MassDOT Proposes Adding Lanes to Route 128 to Ease Congestion at I-93 Interchange

A driving complaint voiced by many motorists across Massachusetts is prompting MassDOT to act.

The cloverleaf interchange connecting Route 128 and Interstate 93 in Woburn and Reading has been a thorn in drivers' sides. Motorists say they are fed up with congestion and unsafe driving behaviors on this stretch of the roadway.

State transportation officials describe the area as a daily bottleneck that worsens during rush hours, with traffic levels increasing during peak travel times.

According to a NewsCenter 5 WCVB report, concerns about the roadway are not new. They stretch back to the formation of a task force created in the early 2000s to study the problem. 

MassDOT is proposing a widening of the corridor to ease congestion. Officials are recommending adding a fifth northbound lane on I-95 between I-93 and the Route 28 northbound offramp, and a fourth lane between Route 28 and North Avenue.

Transportation officials said the goal is to improve traffic flow and reduce backups in one of the region's most congested traffic corridors.

WCVB notes that a virtual public hearing on the plan is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. Drivers and residents interested in learning more or sharing feedback can sign up online. For details, email MassDOTProjectManagement@dot.state.ma.us.