Morning traffic - Harvard to Lowell, MA (Boston, Cambridge: hotel, live in)

[maxpower212]

Hi everyone,

I know there are a lot of these threads, but you've answered them all so well so far! I am traveling to Lowell on business, but am staying at a hotel in the Harvard area of Boston. Google Maps suggests I take 3 all the way up, for a total time of 42 minutes. I wouldn't expect a lot of traffic going in that direction in the morning, but I noticed a chunk of that coincides with I95/128 North, through Lexington and up to near Burlington before splitting again.

I've been to Burlington once before on an overnight trip, but didn't have to drive in from the city. I know that 128 near there is a business center. So, is that section (or any other you might be familiar with) of my trip going to slow me down significantly due to commuters? Thanks for your input.

[holden125]

The 128 stretch is often sluggish in the rush hour. You didn't specify at what time you're going up to Lowell, but it could be slow. One option is to just budget more time and sit through it. It's only a few miles. It may also be slow in Cambridge before you get to the highway (i.e. Alewife Brook Pkwy) and in Lowell when you get off Rt. 3.

If you want to see some American history and a nice town, and avoid sitting on 128, you could go through Lexington as well. I've done this a couple of times and I'm not sure it saves much time, but it's a more interesting ride.

-You take Route 2 from Cambridge (near Alewife Brook Pkwy/Alewife station) and get off at Exit 54 (54B, I think), Waltham St, toward Lexington center.
-Take Waltham St. to the end and turn left on Mass. Av.
-A couple of blocks later, at the Minuteman statue, bear right (follow signs for 4/225)
-At the end of the Lexington green, a block later, bear right again on Hancock St. (this time not following the signs for 4/225)
-About 3-4 blocks down there is a fork, with a small island in it. Take the right fork (Adams St) and just keep going straight (do not take, a little bit down the road, the turnoff for East St that is a bit less than 45 degrees).
-At the end of Adams St, turn left on Middlesex Tpke/Lowell St.
-Go under the highway, take the ramp for 95/128 South, and then immediately (before even merging onto the main highway) take the ramp for 3 North

Either way, I'd give it an hour minimum, just in case. Always better to be a few minutes early

[maxpower212]

Thanks for the advice. I'll take that route if I can look it over here ahead of time and make sure I'm not going to miss a turn (I'm not a morning person). My goal was to be in Lowell by 9am, but it's somewhat flexible as long as I let them know.

[maxpower212]

To answer my own question, for further searchers, I hit very little traffic once I got out of Cambridge. There wasn't too much in town, either, really... at least not stop-and-go. I also discovered that the speed limits in MA are more of a gentle suggestion. I drove +15 most of the way and was generally passed like I was sitting still, so it actually took less time than advertised, maybe 35 minutes to drive the 25 miles or so (despite the speed limit never being over 55mph).

[VlyRoadKid]

Heh-heh! I spent at LEAST an hour downloading directions of the same route holden125 mentioned, only in the opposite direction (to get to Logan Int'l). The sun was beaming into our eyes, so we couldn't see the road signs and FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER...I got us lost! MY poor mom was at the wheel and we ended up in Cambridge! I THINK we headed South on Rte. 3 and my kid spotted a sign for the Mass. Turnpike (the way my mom had originally wanted to go...wisely) and once we got on that, it was smooth sailing. THIS is why I avoid Boston and its surroundings while driving! Now...if ONLY the rest of Boston and Metro-west could be arranged and signed as well as Logan...it would be a piece of cake! This is also one of the MANY reasons I live in WESTERN MA.