Talk:Massachusetts Route 128/Archive 1

request for illustrations
This article would be greatly improved by illustrations. Please? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.202.205.1 (talk) 16:21, 26 October 2005 (UTC)


 * I only have a cameraphone, so I can't be of too much photographic help - I don't think those pictures would be up to Standards.
 * If you want diagrams explaining where the road is and what we mean with all the multiplexing, I'd gladly do it if I knew of an open source map I could modify, since a hand drawing wouldn't be up to Standards. — Preceding unsigned comment added by CSZero (talk • contribs) 17:18, 26 October 2005 (UTC)


 * I've added a number of photos I've taken over the years. --SPUI (talk - don't use sorted stub templates! ) 09:13, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

State highway layouts
Dates are when it was "laid out as a state highway". I haven't looked through every layout, so I might have missed one of the smaller or newer ones. NOT EVERYTHING YET
 * Hingham
 * September 3, 1929 2604 60' Weymouth to 53 (laid out by Chapter 364 of the 1929 special acts) (along existing roads)
 * February 11, 1958 4582 relocation near Weymouth (and 3 there)
 * October 28, 1958 4751 53 to Cushing Street (at new alignment)
 * Weymouth
 * 2603 is missing
 * September 23, 1941 3400 60' Braintree to Hingham (claims it was laid out September 3, 1929 by Chapter 364 of the 1929 special acts) (not sure if it was along existing roads, as 2603 is missing, and doesn't have the piece between Columbian Street and 18)
 * February 11, 1958 4640 relocation near Hingham
 * Braintree
 * 1923 "county location line" west of 37 - looks like 60'
 * September 3, 1929 2602 60' 37 to Weymouth (laid out by Chapter 364 of the 1929 special acts) (along existing roads)
 * September 23, 1941 3399 37 to Weymouth
 * February 14, 1956 4421 3 to 37
 * May 15, 1956 4448 west of 37
 * June 4, 1957 4555 something at 3
 * August 6, 1980 6414 something at 3
 * August 6, 1980 6416 something at 3
 * Quincy
 * September 17, 1957 4603 whole thing
 * Randolph
 * July 27, 1954 4175 east of 28
 * April 2, 1957 4538 west of 28
 * October 1, 1957 4604 at 28
 * Milton
 * August 16, 1955 4338 whole thing
 * September 10, 1957 4602 Ponkapoag Trail for access to 128, some changes to 128
 * Canton
 * February 15, 1927 "county layout" east of 138  - looks like 60'?
 * July 14, 1931 2807 80' 138 - Neponset River (along existing Royall Street from west of 138 to east of Green Street, and Green Lodge Street from where I-95 is now to the Neponset River)
 * January 25, 1955 4254 near Neponset River
 * April 5, 1955 4282 138 - east of Neponset River
 * June 28, 1955 4316 Milton - 138
 * March 3, 1959 4810 discontinued 138 - current I-95 interchange
 * April 9, 1963 5319 I-95 interchange (called Yankee Division Highway by then)
 * Westwood
 * July 14, 1931 2808 80' Neponset River - Dedham (east of US 1) (along existing Green Lodge Street between the river and B&P)
 * October 13, 1931 2831 80' Dedham - Dedham
 * February 2, 1954 4114 widened Dedham - Dedham and 109 interchange
 * March 30, 1954 4136 widened east of Elm Street - Dedham (east of US 1) and US 1 interchange
 * November 9, 1954 4220 widened west of Neponset River (where it crosses into Dedham) - east of Elm Street
 * November 1954 4234 bridge over railroad at Elm Street
 * January 10, 1955 4245 old road at exit 13 ramps
 * Dedham
 * July 14, 1931 2806 80' at Neponset River and Westwood to 1A (first piece along existing Green Lodge Street)
 * October 13, 1931 2833 80' 1A to Westwood and Westwood to Needham (along existing Common Street or Lyons Street at way north end)
 * August 9, 1932 2922 new US 1, including 128 interchange
 * July 21, 1953 4063 Great Plain Avenue relocation (presumably for 128 in Needham)
 * October 13, 1953 4079 1A to somewhere west of 1A
 * February 23, 1954 4124 west of 1A to Westwood and Westwood to Needham
 * March 16, 1954 4133 Westwood to 1A, also Elm Street between US 1 and 1A
 * November 9, 1954 4218 Greenlodge Street to Westwood
 * January 10, 1955 4247 Canton to Greenlodge Street
 * January 18, 1955 4249 US 1 interchange
 * January 3, 1956 4395 US 1 interchange
 * December 20, 1972 5975 just west of 1A
 * February 9, 1977 6164 added medical center access to Lyons Street north of West Street (but is it to/from 128 or Lyons Street?) - federal aid project U-229(6)
 * Needham
 * October 13, 1931 2832 80'-75'-70' Dedham - Great Plain Avenue (along existing Greendale Avenue)
 * December 22, 1931 2858 70'-80' (switches at curve north of Grosvenor Road) Great Plain Avenue - Wellesley (over a 1929 county location and older road - Greendale Avenue - south of Hunting Avenue, and existing Fremont Street from Highland Avenue to south of the railroad, and Reservoir Street from Central Avenue to Wellesley)
 * April 5, 1932 2883 70' at Great Plain Avenue
 * June 8, 1948 3591 something north of Highland Avenue
 * September 20, 1949 3686 expansion of 9 interchange
 * July 21, 1953 4062 Dedham to Wellesley
 * July 1953 4100 at railroad north of Highland Avenue
 * September 21, 1954 4195 near Wellesley
 * April 2, 1957 4548 discontinued old road, Dedham to Wellesley
 * February 27, 1962 5195 near 9 interchange
 * June 19, 1962 5248 near 9 interchange
 * July 21, 1965 5439 near 9 interchange
 * January 30, 1980 6419 at Highland Avenue
 * September 3, 1980 6460 at Highland Avenue?
 * Wellesley
 * December 22, 1931 2857 Needham to 9 (along existing Reservoir Street)

— Preceding unsigned comment added by SPUI (talk • contribs) 21:04, 29 March 2006 (UTC)
 * Lynnfield
 * May 12, 1936
 * February 23, 1955
 * Peabody
 * June 9, 1936 3194 Lynnfield - 114
 * June 30, 1936 3198 114 - just beyond
 * September 29, 1936 3208 east of 114 - Danvers
 * September 29, 1937 3246 at Forest Street
 * January 17, 1939 3291 widened east of 114 - Danvers
 * February 23, 1955 4266 made limited access Lynnfield - Danvers
 * July 19, 1955 4323 east of 114
 * July 10, 1956 4463 east of 114
 * July 16, 1957 4567 widened east of Lowell Street - east of 114
 * July 21, 1959 4876 new US 1 interchange
 * June 16, 1971 5914 I-95 interchange - includes relocation of 128?
 * September 28, 1972 5984 at Danvers line
 * September 21, 1983 6580 at Centennial Drive - federal aid project I-95-2(55)61
 * December 24, 1984 6600 I-95 interchange - includes relocation of 128 - federal aid project I-95-2(55)61
 * September 26, 1984 6676 at Forest Street
 * March 6, 1985 6697 something small
 * December 30, 1985 6738 Centennial Drive - east of Lowell Street
 * July 17, 1991 6999 old alignment discontinued
 * Danvers
 * January 17, 1939
 * September 28, 1972 5983

If anyone in Massachusetts wants to do me a big favor
Can you get me the text of Chapter 364 of the special acts of 1929? It seems to relate to 128, at least the part from 37 to 3 (now 53). Thanks in advance. --SPUI (talk - don't use sorted stub templates! ) 21:07, 29 March 2006 (UTC)


 * Thanks a lot John Carr. --SPUI (T - C - RFC - Curpsbot problems ) 00:49, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Map request
Specifically, a map showing the concentration of high-tech businesses would be informative. -- Beland 18:28, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

Mileage
From those mile marker indications....is the highway department planning on once again trying to truncate 128? (EmiOfBrie 13:52, 28 March 2006 (UTC))


 * I believe they did that when I-95 was routed over 128. Note that 0 is at US 1, where I-95 used to exit. The document I have is rather old - a handwritten note says "OLD Beginning! Now Begin @ I-95"
 * Are there any mileposts on 128? Do any of the town line signs have mileages? --SPUI (talk - don't use sorted stub templates! ) 14:24, 28 March 2006 (UTC)


 * The last time I saw non-I-95 mile markers on any part of 128 was back in the early 1980s, when there were still a few of the old white ones left on the shoulder. The one time I was on the section that is still *only* 128, I saw no mile markers of any kind in the median. (EmiOfBrie 18:57, 28 March 2006 (UTC))


 * There are still posted mile markers on the section of 128 which isn't 95; and they do begin with 0 at Route 1. AJD 18:33, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

495 Citation Request
There's a tag at the end of the first paragraph, saying much of the high tech industry is on 495 now, which is the next beltway out. Can I remove this fact tag? A simple drive between at least the intersections of 495 and the pike through 495 and 93 will show there are many, many high-tech companies out that way today. More than along 128? I don't know...495 is much bigger, but 128 is much more densely populated. Either way, I don't see anything wrong with saying much of the industry is on 495 today. CSZero 22:55, 9 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Original research is specifically prohibited; this claim does require a citation per Attribution. -- Beland 18:46, 25 March 2007 (UTC)


 * OK. It seems like saying "There's a lot of high tech on 128 and 495" is about as much original research as if I came back from Manhattan and reported a lot of tall buildings - it's the defining characteristic of the region and not even worth mentioning anything about.  In fact, I've been googling for a good while, and 495 has been a high-tech center for so long that the articles are saying it's part its prime and tech is leaving.  I'm saying that companies like Wang Laboratories and Digital Equipment Corporation had firms out here since the late 1970s, as part of the Massachusetts Miracle  I finally found one mention in published journal that I will cite:  http://masshightech.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2002/08/19/story31.html states: "The Career Place, like WIND, is also busy, especially considering it's located in the heart of the Route 128-495 tech hotbed."  CSZero 21:53, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating
This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 22:06, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

Gloucester & Exits 1-8
Does anyone know what was the plan in Gloucester was for beyond Exit 10? The highway ends (IIRC) within sight of the ocean, seemingly limiting any plans for any more exits. Can anyone clue me in? Ttenchantr (talk) 19:59, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Updates needed
I did some very modest updating, but more is needed. To keep the article from becoming confusing and outdated too rapidly, please use "as of" (in accordance with WP:ASOF) to at least make it clear what date a statement refers to. Reify-tech (talk) 21:22, 12 July 2011 (UTC)

Norfolk Country Jail
I'm not sure where in the main article this should go, but, Rt 128 also has the Norfolk County Jail located on the median strip just south of "West St" in Dedham between the Great Plain Ave and Rt 109 exits. According to the Norfolk Country sheriff it is the only correctional facility in the US located on the median of a major highway. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Abarthol (talk • contribs) 21:54, 27 March 2007 (UTC).
 * Verily, this is a claim I have heard made in other fora, as a native of that town. Furthermore, as a unique feature of the highway, I believe it deserves a mention. The exact location is 200 West St, Dedham, on a rocky hilltop just south of Exit 17, West Street in Dedham (the end of MA Route 135). The access road to the jail comes down the hill and connects to West Street, which passes beneath both directions of 128 and has a junction there. 24.91.74.203 (talk) 02:31, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

Interchange by Blue Hill
It appears that the interchange with 95 and 93 by Great Blue Hill was not completed as originally designed, complete with a bridge to nowhere. There should be mention of this. See also. —Ben FrantzDale (talk) 03:20, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Most information on that should probably be placed in Southwest Expressway. --NE2 18:06, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Great. Thanks. —Ben FrantzDale (talk) 23:29, 13 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Sadly that bridge from nowhere to nowhere is no more. There is still a road from nowhere (near I-95 Southbound) that ends abruptly at a hill where the bridge used to be. I explored the area a few months ago and it was very strange. Busy with traffic on 128, and Cantonites parking on Greenlodge Street, but at the same time very isolated and creepy, like the world had forgotten about those roads and plans. Which I imagine they have, in fact. 24.91.74.203 (talk) 02:36, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

Attempted cutbacks of Route 128
The article describes repeated attempts to cut back the mileage designated "Route 128", sometimes successful, sometimes unsuccessful due to local opposition. Is there any reason or incentive for the Mass Highway department to cut back the mileage, or any reason the locals are opposed to this? Reify-tech (talk) 01:08, 4 July 2015 (UTC)

First or not?
Sources galore claim Route 128 is the first, or at least first limited-access, beltway in the U.S. (James C. O'Connell, The Hub's Metropolis..., 2013, 148, 156). And if it isn't, it must be one of the first.

But I don't see that stated. Section "History" simply starts in on the blow-by-blow of building the highway. The article is devoted to the technical description of the highway and its construction.

You need to step back and add a historical introduction to the topic, the highway&mdash;how the need for it came about, and how Mass. got the jump on the rest of the nation. If it's a big enough topic, perhaps History of Route 128 needs to be a separate article?

Jimlue (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 15:29, 27 April 2020 (UTC)