# A Massachusetts "Big Dig" Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-massachusetts-big-dig-question/535827 "2010-04-12T12:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-massachusetts-big-dig-question/535827/21 "2010-04-14T22:10:12Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > Some transportation agencies have the foresight to display estimated drive times to certain waypoints, and give drive time using alternative routes. They use realtime information from traffic sensors on the highway to give these estimates. It is very useful and relevant information. Relying on the radio is not reliable, traffic reports come in from drivers that don’t know the difference between north and south, don’t know how to count lanes properly (it starts from the left, and excludes HOV lanes) and so on. As a commuter in the DC area I also find this useful. However, I only seem to see this on the MD side of the beltway. I’d be nice to also see this on the VA parts of the beltway. Also, radio has pretty much gone to waste as of late for me. Same five songs over and over, ads, and very few traffic updates. It used to be I could listen to any station here and I’d get some good info. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-massachusetts-big-dig-question/535827/22 "2010-04-17T21:09:23Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I was driving on Rt. 128 yesterday, **and was instantly reminded of the fiscal insanity of the “Big Dig” highway project (which has cost $21 billion so far).** > … > This did not happen-instead, these **idiotic sign** s now bear messages like “Wear your seatbelt”, “Speed limit is 60 MPH”, or “Have a Nice Day!”. > I understand that over $55,000,000 was spent on these signs..and I cannot find out who authorized their purchase (no info on any state websites). **Of course, this being Massachusetts, I am sure that substantial kickbacks were involved.** > **Anybody know who the guilty parties might be?:** ( > [@ralph124c](#): > > I just was on Rt. 128-the multi-million$ signboard was displaying: “Buckle Up! Have a nice Day”!**Great use of $55 million! > Like I sai, I would just like to know what kind of idiot hack authorized this. > Of course, nobody in government ever gets fired for incompetence.** [Moderator Note] **ralph124c** , political commentary and editorializing of the kind I have bolded is inappropriate for GQ, which is devoted to factual questions. Unfortunately, I did not see this earlier. I am going to close it now. If you want to discuss the wisdom of funding these signs, you can do so in GD. If you want to rant about incompetent government, do so in the Pit. In the future, do not post this kind of disguised rant in GQ. If you do, I will close it. If you persist in this, you may receive a warning. You have been instructed before about starting threads in the wrong forums. My apologies to those who posted accurate information in this thread. Anyone with further factual questions about this project is free to open another thread in GQ and link to this one. > [@mhendo](#): > > I think they should have the signs read: > > Doper **ralph124c** gets his facts wrong. > Again. > Uses vaguely-remembered statistics for anti-government diatribe. > News at 11. Be that as it may, personal jabs at other posters are not suitable for GQ either. No warning issued, but let’s refrain from this in the future. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-massachusetts-big-dig-question/535827.md?page=1)