Community Corner

MassDOT Says Drivers Should Prepare for Heavy Traffic During July 4 Weekend

Construction will be halted in Boston between July 3 and 8, and free coffee will be served at MassDOT plazas around the state.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is asking that drivers prepare for a weekend notorious for traffic.

MassDOT said in a statement heavy traffic around Massachusetts is expected the afternoons of July 3 and July 7. To ease the congestion, construction in Boston will be halted beginning July 3 and allowed to resume July 8. Similar restrictions have been placed around Massachusetts during the same period, according to the statement.

Also, the HOV carpool lane on the Southeast Expressway will not be opened July 5, the statement says.

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MassDOT is encouraging motorists to join the E-ZPass program ahead of the holiday for ease of travel along the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90).

The state’s 18 MassDOT service plazas will offer free coffee between 10 p.m. July 4 to 5 a.m. July 5. The plazas serving free coffee include 11 service plazas along I-90 plus plazas along Route 3 in Plymouth, Route 128 in Beverly, Route 128/I-95 in Newton and Lexington, Route 6 in Barnstable, and the Route 24 northbound and southbound plazas.  

Find out what's happening in Melrosewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A note from MassDOT:

Before heading out, consider downloading the free Ride Wise iPhone application that provides users access to the real time traffic information on Interstate 93, sections of the Massachusetts Turnpike, Route 3 on the South Shore and Route 6/Mid-Cape Highway. MassDOT’s interactive Traffic Cameras web page offers live looks at current traffic and the 511 telephone service is another way to get update to date travel conditions. MassDOT reminds drivers to avoid using cell phones while behind the wheel.


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