Lowell to Springfield, MA, traffic?

January 18, 2012 2:06 PM

Massachusetts Travel and Traffic: From Lowell to Springfield in the afternoon/evening. When and where could I potentially hit traffic?

I'll go down 495, then I-90 most of the way. Will I run into trouble around Worchester? I could leave anywhere between 2:30pm and 6:30pm. Suggestions?

posted by la_rousse to travel & transportation around Massachusetts (8 answers total)

My experience is that IF you get traffic on the Pike Westbound, starting from 495 it would like be at or around the I-84 split. Worcester shouldn't be a problem.
posted by .kobayashi. at 2:13 PM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

And just in case you don't know, WBZ (AM 1030) does traffic every ten minutes "on the threes" -- so you can listen that day to hear if there are any problems that might require you to leave earlier.
posted by .kobayashi. at 2:17 PM on January 18, 2012

I wouldn't expect it to be too bad. Traffic is sometimes a little slow around Worcester (I'm usually going to opposite direction in the evening/afternoon, so I'm not all that well attuned to this) but it's usually not super backed up. Unless you're talking about a Sunday afternoon/evening in summer, in which case it's just brutal until you pass the 84 split.
posted by mskyle at 2:21 PM on January 18, 2012

Umm....If you're going to be on the Mass Pike (I-90) anytime near rush hour, prepare to sit in bumper to bumper traffic until about an exit or two before Worcester. I would leave Lowell as close to 2:30PM as I could and skip all the rush hour drama.

95 South to 90 going West gets bad in the evenings.
posted by eatcake at 2:49 PM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Google Maps gives you trends on traffic data based on time/day input. Very helpful.
posted by santaliqueur at 3:16 PM on January 18, 2012

eatcake, OP's only getting on the Mass Pike two-ish exits before Worcester at *495* not at *95*.

OP, Google Maps always wants me to take 290 through Worcester, which could be an option if you hear there's a lot of traffic around the I-495/Mass Pike junction. Do not take 128/I-95, whatever you do; it's always terrible in the afternoon.
posted by mskyle at 5:18 PM on January 18, 2012

At that hour, I would suggest taking 290 (it's usually shorter for me on any occasion)... workers leaving the city could clog the Pike, so spend as little time on it as possible.
posted by themadjuggler at 6:28 PM on January 18, 2012

The worst spot you may encounter is the 84 interchange at Sturbridge. It's usually not bad during the week, but it is unpredictable.
posted by plinth at 3:16 AM on January 19, 2012