79
expressway in downtown Fall River.
Highland Avenue
Exit 6
The first new
signage after that was for the Highland Avenue exit:
A new 1-Mile
advance sign, notice the overhead signage in the distance at the Airport
Road/North Main Street exit has not been changed.
Again, a new
advance sign, here for 1/2 mile, for Highland Avenue but signage at the
Route 79 South exit ramp in the distance had not been changed as of July
4 (you can see the now removed To I-195 West trailblazer on the right
support post).
^The overheads
before the Highland Avenue exit also have a pull through with an I-195
shield.
Bonus photo of
new South Route 24 reassurance marker after the Highland Avenue exit.
^Another bonus,
and curiosity. This reassurance marker is on the ramp from Highland
Avenue to Route 24 North, and therefore should have an arrow, the other
guide signs at the bottom of the ramp also reference Route 79 North
since it joins shortly after this ramp, but there is no corresponding
Route 79 sign.
US 6 Exit 5
The first of 3
new overhead signs for the US 6 exit.
The 1/2 mile
advance sign was put up some time in the middle of April.
The new overhead
at the exit ramp, the last new sign for this replacement project.
Beyond the US 6
exit was this new South Route 24 reassurance marker, as with others, the
directional banner is a little wider than the shield sign.
The remaining
signs southbound, for the I-195 exits, were already replaced as part of
an earlier sign replacement project.
Heading back
north...
US 6 Exit 5
All the signs for
the US 6 exit heading north have been replaced, starting with the 1-Mile
advance sign.
And the 1/2 mile
sign with a new auxiliary sign for Bristol Community College seen in the
distance. I couldn't get a decent photo of the overhead sign at the
exit.
Airport
Road/North Main Street Exit 8A (8)*
The next new
overhead is the 1-Mile advance for the Airport Road/North Main Street
exit.
Followed by the
1/2 mile advance sign just before the merge with Route 79 North. The
overhead exit ramp sign was already replaced as part of the project
constructing the current Exit 8A Innovation Way exit (see photos below).
Innovation Way
Exit 8B (10)*
These signs were
put up only a few years ago with the opening of the new ramp and will
not be replaced (see photos below).
Route 79 North
Exit 9 (11)
This 1-Mile
advance sign was installed as part of the Innovation Way interchange
project a few years ago and is not part of the current replacement
project.
The 1/2 mile
advance sign is new, probably put up some time in April. There will be
room on the tab for the future double digit exit number.
^The new overhead
pull through and sign at the exit ramp were put up by mid-October.
The reassurance
marker following the Route 79 North exit.
North Main
Street, Dighton Exit 10 (13)*
As with
southbound, this is one of three new overhead signs for the other North
Main Street exit.
The 1/2 mile
advance with a new blue attractions sign in the distance.
The overhead sign
at the exit ramp is right in front of the North Main Street bridge.
Bonus of North
Route 24 reassurance marker following the North Main Street exit.
Padelford Street
Exit 11 (16)*
Again, the 1-Mile
advance is one of three new signs for Padelford Street in Berkley.
The 1/2 mile
advance sign.
The new overhead
at the exit ramp, and gore sign behind.
MA 140 Exit 12
A/B (17 A/B)*
The 1-Mile
advance sign behind the 16.2 mile marker and in front of a portable
speed indicator.
There is also a
new 1/2 mile advance sign.
^The overhead
signs at the ramp to Route 140 South were finally put up in early
October.
The overhead at
the Route 140 North ramp was put in place before the July 4th weekend.
Bonus photo of
post-interchange distance sign with I-495 shield following the Route 140
exit.
US 44 Exit 13 A/B
(20 A/B)*
The recently
placed 1-mile advance overhead northbound for US 44.
The new 1/2 mile
advance for the US 44 East exit.
These signs at
the ramp to US 44 East were put up in early 2019 as part of the bridge
reconstruction contract. The other ramp sign probably will not be put up
until the end of that project.
I-495 Exits 14
A/B (22 A/B)*
A new 2-Miles
Advance sign had been put up for I-495 as of the Memorial Day weekend.
The 1-Mile
advance sign was put up in early June.
Along with the
new 1/2 mile advance sign for the I-495 South exit, new version without
the passing a truck.
The overhead
signs at the I-495 South ramp went up in September. No further changes
were made to the signs until June 2021.
^The old 1 Mile
advance for the Route 104 exit was removed meaning no more obstruction
of the 1/4 Mile advance for the I-495 North exit sign put up in June of
2020, now with a new exit number.
Photo of the new
sign blocked by the existing 1-Mile advance sign for Route 104 in late
October 2020.
This reassurance
marker after the I-495 exit appears to be new, but only has 1 support
post, unlike the others with 2. The overhead signs seen in the distance
still have not been replaced as of late June 2021.
Route 104 Exit 24
(Old Exit 15)
The 1 Mile
advance sign was finally put up in June 2021, at the ramp for I-495
North, both signs sporting new exit numbers:
^The last new
sign was put up in early July 2021 just prior to the Service Area
(updated photo):
Previously, the
only new sign (with the old exit number) for Route 104 northbound was
the exit sign that was put up as of October 25, 2020:
The overhead at
the exit ramp itself. A bonus photo:
This marker after
the Route 104 exit has the normal two support posts. Another bonus
photo:
^The new style
guide sings for Route 104 at the split from the Route 24 North ramp:
Route 106 Exits
16 A/B (28 A/B)*
New signs were
installed in July 2020:
^Starting with
the 1-Mile advance sign (new photo).
The 1/2 mile
advance was already installed as part of VMS sign project.
The first set of
dual signs at the Route 106 East ramp went up at the same time...
Along with the
sign for the Route 106 West exit with new control city of Easton.
Here's the
post-interchange distance sign featuring I-93 after the Route 106 exit.
Route 123 Exits
17 A/B (31 A/B)*
The 1-Mile
advance sign for Route 123 has been put up, as well as the...
1/2 Mile advance
sign for 123 East.
The signs at the
Route 123 East exit ramp was put up in late July, completing work for
this exit.
The second ramp
signs was placed the second half of June.
The reassurance
marker after the Route 123 interchange.
Route 27 Exits 18
A/B (33 A/B)*
The 1-Mile
advance was put up for the Route 27 exit before Memorial Day.
The 1/2 mile
advance was put up in early June. Unlike the exits to the south...
There is new
signage at the exit ramps, in this case at the the Route 27 South exit.
The North Route
27 exit sign was put up in the second half of June, meaning all signs
for Route 27 have been replaced.
The reassurance
marker following the Route 27 interchange.
Harrison Blvd
/ Street, Exits 19 A/B (35 A/B)*
^The 1-Mile
advance sign was the last to be put up in late July.
The 1/2 mile
advance for the Harrison Blvd. exit, as well as....
The overheads at
the ramp to Harrison Blvd in Avon, and...
The second ramp
sign were all placed the second half of June.
The reassurance
marker ahead of the Travel Time sign after the Avon exits.
Route 139 Exits
20 A/B (38 A/B*)
The 1 Mile
advance has been put up for the Route 139 exit, as well as...
The 1/2 mile
advance sign.
^The overhead
signs at the ramp to Route 139 East were finally put up in mid-October.
Again, the second
ramp sign was placed the second half of June, the first still not as of
September 13.
The overhead sign
at the on-ramp to Route 24 North also includes an I-93 shield.
The last new
North Route 24 reassurance marker after the Route 139 interchange.
I-93/US 1 Exits
21 A/B (41 A/B)*
Signs have
started going up the week of of October 18
The new 2-Miles
advance sign with arrows-per-lane replacing the former diagrammatic
display (seen below).
While I could not
spot a foundation for the future 1-Mile advance, the new right support
foundation for the future 1/2 mile advance sign for the I-93/US 1 exit
can be seen beyond the current sign, not replaced as of yet. For the
rest of the new photos go back to the top.
The Route 24 Ends
sign has been upgraded heading towards the I-93 exit.
The first of the
two new signs for the I-93 ramps has been put up, but is currently
behind the existing sign, this should hopefully disappear within the
next week.
A new North US 1
trailblazer has been placed along the right shoulder at the split of
ramp for I-93/US 1, also a new End Route 24 sign has been put up beyond
the current overhead gantry.
A South US 1
trailblazer along the left side of the road was put up in late September
along with a new End Route 24 sign along the ramp to I-93 South, which
can be seen in the photo below.
EARLIER PHOTOS
New sign
foundations spotted in April 2020, here's one at the Route 140 South
ramp in Taunton:
Here are some
photos of new foundations seen along Route 24 and some new ramp related
signage taken on January 18, 2020 and between July 28 and October 6,
2019:
A better image of
the new foundations southbound at the Route 27 exit:
This is a
relatively new services sign for the Route 123 exit put up last fall
still heading south.
Heading
northbound the top panel on this blue services sign is new for the Route
27 South exit, old for Route 27 North.
Excavated dirt
piles sit next to the off-ramp to Harrison Boulvard in Avon, presumably
for placement of overhead sign gantry foundation. Back in 2019...
A new sign
foundation for the future Route 27 South exit sign in Randolph.
Another
foundation for the Route 106 West exit in West Bridgewater.
Partially hidden
by the guardrail is the foundation for the future 1-Mile advance sign
for the Route 104 exits in Bridgewater (also one for the 2-Mile advance
for I-495, not photographed).
Heading north, an
mostly hidden by the guardrail is a foundation for the Route 106 East
exit sign in West Bridgewater.
The foundation
for the new 1-mile advance sign for Route 104 can be seen (some) behind
the current sign.
The foundation
for future overhead gantry at the ramp to Route 104 is before the
current sign.
Heading further
south, the foundation site is being excavated for the future overhead at
the I-495 North exit which will have Marlboro as the control city.
Partially hidden
by the guardrail is the new foundation for the future I-495 South exit
sign.
Here's a newly
built foundation for the future ramp sign heading north on Route 24,
behind the existing sign.
Some new sign
photos:
The new ramp
signage along MA 104 East in Bridgewater for Route 24 South, the
trailblazer facing the other way is for To I-495.
The counterpart
on Route 104 for Route 24 North.
The new Route 24
guide ramp sign on US 44 East is at the end of the new bridge
construction zone, the eastbound part of the bridge is being rebuilt
with eastbound traffic taking up part of the westbound lanes.
A South Route 24
entrance ramp sign on Route 123 West in Brockton, new eastbound sign
seen to the left.
A new North Route
24 trailblazer prior to the highway bridge on Route 123 East in
Brockton.
At the on-ramp
itself, at least for now, there is only a North Route 24 trailblazer
partly hidden by a gore reflector sign.
During March 2019
the sign replacement contractor continued work on installing ground
mounted signs and on the 23rd announced they would start constructing
foundations for new overhead sign supports soon. Here are photos from a
trip north from Fall River to Brockton on March 17:
Here's a recently
installed gore sign for the US 6 exit in Fall River, as the milepost
shows, this exit's number will stay the same when and if Massachusetts
converts to a mileage based exit system.
A previously
installed Route 24 North reassurance marker. This may not be removed,
however, it doesn't meet current sign standards as the N in north is
supposed to be larger than the rest of the text.
This auxiliary
sign for the Innovation Way exit was installed after that new exit was
opened to traffic a few years ago and is a couple miles to the north
beyond the merge with Route 79.
A new gore sign
for the last Fall River exit, North Main Street/Airport Road, originally
Exit 8 before the Innovation Way interchange was built.
A new reassurance
marker for Routes 24 and 79 North beyond the Airport Road exit, with the
larger N.
Before North 79
exits, there's another new reassurance marker.
Newly installed
bridge sign for Rattlesnake Brook, which is not the railroad bridge just
behind the sign.
Newly installed
gore sign for Route 79 North sits behind to be replaced overhead ramp
sign with Middleboro text.
Newly installed
bridge sign for Assonet River crossing prior to North Main Street exit.
Support posts for
future blue services sign for North Main Street, Assonet exit on Route
24 North.
Recently placed
gore sign for North Main Street exit.
Another older,
but not old, Route 24 North reassurance marker that may not be replaced
with this project, beyond North Main Street.
Another
post-interchange distance sign approaching Taunton.
Before Taunton
Route 24 North goes through Berkley, as noted on this new boundary sign.
Newly placed gore
sign at Padelford Street exit in Berkley.
Newly placed sign
indicating entering city of Taunton prior to the interchange with Route
140.
Recently placed
auxiliary sign for Park and Ride Lot prior to Route 140 South exit.
New gore sign for
Route 140 South exit at mile marker 17.2 on Route 24 North.
And the new gore
sign for the Route 140 South exit.
This new distance
sign after the Route 140 exit features and I-495 shield.
This blue
services sign currently only has the bottom panel, can't wait to know
what attractions are on US 44 East.
The new services
sign panels for food along US 44 is all set.
The new double
panel sign at the Taunton River indicates entering the town of Raynham
prior to the US 44 East ramp.
The ramp sign for
the US 44 West exit is temporary, the permanent sign will be put up
after construction is completed on the US 44 bridge over Route 24.
The gore sign for
US 44 West also appears to not have been replaced, at least not yet.
The current
1-Mile advance overhead for I-495, the button copy shield will disappear
with the new signs.
The gore sign for
the I-495 South exit appears to be a new placement. For more new exit
signage north of I-495, see February photos.
This new
auxiliary sign for Bridgewater State University prior to the Route 104
exit is much bigger than the old one.
This distance
sign following the Route 104 exit does not list I-93, that doesn't
happen until Brockton.
This blue service
sign assembly is also missing its top panel prior to the Route 27 exit
in Brockton.
A new blue
auxiliary sign for the Good Samaritan Medical Center on Route 27 North
in Brockton.
EARLIER PHOTOS
In early
Februrary 2019, MassDOT posted on the project page that the contractor
had finished installing new exit gore signs and was now working on
installing other ground-mounted signs including town line signs and
reassurance markers. A trip taken on February 10 shows the progress in
installing these signs:
New gore sign at
ramp to I-495 North along Route 24 North in Bridgewater.
Sitting behind to
be replaced overhead sign is new gore sign for MA 104 exit northbound in
Bridgewater.
Both town line
boundary and river identification combined in one new sign entering West
Bridgewater northbound.
New gore sign,
again with number far over to the left, on exit ramp to Route 106 East
in West Bridgewater.
The new gore sign
for Route 106 West heading further north.
This is not a new
reassurance marker but one to be replaced following the Route 106
interchange which will provide contrast to the new shields being
installed seen below.
A recently
installed destination distance sign following the Route 106 interchange
northbound with an I-93 shield.
A new auxiliary
sign for the Route 123 interchange northbound about to enter Brockton.
Following a to be
replaced advance sign for Route 123 East is the new city line sign for
Brockton northbound.
The
recently installed gore sign for the Route 123 exit in Brockton, not
photographed in the previous trip to the area.
Another new town
line sign, this time for Avon northbound.
Followed by a new
sign at the Stoughton boundary prior to the exits for Route 139.
After the Route
139 interchange there is a new town boundary sign for Canton.
Quickly followed
by a new North Route 24 reassurance marker, note the new shield is
smaller than those it is replacing.
The last new sign
is another town boundary sign for Randolph.
Previous photos:
Taken December
23, 2018 showing placement of new exit gore signs between Randolph and
Brockton:
Hidden in the
glare, is this new gore sign for the Route 123 East exit in Brockton,
better photo conditions after I turned around.
Here is the new
gore sign for the Route 123 exit on Route 24 North.
Here is the new
gore sign for the Route 27 South exit in Brockton, notice how the number
is pushed up against the left side of the sign.
The Route 27
North gore sign, here the 18 is properly centered, this would be Exit
33B under a milepost based system.
This is the new
gore sign for the first Central Street, Stoughton/Eastbound exit, notice
a similar problem with the location of the number 19 seen at Exit 18A.
The new gore sign
for the second Harrison Blvd/Westbound exit has the same problem, this
could be future Exit 35B.
The new gore sign
for the Route 139 East exit in Stoughton.
The new Route 139
West gore sign, the last new gore sign on Route 24 North, future Exit
38B?
There are no gore
signs at the split of ramps at the end of Route 24 North in Randolph.
The lamp post that had the US 1 North trailblazer has been taken down,
leaving only a sign for US 1 South. The new signs will also not have US
1, see Sign Plans section.
PREVIOUS PHOTOS
Taken November
24, 2018:
New sign post
foundations behind current gore sign for Route 123 West exit on Route 24
South.
Foundations were
also completed for future new East Route 123 gore sign.
Hard to spot but
there is a new foundation for a new gore sign behind the existing one at
the Route 27 South exit in Brockton.
There is also a
new foundation hidden behind the Exit 16A gore sign at the Route 104
East off-ramp in Bridgewater.
C. Pre-2019
Signage
Examples of the
1990s era signage that will be replaced by the current project:
1-Mile advance
sign for Route 27 on Route 24 South in Brockton.
Exit ramp sign
for the Route 27 South exit.
1-Mile advance
for the next exit, Route 123 on Route 24 South in Brockton.
Overhead signs at
the Route 123 West off-ramp in Brockton.
The 1-Mile
Advance overhead for Route 106 further south in West Bridgewater.
Signage on Route
24 South at the Route 106 West off-ramp in West Bridgewater.
The 2-Mile
Advance sign for I-495 further south in Bridgewater.
The 1-Mile
advance sign for Route 104 in Bridgewater between the 2 and 1-Mile
advance signs for I-495.
The overhead
gantry at the Route 104 exit off-ramp also features a 1/2 mile advance
sign for I-495.
The overhead sign
for the I-495 off-ramp featuring button copy numerals.
Further south,
and a couple months later, the exit ramp sign for North Main Street in
Freetown.
The next exit is
for Route 79 North, here's the 1-Mile Advance overhead following a South
Route 24 reassurance marker.
Traffic was
backing up prior to the overhead signs at the Route 79 North exit in
Freetown.
The overhead
signs for the new Innovation Way exit are up to current MassDOT
standards and will not be replaced as part of the current project.
The 1/2 mile
advance sign for Innovation Way (the next exit, Airport Road/No. Main
Street was renumbered Exit 8A after this was opened about 5 years ago.
The overhead
gantry at the Innovation Way off-ramp also has a newish sign for Exit 8A
that won't need to be replaced.
The 1990s era
signs return with the next overhead gantry for both Airport Road and
North Main Street and Route 79 South.
Overhead signage
at the ramp to Airport Road and North Main Street.
The ramp sign for
the last 1990s era sign for US 6 in Fall River.
Signage
northbound at the US 44 West exit in Taunton, the bridge is currently
undergoing reconstruction.
D. Sign Plans
Until the new
signs are posted, thanks to Charlene White of MassDOT who sent them to
me, here are the sign plans for the Route 24 project (signage south of
I-195 was included with an I-195 sign replacement project that was
completed in 2017). As with recent sign replacement projects, all the
exit signs will be overhead on gantries or cantilever supports. Also,
MassDOT has told the contractors to design the exit tabs (as seen in No.
5 in the notice below) to account for the possible future change to
milepost based exit numbering (for a list of proposed numbers, see the Route 24 Exit
List).
This plan shows
the difference in exit tabs for those with 1 digit that were made wide
enough for 2 digits in the future:
I will post an
advance sign plan and one at the exit for each interchange going north
from I-195, with additional plans for auxiliary and guide signs or if
there are differences in signage for exits north and southbound:
US 6
In addition, the
project will place new guide signs on US 6 itself, here are 2 examples:
The overhead
guide signs on US 6 and Highland Avenue for Route 24 South will include
an I-195 shield:
Highland Avenue:
Route 79 South:
Exit 8A:
There are no new
plans for Exit 8B, Innovation Way since it is a new exit opened in 2015
with modern signage.
Route 79 North:
There are
additional pull-through signs at the exit in each direction, northbound
and southbound:
Here are also
some of the ground-mounted guide signs for exits in the Freetown area:
Here's a plan
showing the difference between the old and new signage at the MA 79 exit
southbound:
North Main
Street:
The destinations
have been switched from two: Assonet, Freetown, to one: Dighton.
Padelford Street:
Route 140, there
are 2 ramps northbound, but only 1 south, therefore 2 different advance
signs:
Exit signs
northbound:
The southbound
destination has been switched to New Bedford from Lakeville.
Exit sign heading
south:
US 44:
I-495:
The advance exit
signs are different since there is a 1-mile gap between ramps heading
south, but not north. Northbound:
Southbound:
The northbound
destination has been switched to Marlboro from Worcester.
Route 104:
Route 106:
The westbound
destination has been switched to Easton from Mansfield.
Route 123:
Route 27:
Harrison Blvd /
Central Street:
Route 139:
The northbound
guide signs at Route 139 will include an I-93 shield:
Interstate 93/US
1:
This arrow-per
lane sign is repeated at 1 Mile and at 1/2 Mile, or is it 1/2 Miles?
The signs at the
exit ramps are more traditional:
Despite US 1
appearing on the pull through signs on I-93 at this exit, and on all the
other overhead guide signs between Canton and Braintree, the only new US
1 signs according to the plans will be trailblazer shields probably
replacing those currently at the split of I-93 ramps (see photo below).
There are several
auxiliary signs for this exit, the first warns of the prohibition of
hazardous materials being transported in the Big Dig tunnels on I-93
North:
The second is new
informing drivers to use I-93 North to get to Route 3 South:
E. Previous Route 24 Sign Replacement Photos
New signs were
installed in 2016 on Route 24 from I-195 to Rhode Island border, first
heading south:
For I-195:
Route 24
reassurance markers on I-195 West have a very Connecticut look:
The Route 24 exit
sign on I-195 West, installed under the same sign replacement project:
Resuming the new
Route 24 signage, this for Brayton Avenue/Eastern Avenue:
The final exit
being for Route 81, the first sign being a 3/4 instead of 1 Mile
Advance:
The last
southbound exit sign:
Turning around
(after a trip to Newport and back), the first Massachusetts signs just
across the border:
An advance sign
for the Brayton Avenue / Eastern Avenue exit:
Signs for the
I-195 West exit:
Notice how MA 24
is listed as an exit, a warning for the sharp curve at the interchange.
The last two
signs were not replaced due to soil conditions at the foundation sites
for the new signs. In June 2020 a new contract was awarded that will
install new signs avoiding problems with the planned center median
supports by installing supports over both lanes of the highway. Here are
the two sign assemblies that were not replaced, photos taken on June 14,
2020:
The first
overhead is at the Brayton Avenue ramp.
The other one is
at the I-195 ramp split. This is one of the overhead signs on
I-195 to be replaced as well:
The reassurance
marker for MA 24 seems out of place again:
The signage for
MA 24's exit from I-195 East:
These were the
only new signs for the Route 24 exit at the time. Heading north from
I-195:
One last 'CT' 24
reassurance marker.
C. Miscellaneous Route 24 Photos
Weird MA 24
trailblazer arrow along Route 123 in Brockton.
Current signage
at the end of Route 24 North at I-93. Sign plans indicate the US 1
trailblazers will be replace, no shields will go on the overhead signs.
A more typical
trailblazer and overhead sign beyond as seen from Route 139 East.
This orange real
time traffic sign was put up to inform drivers of delays with
construction at the Braga Bridge on I-195 and the best choice in
alternate routes.
More Photo to
Come...
Visit the Route
24 Exit List to check out the new exit
numbers along the route.
(c) 2018-2021 Robert H. Malme