Dartmouth to Design Realignment of Hathaway and Tucker Roads

Anyone who has had to maneuver through traffic on Route 6 in the vicinity of Hathaway Road and Tucker Road knows it can be a white-knuckle adventure at times, particularly during times of heavy traffic – which is almost always.

One of the more significant problems is transitioning from Hathaway Road onto Tucker Road for anyone looking to travel south and away from the overly congested Route 6.

The same is true for those exiting Tucker Road en route to Hathaway Road.

The two roads don't line up, resulting in motorists heading in either direction having to pour onto Route 6 before making a quick turn left to complete their connection. What results are traffic backups, especially when you add Dartmouth Mall, UMass Dartmouth, and general Faunce Corner Road traffic to the mix.

It can be a nightmare. In fact, Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) considers this area among the most dangerous to motorists in the region.

Dartmouth Week reported that Dartmouth Town Meeting recently appropriated "$150,000 toward a design to realign Tucker Road with Hathaway Road – something town officials have been requesting for years."

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According to Dartmouth Week, "The full project could cost up to $2 million because of the required land takings, the bulk of which involve commercial properties near Route 6."

Dartmouth Week also reported that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) plans to install traffic signals at the intersection of Route 6 and Hathaway Road while moving the existing signals at Hathaway Road, but that it likely won't happen for another year or more.

While MassDOT has not ruled out support for the realignment of Hathway and Tucker Roads in the future, it is not a part of the immediate plan to remedy the issues the town faces.