NB, courtesy Doug Kerr, and similar age to the signs above as well as many on MA 2 and I-195.


Courtesy Doug Kerr, NB examples of button-copy shield numbering on otherwise fully reflectorized signs.


The beginning of I-290 from I-495 SB.


This ancient sign, probably from the 1920's, is found just west of I-495 on MA 114, Exit 42. Yes, it's embossed, and is one of the only black-on-white, cut-corner signs left (white-on-green cut corners are a bit more common, from the 1960's). Yes, the MASS. DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS is embossed on the sign anchor. Yes, the state seal of Massachusetts is in the signpost itself.


Between exits 43 and 44, I-495 crosses the O'Reilly Bridge over the Merrimack River, but because it's a short bridge, the exits are fairly close together. Thus the freeway uses collector-distributor roads - getting on or off either exit requires you use them. However, rather than stick them on the sides of the original I-495 bridge, these have ended up on the bottom, the only case I know of where this happens. Pictures taken on the SB roadway.


And then RIDOT comes north and screws it all up by subliminally tricking a contractor into leaving this SB C-D road shield on a square blank.

Onto the Lowell Connector, former I-495 Business

South onto MA 25
Exit 1 to I-195
Exit 5 to US 44
Exit 13 to I-95
Exit 22 to I-90
Exit 25B to I-290
Exit 35 to US 3
Exit 40 to I-93
I-495 on Steve Anderson's bostonroads.com
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