Fairhaven’s Alden Road, Main Street Conditions Raise Concerns

Earlier this morning on The MGM Show, we had a listener call in with a gripe about the snow-covered roads, so naturally, we let her vent.

I’ve been an advocate since day one of the wintry season for the plow drivers, first responders, and even the DPW crews working around the clock to clear nearly three feet of snow.

That’s no small task, and they deserve plenty of credit.

A Rough Ride on Alden Road

Anyway, she went on and on about Alden Road in Fairhaven. The listener said the roadways in Acushnet – especially South Main Street heading towards Fairhaven/New Bedford – were down to pavement, but the second you hit Alden, it turned into a mess. Honestly, I took the call with a grain of salt, until I actually had to head into Acushnet myself and quickly found myself eating my own words.

It was a bumpy ride that felt like pure punishment for any vehicle suspension system.

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Main Street Didn’t Offer Much Relief

No matter where you drove, there were icy potholes that were unavoidable. Add oncoming traffic to the mix, and staying in your lane got a little sketchy. The ice pushed cars side to side, completely out of the driver’s control. Speeds slowed to about 10 miles per hour, and traffic started backing up from how cautious everyone had to be.

Fast forward about an hour later. On my way back toward Fairhaven, I decided to take Main Street instead of Alden, hoping for smoother conditions. Unfortunately, it was just as bumpy and just as dicey.

READ MORE: Fairhaven Remains in State of Emergency Days After Blizzard [PHOTOS]

That brings up the big question: if the focus of post-blizzard cleanup was tackling the major roadways first, why weren’t Alden Road or Main Street prioritized? Even a pass with a sander or salter could make a huge difference on such high-traffic commuter routes before someone ends up with serious vehicle damage.

Credit Where It’s Due — But Questions Remain

I try not to lean negative when it comes to local towns/cities, especially after a storm of this magnitude, but had to put out the warning to be cautious if commuting on either of those streets and to avoid if possible.

Nothing more, nothing less.