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, 2019-2022

This contract (Project 607919) was let in the Spring of 2019 and was to conclude in the Spring of 2021. However, many overhead signs still were not in place until the spring of 2022. It was the last of the recent contracts to replace signage along the loop highway.  February and March 2022 photos courtesy of Kevin Manfra, along with photos of mine from May 14, 2022 and December 12, 2021, plus a bonus photo from Google Street view conforming the project was completed by the summer of 2022:

EXIT 75 - Route 111

Overhead advance signage has been placed in both directions:

The 1 Mile advance headed north. The Old Exit 28 sign was taken from the previous sign gantry.

The 1/2 Mile advance sign headed north. The signs at the exit in both directions had not been changed at this time.

The new gore sign, again the Old Exit 28 sign was taken from the previous sign posts. Turning around...

The new 1 Mile advance sign headed south.

The 1/2 Mile advance sign was put up in late December or in January.

The recently installed exit sign.

EXIT 78 A/B - Route 2

Only a couple of advance signs had been placed in December, the rest over the next 2 months. The exit signs were updated previously as part of a Route 2 sign replacement project, heading south:

The 1 Mile advance for the Route 2 exits had been put up, but the old one not taken down yet and the Old Exits 29 B-A sign is still on the old support. Notice how the control cities seem to be crowded together on the new sign.

The old sign had been removed by late February.

The previously place exit signage heading south. Turning around and heading north...

The newly placed one mile advance for the Route 2 exits, with a better spacing between control cities. An earlier photo showed....

That the 1 Mile advance northbound had not been put up yet, only the sign post had been installed.

Meanwhile a new ground mounted auxiliary sign was put up to replace the overhead sign version, support still in place.

EXIT 79-Routes 2A/110

Only new gore signs have been placed for this exit in December, the rest put up by February. Headed north...

The 1 Mile advance sign, contractor tag still in place and North I-495 reassurance marker in distance.

The exit sign that had been placed by late February.

One of the newly placed gore signs in December with the new milepost based exit number and Old Exit sign taken from previous sign.

The 1 mile advance southbound shares a gantry with the Route 119 exit.

The exit sign, no longer bridge mounted.

EXIT 80-Route 119

Like Route 111, only the advance signs had been replaced as of December, examples:

The 1 Mile advance heading northbound, the control cities were changed, see sign plans below, from Groton and Acton to Littleton and Groton.

The 1/2 Mile advance. This sign had to be fixed as this is what it looked like when originally put up, courtesy of Rob Barry.

Seems someone didn't notice the route number mistake before the sign was put up.

The 1/2 Mile advance on I-495 South was correct from the start.

The exit sign on I-495 South had been placed by the end of February.

Acton did get placed on a new auxiliary sign, below Littleton Common.

One of the 2 new gore signs for the Route 119 exit placed in December.

EXIT 83 - Boston Road

The overhead signs were placed starting later in December, heading north on I-495:

The major addition to the new signs is the reference to Route 110. The Old Exit 32 sign was moved from the previous sign support.

The new exit sign for Boston Road. Now heading south...

The new sign support for the 1 Mile advance also sports a Deer Crossing sign.

The exit sign still with the Liddell Bros. sign placement location tag in place.

Prior to the overhead signs being placed, there were a pair of new new auxiliary signs:

One of the two new auxiliary signs directing traffic to use Boston Road to get to Route 225.

EXIT 87 - Route 4 (NB)

New overhead signs were put up by February.

The 1 Mile advance for the Route 4 exit shares its gantry with a 2 1/4 Miles advance for US 3 and the Lowell Connector.

The Route 4 exit sign. The new addition to both signs is the No Commercial Vehicles tab.

The new gore sign for the Route 4 exit headed north. The Old Exit 33 sign being recycled from the earlier sign.

EXIT 88 - Route 110 (NB) / Route 110 to Route 4 (SB)

As with previous exits, these signs went up late in 2021 or in the first 2 months of 2022, headed north:

The newly placed 1/2 mile advance sign (don't know whether a 1 Mile version has been put up yet). The new overhead signs replaced a temporary ground mounted one:

In December there did not appear to be a foundation yet for the overhead version.

The new Route 110 exit sign. Turning around and heading south, photo taken on March 26:

The exit sign for the Route 110 to Route 4 exit in this direction.

EXITS 89 A-C - US 3 / Lowell Connector

Overhead signs were in placed northbound by the end of February:

The 1/2 Mile advance sign for US 3 and the Lowell Connector, with contractor placement tag in front.

The new signage at the ramp for US 3 South still have the old overheads behind them in late February.

Other signs:

The new auxiliary sign for the Lowell Connector exit stands behind a new Entering Chelmsford sign.

The new gore sign for the US 3 North. The Old Exit 35A sign being taken from the earlier sign. The southbound signs were put up in late February/early March, photos by Kevin Manfra:

The 1 Mile advance sign, notice the Lowell Connector gets top billing in this direction since its exit is first. The Old Exit 35 C-B-A sign transferred from the old support post.

The 1/2 Mile advance southbound.

The last new sign installed was for the C/D ramp, this was completed by the summer of 2022, as shown by this Google Maps Street View image taken in August 2022 (and straightened out).

The newly placed (as of May) exit sign for the Lowell Connector followed in the distance by new overhead signs along the C/D ramp of I-495 South for the US 3 exits. The only signs not replaced as of May 14 were the overheads prior to the start of the C/D lanes southbound.

For other newer signs on the US 3 South/Lowell Connector exits, see the I-495 Section of New England Exit Renumbering Central.

EXIT 91 - Woburn Street

One new overhead sign had been put up by February headed north:

The 1 mile advance on I-495 North. Note the Old Exit 37 sign is mounted on the new sign similar to the ones on the Mass Pike than on the rest of I-495. Other signs went up in March:

The 1/2 Mile advance southbound shares a gantry with the 2 Miles advance for the Lowell Connector/US 3 exits.

The overhead exit sign southbound. The remaining signs heading north were put up in April:

The 1/2 mile advance, after a new version of the Lowell town line sign.

The overhead exit and new version of the gore sign.

Other signs:

This new commuter rail auxiliary sign was put up prior to the I-495 exit renumbering in June 2021.

EXIT 92 - Route 38

These signs were among the last put up. First, headed south:

The 1 Mile advance sign.

The 1/2 Mile advance sign shares a gantry with a VMS.

The exit sign shares a gantry with the 1 mile advance for the Woburn Street exit. The Old Exit sign for the later placed on the left hand support post of the new sign.  Turning around...

The 1 mile advance and transferred Old Exit 38 sign.

The overhead exit sign.

The blue Hospital sign for the Route 38 exit seems to lean a little too much to the left.

MISCELLANEOUS NEW SIGNS

Example of one of the new South I-495 reassurance markers.

The new rest area signs are ground mounted. This one on I-495 South in Chelmsford, which includes facility hours, is in front of the older 1/2 mile advance overhead version.

The new rest area entrance ramp sign on I-495 North in Chelmsford.

The new combination town and county line, here for entering Boxboro(ugh) on I-495 North.

Another sign for Entering Westford on I-495 North.

An example of one of the new North I-495 reassurance markers, this after the Route 110 exit in Chelmsford.

Example of one of the new post-interchange distance signs. This one on I-495 North in Harvard.

A new bridge crossing sign for River Meadow Brook ahead of the US 3 South exit on I-495 North.

One of a pair of new signs for crossing Beaver Brook, this one on I-495 South.

More to come...

Thanks to Charlene White of MassDOT, here are some of the sign plans going south to north. The one mile advance signs:

                        Northbound version                                                                     Southbound version (No Exit 33)

                    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:

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:

A comparison of the new and old guide signs.

B. I-495 Sign Replacement from Methuen to Amesbury, 2017-2020

This project started in late 2017 and was due to be completed in the Fall of 2019, however, the contractor only started putting up signs in October 2019. The signs have since had their exit numbers changed. To see photos, go to the I-495 section of New England Exit Renumbering Central. Here are the original sign plans from Charlene White of MassDOT. The signs were designed prior to the announcement of exit renumbering in 2019.

One Mile Advance:

                        Southbound sign, no Exit 49

                                                                                                                                                                                Northbound exit only

Auxiliary Signs:

Other Ground Mounted Signs:

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

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:

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. For photos of signage with new exit numbers visit the I-495 section of New England Exit Renumbering Central:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 1/2 mile advance sign.

The overhead exit ramp and gore signs for Route 117.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

The exit sign for the West Main Street exit.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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).

The 1-mile advance sign.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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:

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

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

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

Other Photos

From Raynham to Wareham, signs replaced in 2015:

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

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.

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

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

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

The next set of overheads.

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

Followed by the Route 18 exit sign.

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

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

The overhead exit ramp sign for Route 105.

The reassurance marker following the Route 105 exit.

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

The 1/2 mile advance.

The overhead sign at the exit ramp.

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

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

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

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:

Example of a North I-495 reassurance marker.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 1-Mile Advance.

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

The overhead signage approaching the interchange.

The I-93 South exit overhead sign.

More Photos to Come

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Site Created: October 23, 2019

(c) Robert H. Malme 2016-2019