Massachusetts Highway Exit Numbers Are About To Change

Massachusetts is going to assign new numbers to highway exit signs based on mileage, a change that will force nearly every one of the state's motorists to recalibrate what they have known for years.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said Monday it is making the changes to comply with federal mandate; if it does not fall in line, it could risk federal funds. Federal funds in this case will pay for 90 percent of the cost of changing sign numbers.

The changes will come "route-by-route," MassDOT said. They will begin in Western Mass. and move east, and on individual routes will change east to west or north to south.

The signs will begin going up two summer, but it could be much longer than that until it gets to the Boston area.

The old exit signs will remain up for two years after the replacement signs are installed, allowing for people to get used to the change.

MassDOT will notify people of what their exits will be changing to.

"MassDOT is conducting an extensive public outreach campaign to notify the public of the upcoming conversion," it said. "Outreach includes in-person and online communication strategies that will give the public ample opportunity to learn about the project and ask questions prior to construction."

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