Photo Gallery

Photos taken on and near Interstate 495 in Massachusetts. Want to share yours? Feel free to E-mail me:

A. I-495 Sign Replacement Project, Harvard to Lowell, 2019-

This contract (Project 607919) was let in the Spring of 2019 and is to conclude in the Spring of 2021. It is the last of the contracts to replace signage along the loop highway. This page will post photos of the new signs when put up. Prior to that, thanks to Charlene White of MassDOT, here are some of the sign plans going south to north. The one mile advance signs:

MassDOT sign plans for jurisdiction boundary and for 1 mile advance for MA 111 exit on I-495 in Harvard MassDOT plan for 1 mile advance overhead sign for MA 2 exit on I-495 in Harvard

MassDOT plan for 1 mile advance overhead sign for MA 110 exit on I-495 in Chelmsford

Northbound version Southbound version (No Exit 33)

MassDOT plan for 1 mile advance sign for US 3 exit on I-495 North in Chelmsford

Northbound version, US 3 first Southbound version, US 3 last

There is no Exit 36

Pull Through Signs. There are 2 at the US 3/Lowell Connector Exits:

MassDOT plan of overhead pull through sign for I-495 South at US 3/Lowell Connector exit in Chelmsford

Auxiliary and other Ground Mounted Signs:

MassDOT sign plan for ground mounted auxiliary sign for MA 2 exit on I-495 in Acton

MassDOT plan for ground mounted auxiliary sign for MA 225 for Boston Road exit on I-495 in Westford

MassDOT plan for ground mounted auxiliary sign for US 3 exit on I-495 in Chelmsford MassDOT plan for ground mouted jurisdiction boundary for both town and county on I-495 entering Harvard

MassDOT plan for 2 digit gore sign for MA 2A/110 exit on I-495 in Ayer MassDOT plan for ground mounted 3 character gore sign for US 3 North exit on I-495 in Chelmsford

Gore signs are to be designed to use mileage based numbers, whenever MassDOT decides to convert, but since both sets would be 2 digits (see I-495 Exit List), there is no change needed for the size of the signs.

Ramp signage. MassDOT will use the latest standard for their ramp guide signs, using mixed case lettering:

MassDOT plan for ramp guide sign for I-495 South at Woburn Street exit in Lowell

A comparison of the new and old guide signs.

B. I-495 Sign Replacement from Methuen to Amesbury, 2017-

This project started in late 2017 and is due to be completed in the Fall of 2019, however, the contractor is only now (10/7/19) stating they are planning to put up signs. Until they do, here are sign plans from Charlene White of MassDOT.

One Mile Advance:

MassDOT plan for 1 mile advance overhead sign for MA 110/MA 113 exit on I-495 in Methuen

MassDOT sign plan for MA 97/110/113 exits on I-495 South in Haverhill

MassDOT sign plan for one mile advance overhead sign for MA 125 exit on I-495 in Haverhill

Southbound sign, no Exit 49

MassDOT plan for 1 mile advance overhead sign for MA 110 on I-495 in Haverhill MassDOT plan for one mile advance overhead sign for Broad Street exit on I-495 in Merrimac

MassDOT plan for one mile advance overhead sign for MA 150 exit on I-495 in Amesbury MassDOT plan for 1 mile advance overhead sign for MA 110 to South I-95 exit on I-495 North in Amesbury

Northbound exit only

Auxiliary Signs:

MassDOT sign plan for ground mounted Downtown Haverhill exits auxiliary sign on I-495 North MassDOT plan for ground mounted Haverhill Historical Society auxilary sign for MA 110 exit on I-495 in Haverhill

MassDOT plan for Downtown Haverhill/River Street auxiliary sign for MA 110 exit on I-495 in Haverhill MassDOT plan for Northern Essex Community College ground mounted auxiliary sign on I-495

Other Ground Mounted Signs:

MassDOT plan for ground mounted gore sign crossing Merrimack River on I-495 North MassDOT plan for exit gore sign allowing for 3 digit and suffix milepost based number
in future on I-495 in Haverhill

Extra wide tab on Exit 49 gore sign to allow for replacement by 3 digit mileage based number with suffix, 107A

MassDOT plan for exit gore sign for 125 South exit on I-495 in Haverhill, wide enough to use 3 digit exit number in addition to suffix in future MassDOT plan for gore sign for MA 150 exit on I-495 in Amesbury, wide enough to hold 3 digit milepost based number in future

Gore sign for Route 125 South exit allows for future 109 A Number Gore sign wide enough to hold future Exit 118 number

Ramp Signage, two types, a guide sign and gore sign for each direction:

MassDOT ramp guide sign for I-495 North in Haverhill

MassDOT plan for ramp guide sign for I-495 South in Haverhill

MassDOT plan for onramp gore sign for I-495 North MassDOT plan for ramp gore sign for I-495 South

C. Sign Replacement Project, Raynham to Bolton, 2016-2019

This project started in the Spring of 2016 and was to be completed during the Summer of 2019. Photos taken of new signage put up during the Summer and Fall of 2018:

Image of recently placed 1 mile advance overhead sign for MA 9 exit on I-495 North in Marlboro

One mile advance heading north for Route 9 exit in Marlboro.

Image of newly placed overhead exit ramp sign for MA 9 West on I-495 North in Marlboro

The overhead ramp and gore sign for the West Route 9 exit on I-495 North.

Image of overhead 1 mile advance sign for Simarano Drive exit on I-495 North in Marlboro

The 1-Mile advance sign for Simarano Drive in Marlboro, the number under a milepost based system would be 62.

Image of 1-Mile advance sign for US 20 exits on I-495 North in Marlboro

The 1 Mile advance overhead for the next interchange for US 20 in Marlboro.

Image of recently placed North I-495 reassurance marker in Marlboro in July 2018

A North I-495 reassurance marker in Marlboro, new I-495 shields put up after this contract would be smaller (see below).

Image of newly placed 1 mile advance overhead for I-290 West exit on I-495 North in Hudson in July 2018

Newly placed 1-Mile advance sign for I-290/To Route 85 exits on I-495 North in Hudson, auxiliary sign new as well.

Image of newly placed 1-mile advance sign for MA 62 exit on I-495 North in Hudson in July 2018 H

The 1-mile advance sign for the Route 62 exit in Hudson.

Image of 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 117 exit on I-495 North in Bolton in July 2018

The 1-Mile advance for the last exit under this contract, Route 117 in Bolton.

Image of recently placed 1/2 mile advance overhead sign for MA 117 exit on I-495 North in Bolton

The 1/2 mile advance sign.

Image of recently placed overhead ramp sign for MA 117 exit on I-495 North in Bolton in July 2018

The overhead exit ramp and gore signs for Route 117.

Image of ramp guide sign for I-495 South on MA 117 in Bolton in July 2018

The guide sign across from the ramp to I-495 South on Route 117 in Bolton. Heading back south on I-495:

Image of recently installed ground mounted post-interchange distance sign on I-495 South in Bolton

The post-interchange distance sign following the Route 117 exit lists the mileage to I-90 a well as Cape Cod.

Image of recently installed 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 62 exit on I-495 South in Hudson

The 1-Mile advance overhead sign for Route 62 southbound.

Image of recently installed overhead ramp sign for MA 62 exit on I-495 South in Hudson

The new overhead exit ramp and gore sign for the Route 62 exit.

Image of 1-mile advance overhead sign for I-290 West/To MA 85 exit on I-495 South in Hudson in July 2018

The I-290/To Route 85 exit in Hudson gets a 2-mile advance overhead sign.

Image of recently installed 1/2 mile advance overhead sign for US 20 West on I-295 South in Marlboro in July 2018

Overhead 1/2 mile advance sign for US 20 in Marlboro.

Image of recently installed South I-495 reassurance marker beyond US 20 exit in Marlboro in July 2018

A South I-495 reassurance marker precedes the 1/2 mile advance sign for the Simarano Drive exit in Marlboro.

Recently placed ground mounted auxiliary sign for MA 9 exit on I-495 South in Marlboro in July 2018

A new auxiliary sign for the Route 9 exits heading further south.

Image of new and old overhead signs prior to MA 9 exit on I-495 South in Marlboro in July 2018

A mixture of new and old prior to the 1-Mile advance sign for the Route 9 interchange. The 2 1/2 mile advance for I-90/Mass Pike was replaced with a 2-Mile advance and this sign gantry was later removed.

Image of recently installed 1/2 mile advance sign for MA 9 West exit on I-495 South in Marlboro

The 1/2 mile advance for the Route 9 West exit in Marlboro.

Image of recently installed 1-mile advance overhead sign for the I-90/Mass Pike exit on I-495 South in Southboro in July 2018

The new signs for the I-90/Mass Pike exit have a Mass Pike logo instead of text (apparently to make it easier to remove in case that designation is removed in the future) and a yellow toll road banner, complying with the latest MUTCD standards.

Image of recently placed ground mounted ramp guide sign for I-495 South on MA 9 West in Marlboro in July 2018

I-495 ramp guide sign on Route 9 West in Marlboro.

Image of 1 mile advance overhead sign for West Main Street exit on I-495 South in Hopkinton in July 2018

Now south of I-90, this is the 1-Mile advance sign for West Main Street in Hopkinton.

Image of recently placed overhead ramp sign for West Main Street exit on I-495 South in Hopkinton

The exit sign for the West Main Street exit.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance sign for MA 85 exit on I-495 South in Milford in July 2018

The 1-Mile advance sign for the Route 85 exit in Milford.

Image of recently placed ramp sign for MA 85 exit on I-495 South in Milford in July 2018

The overhead exit and gore sign for the Route 85 exit in Milford, this would be Exit 50 under a mileage based system.

Image of 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 109 exit on I-495 South in Milford in July 2018

The 1-Mile advance overhead for the Route 109 exit, notice the alignment of the number in the exit tab, designed to fit Exit 48.

Image of recently placed ramp sign for MA 109 exit on I-495 South in Milford in July 2018

The recently placed exit and gore signs for the Route 109 exit heading south.

Image of recently placed post-interchange distance sign on I-495 South in Medway after MA 109 exit in July 2018

The post-interchange distance sign after the Route 109 exit, now 60 miles to the Cape.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 126 exit on I-495 South in Bellingham in July 2018

The 1/2 mile advance overhead for the Route 126 exit.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 140 exit on I-495 South in Franklin in July 2018

The 1-Mile advance for the Route 140 exit heading toward Franklin, again the tab designed for a mileage based number of 43.

Image of recently placed ramp sign for MA 140 exit on I-495 South in Franklin in July 2018

The overhead at the exit ramp and gore sign for the Route 140 exit.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for King Street exit on I-495 South in Franklin in July 2018

The 1-Mile advance for the King Street exit, a rare non-route number exit with a out of state control city.

Image of recently placed ramp and gore sign for King Street exit on I-495 South in Franklin in July 2018

The ramp and gore sign for the King Street exit, the milepost number would be 41.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 1A exit on I-495 South in Wrentham in July 2018

The 1-Mile advance overhead for the Route 1A exit in Wrentham,

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for US 1 exit on I-495 South in Wrentham in July 2018

The 1-Mile advance for the US 1 exit on the border of Wrentham and Plainville.

Revised image of recently placed 2 miles advance overhead sign for I-95 exit in Mansfield in Feb. 2019

The 2-Mile advance for the I-95 exit which would be Exit 33 B-A under a mileage based system (better photo taken Feb. 2019).

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance sign for I-95 exit on I-495 South in Mansfield in July 2018

The 1-mile advance sign.

Image of recently place South I-495 reassurance marker following I-95 exit in Mansfield in Feb. 2019

New style reassurance marker for South I-495 put up in early 2019 following I-95 exits in Mansfield.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 123 exit on I-495 South in Norton in July 2018

The 1-mile advance overhead for the Route 123 exit in Norton.

Image of recently placed ramp and gore signs for MA 123 exit on I-495 South in Norton in July 2018

The new ramp overhead and gore signs for the Route 123 exit.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead for Bay Street exit on I-495 South in Norton in July 2018

The 1-Mile advance for the Bay Street exit, the tab designed to hold a two digit mileage based number, 25.

Image of recently placed overhead ramp sign for Bay Street exit on I-495 South in Taunton in July 2018

The new overhead and gore sign at the Bay Street exit off-ramp in Taunton, new photo from Feb. 2019 with recently installed town line sign.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 138 exit on I-495 South in Raynham in July 2018

The 1-Mile advance for the MA 138 exit, the last exit southbound under this sign replacement contract.

Image of recently placed overhead ramp sign for MA 138 exit on I-495 South in Raynham in July 2018

The overhead and gore signs, the last new signs heading southbound. The milepost number is proposed to be 22.

Earlier photos from June 2016, prior to new sign placement:

Image of directionless large I-495 reassurance marker heading south near Franklin in June 2016

One of several unique looking I-495 shields present between Franklin and Mansfield on I-495 South.

Image of squeezed number South I-495 reassurance marker near Franklin in June 2016

Another one, this with large numerals on a small shield.

Image of ramp guide sign on MA 138 North in Raynham in June 2016

Earlier iteration of I-495 North guide sign on Route 138 in Raynham.

Other Photos

From Raynham to Wareham, signs replaced in 2015:

Image of recently placed 3/4 mile overhead advance sign for MA 24 exit on I-495 South in Middleboro in June 2016

The 3/4 mile advance sign for the Route 24 exits on I-495 South.

Image of recently placed 1/4 mile advance sign for MA 24 South exit on I-495 South in Bridgewater in June 2016

The 1/4 Mile advance for the Route 24 South exit. Exit tabs were produced prior to effort at milepost based numbering in 2016, so no space for 2 digit number.

Image of recently placed overhead signs for MA 24 exits on I-495 South in Bridgewater in June 2016

The overheads at the Route 24 South ramp on I-495 South.

Image of recently placed overhead ramp sign for US 44 exit in Middleboro in June 2016

The overhead at the Route 24 North ramp, after re-entering Raynham from Bridgewater.

Image of recently placed advance overhead signs for MA 18 and US 44 exits on I-495 South in Middleboro in June 2016 MA 18

Two overhead advance signs for the price of one in Middleboro. Under a milepost system these would still be separate Exits 14 and 15.

Image of overhead advance signs for MA 18 and US 44 exits on I-495 South in Middleboro in June 2016

The next set of overheads.

Image of recently placed overhead ramp sign for US 44 exit on I-495 South in Middleboro in June 2016

The US 44 exit overhead sign prior to the US 44 bridge.

Image of recently placed overhead ramp sign for MA 18 exit on I-495 South in Middleboro in June 2016

Followed by the Route 18 exit sign.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 105 exit on I-495 South in Lakeville in June 2016

The 1-Mile advance for the next exit, Route 105.

Image of recently placed 1/2 mile advance overhead sign for MA 105 exit on I-495 South in Lakeville in June 2016

The next 1/2 Mile advance sign for Route 105.

Image of recently placed overhead ramp sign for MA 105 exit on I-495 South in Lakeville in June 2016

The overhead exit ramp sign for Route 105.

Image of large South I-495 reassurance marker following MA 105 exit in Lakeville

The reassurance marker following the Route 105 exit.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 28 exit on I-495 South in South Middleboro in June 2016

The 1-Mile advance overhead for the Route 28 exit, after the Mile 9 marker.

Image of recently placed 1/2 mile advance sign for MA 28 exit on I-495 South in South Middleboro in June 2016

The 1/2 mile advance.

Image of recently placed overhead off-ramp sign for MA 28 exit in South Middleboro in June 2016

The overhead sign at the exit ramp.

Image of post-interchange distance sign on I-495 South after MA 28 exit in June 2016

The post-interchange distance sign after the Route 28 exit.

Image of recently placed 1-mile advance overhead sign for MA 58 exit on I-495 South in Wareham in June 2016

The 1-Mile advance for the Route 58 exit, though it says north, there are 58 shields south to the Route 28 intersection.

Image of recently installed 1/2 mile advance overhead sign for MA 58 exit on I-495 South in Wareham in June 2016

The 1/2 mile advance sign. This would also be Exit 2 under a mileage based numbering system.

Image of I-495 on-ramp guide signs on MA 58 North in Wareham

The guide signs for the I-495 ramps on Route 58 North are in front of the I-495 trailblazer.

Turning around and heading back north:

Image of large North I-495 reassurance marker following MA 28 exit in South Middleboro

Example of a North I-495 reassurance marker.

Signs between I-93 and Massachusetts Avenue in North Andover, August 2018:

Image of Junction I-405 trailblazer on MA 114 in North Andover

Junction I-495 trailblazer on Route 114 West in North Andover.

I-495 on-ramp guide sign on MA 114 West in Lawrence

The ramp guide signs on Route 114 West. The I-495 South sign is mounted on the I-495 North bridge in the distance.

Image of I-495 South ramp guide sign on Massachusetts Avenue in North Andover

The ramp guide sign on Massachusetts Avenue in North Andover for I-495 South.

Image of 1/2 mile advance sign for MA 114 West exit as seen from ramp from Massachusetts Avenue to I-495 South in North Andover

The 1/2 mile advance sign on I-495 South for Route 114 West as seen from the Massachusetts Avenue on-ramp.

Image of 1 1/4 mile advance overhead sign for MA 28 exit on I-495 South in Lawrence in August 2018

An unusual 1 1/4 mile advance sign for the Route 28 exit in Lawrence.

Image of overhead signage at MA 114 interchange on I-495 South in Lawrence

The overhead signage for the Route 114 exits headed south. This would be Exit 100 under a mileage based numbering system.

Image of overhead off-ramp sign for MA 114 East exit on I-495 South in Lawrence

The overhead ramp sign for Route 114 East which will take you to North Andover.

Image of 1/2 mile advance overhead sign for MA 28 exit on I-495 South in Lawrence in August 2018

The 1/2 mile advance overhead for the Route 28 interchange after the Route 114 East exit.

Image of overhead ramp signage for MA 28 exit on I-495 South in Lawrence in August 2018

The overhead at the Route 28 exit ramp, there are two exits for this interchange in the other direction.

Image of 2-mile advance overhead sign for I-93 exit on I-495 South in Andover

The 2-Miles advance overhead sign for I-93, with a South I-495 reassurance marker below.

Image of 1-mile advance overhead sign for I-93 exit on I-495 South in Andover in August 2018

The 1-Mile Advance.

Image of 1/2 mile advance overhead sign for I-93 North exit on I-495 South in Andover in August 2018

The 1/2 mile advance overhead for the I-93 North exit. Construction barrels for a bridge construction project going on at the time.

Image of overhead signage at I-93 interchange on I-495 South in Andover

The overhead signage approaching the interchange.

Image of overhead off-ramp sign for I-93 North exit on I-495 South in Andover in August 2018