Description
There are no lane markings as Route 2 approaches the intersection of Route 16 and Fresh Pond Parkway. It's not clear if the right-hand lane can travel left or if it can only travel right. Many motorists bear left, squeezing into the lane that heads toward Route 16, which doesn't seem to be designed for 2 lanes of traffic, but there are no markings, so it's not clear how it's intended. The same applies to the left-hand lane. It can possibly travel straight, while someone in the right-hand lane tries to travel left, which would cause a crash. But custom doesn't seem to allow that. See photo for illustration.
6 Comments
cambridgetraffic
Good news on this intersection, folks. The state highway department (MassDOT) has finished drafting a redesign of this intersection. I have the drawings on my desk and it looks pretty good. When work is done, the intersection will make more sense, it will be safer, and it will be able to handle more traffic in the rush hours. For specific information on the project, see MassDOT's web site.
Jeffrey R. Parenti, P.E.
Traffic Engineer, City of Cambridge
Scott Sanders
Thanks Jeffrey - good news indeed! I found it tough to find project details at MassDOT aside from this:
http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=605637
Would be great if you could share additional details with us.
cambridgetraffic
Sure, the work includes things people have been asking for: One additional lane westbound, which will eliminate the dangerous merge within the intersection. Also, and extra storage lane for the eastbound left, and an extra lane for the right turn onto Rt. 2 westbound from Alewife Brook Parkway.
Jeffrey R. Parenti, P.E.
Traffic Engineer
City of Cambridge
boblothrope (Guest)
Anything that improves things is desperately needed at Alewife.
It would have been nice if they performed this work when they did a major rebuild of the Route 2 overpass over the Minuteman Trail about 10 years ago.
It would be even nicer if they completed the original design for the station, which included a grade-separated ramp from the T station to 2 West.
Things have been really bad recently because of the construction on the T station exit roadway, which makes it too narrow for the unofficial 2 lanes it used to have. So traffic turning right onto 16 East can no longer get past traffic waiting to get onto 2 West. When will that project be finished?
boblothrope (Guest)
The T station exit roadway construction (next to the little pond that's north of the station and west of the parkway) has seen no progress in several months. What's going on?
boblothrope (Guest)
The new bike/ped path on the north side of the T station exit roadway is now open. But the jersey barriers on the south side (along the garage) which protected the temporary path are still there. When will they be removed?