We need more turnpike exits in the Western end of the state!! (Westfield: maintenance)

[mommytotwo]

I was just mapping out the trip to Blanford Ski Area and am slightly annoyed that it seems to be not far out from the Mass Pike yet you have to get off in Westfield and take Route 20 to get there........

I understand that these exits would not be heavily used but really, if you are paying to drive on a road, it would be nice if the exits were conveniently located and not 30 miles apart.

With the Fast Lane and Ezpass, could they not create FastLane-only exits?

Argh!

I know there is probably some rhyme or reason there are not more exits out there but it is annoying! People do live out there, drive on the Pike, and people do want to visit that area.

[western mass and love it]

Just the cost of making a new exit and building the toll booth and maintenance on the area not to mention the very low usage it would get is one of the reasons. And really there is not that many people in that area,outside of Hampden and Hampshire counties(well southern Hampshire county) the population is pretty sparse in Wmass. I for one really don't see the need to have any more exits between Westfield and Lee. RT 20 ,23 and 57 all serve the area well as well as Rt 8. And the blandford ski area is maybe 25 minutes from westfield on a road where the speed limit is 50. Not much of a big deal.

[litlux]

In my part of Western Massachusetts I have to drive for an hour to get to the Mass Pike and that is north to south!

In fact our nearest interstates are all at least 50-60 minutes away. But that is what happens when there aren't a lot of people.

[blehman]

Originally Posted by litlux

In my part of Western Massachusetts I have to drive for an hour to get to the Mass Pike and that is north to south!

In fact our nearest interstates are all at least 50-60 minutes away. But that is what happens when there aren't a lot of people.

The nice thing is there are plenty of east-west alternatives from North to South; Route 2, Route 9, US Route 20.

Isn't living in Western Mass. and the lack of Interstate highway part of the appeal?

[western mass and love it]

it's not like there is a lack of interstate highway in Wmass,Just a lack of interstate highways in the berkshires. The Berkshires do have the pike it's just that there is a 33 mile stretch between exit 3 and exit 2 and really there isn't a need for one on that stretch.

[Logs and Dogs]

More Exits? Horrible idea……….more expenses, more tax burden.

The whole appeal of the western part of the state is that it doesn’t feel, look or act like the rest of the state. If you want Metrowest, stay in Metrowest……….

I don’t mean to come off as a hard-ass here but seriously, you think everyone in the state should kick in to get you to a ski slope more efficiently? If you want easy to get to, ski the speed bump at Blue Hills all day…….then sit in Rt 128 traffic………

[Lowerdeck]

Where would you even put an Exit 2A anyway? Route 8? Think that's even worth the expense with potential average traffic use?