RE: Traffic (AKA...can't get there from here)

["Paul Hopfgarten" <hopfgapr@sprynet.com>]

That is incorrect about Rte 128...

Rte 128 ENDS at the Braintree Split. Between Canton and Braintree (East by
the compass), you're on Rte 128 South, I-93 and US 1 North.

The I-95 signs were placed on Rte 128 between Canton and Peabody because the
Feds said either that or I-95 goes thru Boston (Original Plan, thru Milton,
Mattapan, Roxbury, hook up with existing X-Way at Mass Ave, follow the
Current Rt 1 via the Tobin thru Chelsea and Revere, and then go thru Lynn).

Lynn (believe it or not) and Milton said no way in 1969-70, and (then) Gov.
Sargent agreed.

As a life-long Gtr Boston resident (though the last 9 yrs in So. NH), the
128 signs will stay.

BTW: The Rte 1 signs USED to be on Storrow Drive to Kenmore Sq, but so many
Truckers followed the Rte 1 signs (but ironically enough NOT the low
overhead signs) to their peril...crunch...that Rte 1 now follows Rte 95-128
Dedham to Canton, Rte 93-128 Canton to Braintree, and Rte 93-3 into the city
on what will always be called the X-Way, no matter how many route numbers
the assign it!

Paul Hopfgarten
Derry NH...
Who takes the X-way to Rte 128 to the Blue Hills exit to visit mom!


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org
> [mailto:owner-boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org]On Behalf Of
> laurence@sprintmail.com
> Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 1999 4:52 PM
> To: boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org
> Subject: Re: Traffic
>
>
> Garrett Wollman <wollman@khavrinen.lcs.mit.edu> wrote:
>
> > The *real* irritating thing (for me at least) is that Shadow has Land
> > Boulevard and Memorial Drive confused.
>
> Speaking of traffic confusion, everyone seems to have Route 128
> and I-93 confused.  Route 128 South legally ends at the I-95 split
> near the Amtrak station in Canton, and becomes I-93 North.
>
> I believe this route designation was forced upon us by the US
> government, who wants most of 128 to be known as I-95.   Most of
> 128's signs now refer to the Interstate route number, and frequently
> 128 is missing from the signs completely.
>
> Of course, good Massachusetts citizens have refused to listen to
> the feds and continue to call 128 by its God-given name.  :)
>
> My question is, at what point will traffic reporters have to bite the
> bullet and report on the real route numbers?  For people who are
> new to Boston, it must be hard to understand why the tieup on 128
> near Braintree is on a non-existent route.  I've sometimes given
> directions to "get on 128 North" only to be told "I can't find it."
>
> On the other hand, most people who have lived here for a while
> couldn't tell you where the junction of I-95 and the Mass Pike is,
> and certainly wouldn't understand "a slowdown on 93 South as you
> approach 95 North in Canton."
>
> I wonder how it will eventually work out.
>
> Mark Laurence
> laurence@sprintmail.com
>