Route 3 on the South Shore = worst highway ever (Boston, Randolph: bankrupt, transportation)

[xo_kizzy_xo]

LOL, well, so much for running an errand down near Norwell this afternoon

[vtecluder617]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

So a statistical analysis on one data point is supposed to be credible? It's road construction season. It's 90 degrees during summer vacation. The world that isn't doing their office drone job is going to the beach. Of course route 3 is going to be busy.

Yup, just checked traffic maps and there are work crews on both sides. If it wasn't for that, I'm sure it'd be clear all the way down.

As for 93, no work crews or accidents, and looks like its starting to back up ALREADY.

[Flashpoint922]

Originally Posted by xo_kizzy_xo

LOL, well, so much for running an errand down near Norwell this afternoon

Stay away from the South Shore!!

[Parsec]

Rt-3 looks clear at 4pm. The usual I-95 and SE expressway traffic is backing up quite a bit.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint922

Stay away from the South Shore!!

Heh. I made the drive down there earlier this afternoon. Other than the usual bottleneck at the split, it was clear -- no traffic whatsoever. Things slowed a little by the Braintree exit because of the construction, but otherwise, everything was fine

Rush hour, OTOH...

[wolfgang239]

And I drove from the Cape this morning, left around 10. Waze took me to the Bourne and up to 24, got home around 1230. My brother took 3 back to Somerville at the same time and ignored my warnings, he was back a half hour later... I hate that road.

[vtecluder617]

Originally Posted by Parsec

Rt-3 looks clear at 4pm. The usual I-95 and SE expressway traffic is backing up quite a bit.

From the pic, looks like 93 is jammed on both sides! Rte 3, smooth sailing on either side I'd take 3 over 93 any day.

[n1ey]

Originally Posted by xo_kizzy_xo

Somebody asked why it's never been widened from Hingham on. My immediate answer is, "There's no room. Where would they put the extra lanes? Even if they cut down the median strips and paved them over I still don't think there'd be enough room."

Haven't been to the Cape in years, btw.

This is not true. They can make improvements. No one has wanted to spend the money.
The plan to widen the Route 18 corridor through Abington to 4 lane has moved at a snail's pace during the last 20 years. It took them quite a bit of time to widen the areas on Route 18 near the Route 3 off-ramps.

Right now, Route 24's major problem does not exist on Route 3. The local roads can not absorb the traffic exiting the highway. The congestion backs onto the 24 highway. It is not the case on Route 3; really only happens on a limited basis to Burgin Parkway, right now.

I would actually think that corridors such as Burgin Parkway, Route 139, Route 18, and Route 228 could be improved. Small modifications on those roads would be immensely beneficial to most.

A complete redesign of the split and the 128-24 interchange would change Route 3, significantly. No one should ever merge into a roadway on the LEFT lane. Removing the HOV left lane merge would help tremendously. Removing the Route 24 left lane merges would help.

Bill

[BostonBornMassMade]

Route 3 is the worst highway ive driven on in this country to be totally honest. Southeast Expressway is a joke during rush hour. Its totally totally frustrating and congested each an every single day. its incredible. BUT it can be clear a lot of times.

[TAM88]

I would agree that route 3 should be widened to 3 full travel lanes, plus a full breakdown lane in each direction all the way down to the Cape.

I also think 24 needs to be widened from 3 to 4 lanes in each direction from exit 19 to 93. Traffic backs up on 93 north and south at night as people are going onto the 24. You have 2 lanes from 93 north and 2 lanes from 93 south merging into only 3 lanes on 24 and that causes issues.

There really isn't much that can do with the Southeast Expressway as a lot of development (such as East Milton Square) is right up on it. The stretch from the just after the South Shore Plaza all the way to the Pike interchange is poorly designed. Ideally you would have 4 full travel lanes plus a full breakdown lane in each direction. Then in the middle you would have an HOV lane, with a full breakdown lane, that switches direction based on the time of day. You open that HOV lane up to everyone and charge a toll to use it.