Heads up on Rt 495...
I just travelled Rt.495 twice in the past 4 days..there is road construction on the southbound side,from Franklin, to the Rt 95 interchange in Mansfield ,and the road is narrowed down to one lane by barrels and jersey barriers for at least 10 miles..
I sat there for over an hour friday night....
..and NO construction was even going on--they do it from 9 pm til 6 am!--but leave the road blocked 24/7!...its no fun sharing a 9' lane with a tractor trailer next to you only inches away in pouring rain..
When I came home from Leominster last night,I got off Rt 495 at the Rt.140 exit in franklin,since it was after 9 pm,and I didnt feel like sitting still and watching my gas gauge drop AGAIN,in the construction zone....it wasn't bad because it was late,but I'm sure Rt.140 or other alternative routes like Rt 109 to Rt 115 to Rt 140 wont be any better than Rt 495 is during the daytime,since you go thru every little downtown,shopping centers,and a bunch of traffic lights..but I'd rather be moving at 20 mph than standing still,or crawling along,and suddenly having to jam on the brakes..
You'll probably be ok if your getting off in Bellingham..its after Rt 126 the road gets real congested,and the lanes bottleneck into one lane,and the breakdown lane..
Let me add that many drivers in MA are complete a$$holes,they never use directionals,pay more attention to their cell phones than driving,and 90% of them drive like they are in a police pursuit,or they are stoned or drunk!..I almost got killed about 10 times this weekend,and it wasn't MY fault!..so be vigilant while on Rt 495..or anywhere else around here!..had two crotch rocket motorcycles pass me at 120+mph sunday in RI--scared the S*** out of me..
..I hope they crashed!...
I also think those new headlights should be outlawed..those purple lights burn the retinas right out of my eyeballs,and nobody here seems to dim their high beams anymore when they come up behind you..
...same goes for the BMW's and yuppie SUV's with those million power "driving lights"--all they do is drive ME nuts,and drive me right into a ditch....
...maybe my eyes are just getting old,but I cant drive at night after seeing those bright lights..its like having a flashbulb go off in your face..
Anyway,just thought I'd tell you guys the road is dug up,and it might take you at least twice as long to get there than usual...I'm sure Rt 90 (Mass Pike) is dug up somewhere too...Rt 290 is a dug up nightmare as well..even Rt 146 has some construction going on..no way to avoid it,no real "alternate route" to take.....it SUCKS...
